The key difference between climate change and global warming is that climate change refers to the change in the climate pattern of the globe or a region over a long period of time while global warming refers to the long term rising of the average temperature of the Earth.
Climate change and global warming are terms we commonly hear these days. Although people use these two terms interchangeably, there is a distinct difference between climate change and global warming. They affect the whole world. We experience unexpected changes in weather patterns due to climate change. In fact, all inhabitants of planet Earth are facing consequences of these phenomena.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Climate Change
3. What is Global Warming
4. Similarities Between Climate Change and Global Warming
5. Side by Side Comparison – Climate Change vs Global Warming in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Climate Change?
Climate change is the long-term change in weather patterns of the globe or a region over a period of many years. The climate of a particular region is a combination of many factors such as average day and night temperatures, precipitation, humidity, air pressures, and wind direction. Sometimes, storms are also a factor for climate change. Therefore, climate change is the changes in these factors over a long period of time.
Figure 01: Climate Change
Furthermore, some of the factors that affect climate change are natural factors like volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics, and changes in oceans whereas others are anthropogenic factors such as pollution, deforestation, releasing greenhouse gases, etc. Climate change is a natural process the planet Earth is facing right from its creation. However, at present, this change has been accelerated by many folds, becoming a concern for human beings due to above-mentioned factors.
What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere over a long period of time. Emission of greenhouse gases is the main reason for global warming. Major greenhouse gases that cause global warming are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and gases of Sulfur. Emissions from industries, burning of solid waste, and vehicles are the sources that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases all over the world.
Figure 02: Global Warming
Destruction of the ozone layer also enhances global warming as more rays of the sun are reaching the Earth. Furthermore, global warming causes many changes in the geography of the earth. For example, glaciers are melting at a faster rate due to the increase in temperature. It leads to an increased level of the ocean, engulfing many small islands. As a result, many species of plants and animals become extinct from those islands.
What are the Similarities Between Climate change and Global Warming?
- Global warming is one of the major aspects of climate change.
- These two are two different phenomena, but they are interlinked as one affects the other.
- Human interference and activities are common factors for both.
What is the Difference Between Climate Change and Global Warming?
Climate change and global warming are two different phenomena that are causing drastic changes on earth. Climate change is the change in the climate of a region, which occurs over a long period. Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of the Earth. Thus, this is the key difference between climate change and global warming. Both human activities and natural factors are reasons for climate change while human activities are the major reason for global warming. This is another important difference between climate change and global warming.
Summary – Climate Change vs Global Warming
In summarizing the difference between climate change and global warming, climate change is the change in climate pattern of the globe or a region over a long period of time while global warming is the rise of the average temperature of the Earth. In fact, global warming leads to climate change in some cases since increased temperatures result in more rainfall and modify the lowest and highest temperatures in a particular region. Human interference is the common factor that accelerates both as air pollution contributes to both global warming and climate change. Moreover, both are threats for every living organism on Earth since rapidly changing weather patterns affect many animals negatively and many rare species are disappearing from the face of Earth. Therefore, it is very important to execute drastic actions immediately in order to save life on Earth.
Reference:
1. “Global Warming.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Aug. 2019, Available here.
2. “Climate Change.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Aug. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Climate Change” By Ace vision treks – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Change in Average Temperature” By NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, Key and Title by Eric Fisk – (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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