Earth Processes Research Articles

A methodology to compile multi-hazard interrelationships in a data-scarce setting: an application to the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Abstract. This paper introduces a multifaceted methodology to identify and compile single natural hazards and multi-hazard interrelationships within the context of data-scarce urban settings, exemplified by the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. This approach integrates (i) five blended types of evidence to support a more nuanced and holistic understanding of a hazardscape where data are scarce and (ii) a 2 h practitioner stakeholder workshop with seven participants to provide greater context to the hazards, consider their impacts through the co-production of multi-hazard interrelationship scenarios, and show how this methodology could support more people-centred disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. We use blended evidence types, including academic literature, grey literature, media, databases, and social media, to systematically search for exemplars of single hazard types and multi-hazard interrelationships that have influenced or could potentially influence the Kathmandu Valley. We collated 58 sources of evidence for single hazard types and 21 sources of evidence for multi-hazard interrelationships. Using these sources, our study identified 21 single hazard types across 6 hazard groups (geophysical, hydrological, shallow Earth processes, atmospheric, biophysical, and space/celestial hazards) and 83 multi-hazard interrelationships (12 have direct case study evidence of previous influence in the Kathmandu Valley) that might influence the Kathmandu Valley. These exemplars are collated into a Kathmandu Valley Single Hazards and Multi-Hazard Interrelationships Database (Thompson et al., 2024) accompanying this paper. We supplement these exemplars with multi-hazard interrelationship scenarios and multi-hazard impacts developed by practitioner stakeholders engaged in DRR research and practice in the Kathmandu Valley. The results illustrate the complexity of the hazardscape, with many single hazard types and multi-hazard interrelationships potentially influencing the Kathmandu Valley. The research emphasises the importance of inclusive DRR strategies that recognise disaggregated impacts experienced by different social groups. This knowledge can inform the development of dynamic risk scenarios in planning and civil protection, thus strengthening multi-hazard approaches to DRR in “Global South” urban areas such as the Kathmandu Valley.

Theoretical Proof and Implementation of Digital Beam Control and Beamforming Algorithm for Low Earth Orbit Satellite Broadcast Signal Reception Processing Terminal

Compared to analog beamforming, digital beamforming offers better self-calibration and lower sidelobe performance, which has a profound impact on improving low Earth orbit receiver performance. The Digital Beamforming (DBF) module in the low Earth orbit satellite broadcast signal reception terminal can use digital phase shifting to compensate for the phase differences caused by path and spatial distance variations due to inconsistent Radio Frequency (RF) channel delays. This compensation ensures in-phase summation, thereby achieving maximum energy reception in the desired direction. Although DBF has gained widespread attention in the radar field due to its unique functions and advantages, its application is limited by beamforming accuracy and gain. Therefore, with the development of DBF technology, how to improve its accuracy and gain has also attracted extensive attention both domestically and internationally. To address this issue, this paper proposes a beamforming method based on a cap-shaped array for low Earth orbit satellite broadcast signal reception and processing terminals. The method combines prior information and spatial domain search for beam control, and employs a lookup table for beam synthesis. It derives formulas for the Signal-to-Noise Ratio, noise figure, processing flow of the beamforming network, and the determination of beamforming weights for the spherical antenna array. The paper presents a beam control approach that combines prior information with spatial domain search, along with an implementation process for beam synthesis using a lookup table. It also details the corresponding Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation process. Finally, the beamforming algorithm is experimentally validated, and error analysis is conducted. The experimental results show that the measured beamforming sensitivity at all incident angles is below −133 dBm and the G/T values are all greater than −9 dB/K, the beam uniformity at three operating frequencies is less than 3°, and the measured errors in pitch and azimuth angles are both below 2°. The beam pointing error is also below 2°.

Xenolith Constraints on the Mantle Potential Temperature and Thickness of Cratonic Roots Through Time

AbstractThe temperature of the convecting mantle and thickness of the lithosphere control many of Earth's processes. However, there is disagreement regarding the evolution of these quantities through time. We use a global data set of mantle xenoliths and xenocrysts to construct paleogeotherms at different eruption ages (16–1,311 Ma) and estimate the temperature and depth of the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary (LAB) as a function of mantle potential temperature (Tp). We find that the maximum pressure and temperature (PT) of xenoliths matches the modeled LAB conditions when a Tp of 1,315°C is used. At higher Tp (1,450–1,550) we observe a gap between the maximum PT of xenoliths and the LAB conditions. Because this gap systematically increases with Tp, and the maximum PT of xenoliths has not changed over time, we suggest that there has actually been only minor (<50°C) changes in mantle Tp since the Meso‐Proterozoic.

