Question

Activity read this article about glaciers. as you read, consider the environmental externalities of human activities. question 1 answer these questions based on the article you read. part a who is the author of this article?

Answer 1

The author of the article is not mentioned, but it discusses the physical science behind climate change and the role of human activities.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author of the article is not mentioned in the provided information. However, the article titled "The Physical Science Behind Climate Change" from Scientific American discusses the physical science behind climate change and the confidence of scientists that human activities are changing the planet's climate. It is important to note that this information is not specific to glaciers, but it provides a broader understanding of climate change and its relationship to human activities.

Answer 2

Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, contribute to global warming and climate change, which is widely accepted by scientists. The environmental externalities of these activities include increased greenhouse gases causing temperature rises and loss of biodiversity. Mitigation efforts are focused on reducing emissions and switching to cleaner energy sources.

Step-by-step explanation:

The impact of human activities on the environment, particularly regarding climate change, is a subject of much study and concern. It is widely accepted by the scientific community, including organizations such as NASA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that global warming is primarily due to anthropogenic factors—the result of greenhouse gas emissions from industry, deforestation, and other sources. Human habitation and associated activities influence climate patterns, as seen through deforestation's contribution to climate change by reducing the planet's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Deforestation has a direct correlation with climate change, as trees that once acted as carbon sinks are removed, releasing stored carbon and reducing the overall absorption ability of forests. This exacerbates the greenhouse effect, causing temperatures to rise. Addressing climate change involves understanding the scientific measurements that show Earth's warming trend, such as ice sheet melt rates and glacier retreats like those of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Measures to mitigate climate change include shifting from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting forest areas. The consequences of not addressing these environmental externalities are severe, including increased coastal flooding, food and water shortages, and widespread ecological disruption.