What is the Difference Between Climate Change and Global Warming?

A number of people use climate change and global warming interchangeably but there are differences between the meanings. Global warming is an overall warming of the planet based on average surface temperature. Climate change refers to temperature changes in specific regions along with any other changes that differ from the normal weather usually experienced by that particular area.

Climate change, in effect, is the results of global warming. As the planet heats it loses surface ice which reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere. Without this ice our oceans absorb the heat which causes changes in weather patterns. Melting sea ice also interferes with ocean currents. When the ice melts it moves towards the ocean and once it hits the warmer waters it sinks which is the mechanism that moves the ocean currents. Too much of this melting ice can have serious effects on this cycle which happened just a few years ago. The oceanic current actually stopped for ten days.

Climate change is when the weather changes from what is normal for any given region in response to global warming. As temperatures rise there is an increase in water vapor. Air currents change and as a result, areas which normally receive a lot of rain begin to experience drought conditions. Regions which are typically dry experience unusually heavy rainfall which leads to erosion and flood conditions.

These types of climate changes do extensive damage to crops and cause food shortages which, among other things, have been predicted to increase. Crop fields in areas that normally experience seasonal rainfall but are now in severe drought are no longer fertile but dry and lifeless. Land which normally receives light to moderate rainfall but is now experiencing floods and erosion has become useless.

Global cooling could also be an effect of climate change as others eras in our history have experienced some radical drops in temperature. It could also be very hot in some regions while others experience very cold conditions. Scientists are locked in debate over these issues and so far there seems to be little progress in finding a solution.

Unless we find a way to stop global warming, climate changes are going to get worse. Currently, the most we can hope for is that we can somehow reduce or slow global warming thus curb climate change before we become locked in an irreversible pattern.

There are a number of theories but the actual cause of global warming and climate change is unknown or unproven. Nevertheless, its impact has been felt around the world. Floods, fires, droughts and earthquakes are not only increasing they are getting more intense.

In closing, let it be said that while climate change and global warming are sometimes used interchangeably they are not necessarrily the same. And unless our scientists come up with a solution for Global warming our climate will continue to change. The question is, how much and how fast?
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