Particle Sedimentation in a Fluid at Low Reynolds Number: A Generalization of Hindered Settling Described by a Two‐Phase Continuum Model

AbstractParticle‐fluid separation by settling is a ubiquitous process in Earth and Planetary Sciences. The settling velocity of particles is controlled by a balance between buoyancy and drag forces. Since the seminal work of George Gabriel Stokes, parameterizations for the reduction of particle velocities caused by viscous dissipation due to mutual interactions have been described by a non‐linear mapping between particle volume fraction and separation velocity. We argue that these parameterizations neglect important physical behavior at high particle volume fractions (>80% of the maximum packing) and are only appropriate when considering suspensions where the particle volume fraction does not evolve in space or time. We introduce a more general model that accounts for the energy dissipation caused by changes in local particle volume fraction, which introduces a new term similar to the compaction term at higher particle volume fraction. This term depends on a consolidation/compaction viscosity that measures the resistance to changes in solid volume fraction. We derive closure equations for this compaction viscosity under dilute and concentrated particle volume fraction limits. Numerical simulations show that the extended hindered settling model predicts two significant differences compared to traditional hindered settling. First, while the steepening of particle volume fraction fronts remains, a dynamic instability is also generated at the front. Second, the rate of growth and structure of a cumulate layer growing above a no‐flux boundary is affected by the compaction‐like term and predicts the trapping of a higher volume fraction of interstitial melt in a correspondingly thicker cumulate layer.

Neoteric Solvents for Rare Earths Processing: Perspectives on the Potential of Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents From a Bibliometric Analysis

ABSTRACT Rare earth elements have become critical elements in today’s technological societies and neoteric solvents, such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), are being called upon to replace traditional organic solvents in order to improve the environmental sustainability of rare earth processing. A bibliometric analysis was performed to investigate the scientific documents published in the Scopus database until 2023 regarding the use of ILs and DESs for rare earths processing. The search identified 731 papers since the pioneering works in the last years of the 20th century and the amount of accumulated published documents throughout time followed a quadratic evolution. China, the main producer of rare earths worldwide, was the most prolific country, publishing 276 documents (37.8% contribution), almost four times higher than the contribution of the United States (75 documents), the second country in the ranking. The triad of important keywords consists of ionic liquids, rare earths and extraction. In addition to separation by solvent extraction, leaching of rare earths from mineral ores and secondary resources such as e-waste using ILs and DESs has been extensively investigated. In addition, these innovative solvents can be considered as promising media for electrowinning processes to obtain pure rare earths.

Software sustainability of global impact models

Abstract. Research software for simulating Earth processes enables the estimation of past, current, and future world states and guides policy. However, this modelling software is often developed by scientists with limited training, time, and funding, leading to software that is hard to understand, (re)use, modify, and maintain and that is, in this sense, non-sustainable. Here we evaluate the sustainability of global-scale impact models across 10 research fields. We use nine sustainability indicators for our assessment. Five of these indicators – documentation, version control, open-source license, provision of software in containers, and the number of active developers – are related to best practices in software engineering and characterize overall software sustainability. The remaining four – comment density, modularity, automated testing, and adherence to coding standards – contribute to code quality, an important factor in software sustainability. We found that 29 % (32 out of 112) of the global impact models (GIMs) participating in the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project were accessible without contacting the developers. Regarding best practices in software engineering, 75 % of the 32 GIMs have some kind of documentation, 81 % use version control, and 69 % have an open-source license. Only 16 % provide the software in a containerized form, which can potentially limit result reproducibility. Four models had no active development after 2020. Regarding code quality, we found that models suffer from low code quality, which impedes model improvement, maintenance, reusability, and reliability. Key issues include a non-optimal comment density in 75 % of the GIMs, insufficient modularity in 88 % of the GIMs, and the absence of a testing suite in 72 % of the GIMs. Furthermore, only 5 out of 10 models for which the source code, either in part or in its entirety, is written in Python show good compliance with PEP8 coding standards, with the rest showing low compliance. To improve the sustainability of GIMs and other research software, we recommend best practices for sustainable software development to the scientific community. As an example of implementing these best practices, we show how reprogramming a legacy model using best practices has improved software sustainability.

Gap filling between GRACE and GRACE-FO missions: assessment of interpolation techniques

We propose a benchmark for comparing gap-filling techniques used on global time-variable gravity field time-series. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and the GRACE Follow-On missions provide products to study the Earth’s time-variable gravity field. However, the presence of missing months in the measurements poses challenges for understanding specific Earth processes through the gravity field. We reproduce, adapt, and compare satellite-monitoring and interpolation techniques for filling these missing months in GRACE and GRACE Follow-On products on a global scale. Satellite-monitoring techniques utilize solutions from Swarm and satellite laser ranging, while interpolation techniques rely on GRACE and/or Swarm solutions. We assess a wide range of interpolation techniques, including least-squares fitting, principal component analysis, singular spectrum analysis, multichannel singular spectrum analysis, auto-regressive models, and the incorporation of prior data in these techniques. To inter-compare these techniques, we employ a remove-and-restore approach, removing existing GRACE products and predicting missing months using interpolation techniques. We provide detailed comparisons of the techniques and discuss their strengths and limitations. The auto-regressive interpolation technique delivers the best score according to our evaluation metric. The interpolation based on a least-squares fitting of constant, trend, annual, and semi-annual cycles offers a simple and effective prediction with a good score. Through this assessment, we establish a starting benchmark for gap-filling techniques in Earth’s time-variable gravity field analysis.

Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Phalaborwa phosphogypsum

Rare earth elements (REE) are present at concentrations of approximately 0.36 % in phosphogypsum stacks located in Phalaborwa, South Africa. The REE are present in the phosphogypsum in solid solution in the gypsum and as fluorine and aluminium rich precipitates. Recovery of the REE offers opportunities for valorization and reducing the environmental impact of the phosphogypsum waste. This paper presents the results of investigations into the leaching behaviour of rare earth elements and other impurities from phosphogypsum using aqueous sulfuric acid. The effects of acid concentration, temperature, residence time, and the influence of impurities were evaluated for their impact on the solubility of rare earth elements in a sulfate medium. It was found that a significant fraction of the REE can be leached from the phosphogypsum in a range of conditions much less severe than traditional hard rock rare earth processing conditions. The REE were leached at a sulfuric acid concentration of 110 g/l, temperature of 30°C - 40°C and a residence time of approximately 8 hours.

Subsurface microbial community structure shifts along the geological features of the Central American Volcanic Arc.

Subduction of the Cocos and Nazca oceanic plates beneath the Caribbean plate drives the upward movement of deep fluids enriched in carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and iron along the Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA). These compounds fuel diverse subsurface microbial communities that in turn alter the distribution, redox state, and isotopic composition of these compounds. Microbial community structure and functions vary according to deep fluid delivery across the arc, but less is known about how microbial communities differ along the axis of a convergent margin as geological features (e.g., extent of volcanism and subduction geometry) shift. Here, we investigate changes in bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons and geochemical analysis of deeply-sourced seeps along the southern CAVA, where subduction of the Cocos Ridge alters the geological setting. We find shifts in community composition along the convergent margin, with communities in similar geological settings clustering together independently of the proximity of sample sites. Microbial community composition correlates with geological variables such as host rock type, maturity of hydrothermal fluid and slab depth along different segments of the CAVA. This reveals tight coupling between deep Earth processes and subsurface microbial activity, controlling community distribution, structure and composition along a convergent margin.

The oxidation of iron in amphiboles at high temperatures: a review and implications for large-scale Earth processes

The oxidation of iron in amphiboles at high temperatures: a review and implications for large-scale Earth processes

Designing-in WebGIS Tools for digital learning terrains in Natural Environments

Authentic learning environments (Herrington et al., 2014) have been widely acknowledged in creating engaging, meaningful and deep learning experiences, including for “novice” first-year undergraduate students (Roach et al., 2018). Natural Environments (ENVS10001) is a first-year undergraduate subject (unit) that aims to deliver foundational understanding of earth systems and processes to support studies in agriculture, natural resource management and civil engineering. One main obstacle to facilitating understanding in this domain is the unfamiliar scales of the landscape processes and phenomena (Resnick et al., 2017). Natural Environments has been using the granitic geology dominated landscape of Glenrowan in northeastern Victoria (Australia) as an authentic case study. In this presentation we explain how and why we re-designed authentic learning aligned tutorial interactions by integrating student-driven navigation of WebGIS tools such as Geoscience Australia and NatureKit portal to: (a) enable students to build understanding of how geology, geomorphology and ecology interact to result in the dynamic landscapes in the environment; (b) equip students with fundamental and valuable knowledge and skills in accessing free and publicly available datasets useful in their academic and future professional work; (c) demonstrate the authenticity of the curricular content to establish higher levels of learner engagement. The current learning design where dynamic control and interaction with spatial data is central, is just one iteration in the series of previous designs that moved from non-digital to static-digital resources in the learning environment. Generally, an anchored instruction aligned approach (The Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt, 1990) was adopted. Prior to the tutorial, students attended two one-hour lectures explaining the structure of the earth, plate tectonics, and global-scale structural (volcanic and tectonic) landforms. We wanted students to develop an understanding of how, over “unfamiliar” geological (time) and spatial scales, geomorphological processes operating across different rock types resulting from geological processes (e.g. granite pluton emplacement amongst sedimentary rocks) result in the landscapes observed presently. During the class, with tutors as guides, students worked in groups and learnt how to use the Geoscience Australia portal to explore the Glenrowan region, centered around the Warby Ranges and the surrounding plains. Professional instructional videos developed in collaboration with the University of Melbourne Learning Environments media team were used to demonstrate how to use the portal to find geological and geomorphological information. Students were guided in the use of Google Earth to visualise terrain in pseudo-3D and using elevation transects. The spatial correlation of landform patterns and elements with different surface and subsurface geologies was key to unlocking students’ abilities to explain the “why” and “how” of landscape evolution, albeit at the basic level. Students had mostly positive experiences and learning outcomes shown in the post-subject survey (n = 30; scores of 4.6 to 6.0 for 12 questions on 7-point Likert scale) and comments. Technical issues encountered due to simultaneous class access to the portal, and gaps in explaining specific functionalities and their potential for further understanding, were highlighted. The authors acknowledge the strong support for this work through the University of Melbourne’s FlexAP programme.

Weak paleointensities from 1.6 Ga Greenland dykes: Further evidence for a billion-year period of paleomagnetic dipole low during the Paleoproterozoic

The Paleoproterozoic era is the longest in Earth's history, with significant changes hypothesised to have occurred in the deep Earth's physical and chemical conditions at this time. It has been suggested that the paleomagnetic field became weaker at this time (∼2.4 Ga) and remained weak for the next billion years. Paleomagnetism is intrinsically linked to, and is able to inform on, ancient deep Earth processes; a weak dipole strength sustained over this time period may have implications for both core and mantle evolution.We test this hypothesis here in a two-fold approach: (1) A paleointensity study on the widespread ca. 1.6 Ga diabase/dolerite Melville Bugt dyke swarm. The swarm extends along the west coast of Greenland for more than 1000 km and intruded over ∼13 million years, capturing polarity reversals of Earth's magnetic field. (2) A detailed statistical analysis on the long-term trend in average dipole moment from an improved paleointensity dataset (PINT.org) that has recently undergone a major update.Five of the Greenland dykes produce paleointensity results ranging from 1.4 μT to 5.1 μT (virtual dipole moment range 0.3–1.2 × 1022 Am2) during the mid-point of this extended period of ‘dipole low’. Our statistical study robustly confirms that this one-billion-year period was indeed associated with an anomalously weak dipole moment (2.7 × 1022 Am2) relative to 500-million-year intervals before and after, which were almost twice as strong. Sampling of more geographically diverse rocks from this time is needed to yield a clear picture of the long-term time evolution of the dipole moment.

TRACING THE LINGUISTIC JOURNEY OF GEOLOGICAL TERMS - A PHILOLOGICAL STUDY OF STRATIGRAPHY AND MINERALOGY

The paper discusses the etymological history of "stratigraphy" and "mineralogy," two critical geological terms, from their ancient roots in Latin and Greek to modern times. In fact, such scientific terms represent not only the steps of scientific advancement but also the general trend of cultural interaction and close interrelation between linguistic, scientific, and technical developments. It thereby indicates how scientific progress and cross-cultural interactions have influenced the way one describes Earth's processes when these terms are put through philological development from medieval to Renaissance and modern times. Indeed, this is a technologically advanced science that has introduced terminologies such as radiometric dating and X-ray diffraction into geology, while recent times have seen many countries collaborating together on geological grounds with consequent efforts toward standardization in the use of geological terminology. The result is an instructive analysis of how language and science grow together, predictably changing as needed to accommodate an increasing knowledge base.

Watery traces and absences: sensations and speculative histories of an ancient well and a carse landscape

This paper explores how mighty earth processes, aquatic agencies and human practical, political, religious, technological, commercial and environmental interventions have shaped and reshaped a now obscure Scottish holy well and the carse landscape to which it belongs. More specifically, I detail the historic pagan rituals, vigilant religious policing, romantic redesign and extensive terraforming that have informed the changing uses and symbolic associations of these watery realms, demonstrating how they testify to ceaselessly changing human-water relations. I explore how an awareness of particular historical events garnered from diverse texts can be supplemented with affective and sensory engagements with the non-human agencies, vestiges and absences of place. Together, they foster intimations and speculative imaginaries that conjure up speculative watery histories and conjectural futures.

Meta-analysis: Global patterns and drivers of denitrification, anammox and DNRA rates in wetland and marine ecosystems

Nitrogen cycling is one of the most important biogeochemical processes on Earth, and denitrification, anammox and DNRA processes are important nitrogen cycling processes in estuarine ecosystems. However, due to the large input of anthropogenic nitrogen sources, a large number of environmental problems have now occurred in the estuary. But the global patterns and controlling factors of denitrification, anammox and DNRA rates in wetland marine ecosystems are not yet known. We reached our conclusions through a global synthesis of 546 observation sites from 78 peer-reviewed papers: The three rates were generally higher in areas near wetlands than in coastal areas. The rate of denitrification was highest in the subtropical region the seasonal variability was not significant; and TOC was the main factor controlling denitrification. The rate of anammox was significantly higher in the subtropical region than in the tropical and boreal zones, and the seasonal variability was significant; and at the same time, TN was the main driver of the anammox rate of the wetland ocean. DNRA rates were significantly higher in the tropics than in the subtropics and temperate zones; and the main driver of DNRA rates was temperature. Nitrogen cycle functional genes also had an indirect effect on their rates. With NH4 + -N significantly affecting nirK abundance and TN significantly affecting the gene abundance of nirS; TOC and TN had a greater effect on hzo abundance, which indirectly affected anammox rates; for DNRA, C/N significantly affects the gene abundance of nrfA, which indirectly affects the DNRA rate. Therefore, the findings of this study indicate that physicochemical indicators about N and climatic characteristics have a profound effect on the nitrogen cycling process, which provides a good feedback for studying the role of denitrification and provides a positive impact on global climate and environmental governance.

Generative decay: toward a politics of and for earth

This article assesses the possibility of transforming International Relations (IR) and Global Environmental Studies (GES), reflecting on the contributions to this special edition. It argues that despite passionate efforts by critical scholars, activists, practitioners, and others to transform these disciplines, they remain structurally and epistemically rooted in oppressive logics that are fundamentally at odds with the planet and its processes, and aligned with the ‘CRAACHE+ formation’ (a set of interlocking modes of structural violence compromising colonialism, racism, ableism, anthropocentrism, capitalism, heteropatriarchy, eugenics, and their alloys). Instead of working to recuperate IR and GES, the article calls for an ecological approach to knowledge production in which the knowledge and resources accumulated within these disciplines is made available for repurposing by communities and movements working to align their politics with earth processes.

Growth of the Central Orogenic Belt, North China Craton through accretion of different Neoarchean arc terranes: Perspective from the Linshan complex

The onset of plate tectonics and crustal growth processes in the early Earth have been controversial scientific issues in the geoscience. The North China Craton (NCC) preserves widespread 3.8–2.5 Ga rocks, providing an ideal place to understand early continent formation and evolution. The Linshan complex located in the southern segment of the Central Orogenic Belt (COB) of the NCC, is mainly composed of TTG (tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite)-diorite gneisses and metamorphic volcanic-sedimentary units dominated by gabbro, basalt, basaltic andesite and biotite-plagioclase gneiss. Detailed mapping on the scale of 1:100 of a structural transect shows that the Linshan complex has mainly experienced two major deformation events including top-to-the-SE thrust faults and late NE-trending high-angle normal faults. Detailed zircon U-Pb dating shows that gabbro, basaltic andesite, and TTG gneiss mainly formed at ca. 2.52–2.50 Ga. Gabbros and basalts display enrichment of LREE and negative Nb and Ta anomalies, and basaltic andesites display mixed MORB-IAT geochemical affinities. Basalts and basaltic andesites are members of the Nb-enriched basalt series with high absolute Nb contents (>6 ppm). TTG gneisses are geochemically divided into high-pressure and low-pressure TTGs. High-pressure TTGs are characterized by high ratios of La/Ybcn (26.29–45.73) and fall into the adakitic region in the La/Ybcn-Ybcn diagram. Considering the close contact with Nb-enriched basaltic series, it is proposed that high-pressure TTGs may have formed by partial melting of a subducting oceanic slab with garnet and amphibole and/or rutile as residues. Low-pressure TTGs are characterized by low ratios of La/Ybcn and Sr/Y with marked negative Eu anomalies, indicating partial melting at shallow crustal levels. Regional tectonic relations have defined the Neoarchean Dengfeng island arc-forearc accretionary complex to the east of the Linshan complex. Thus, we propose that the gabbros-basalts-basaltic andesites in the Linshan complex mostly formed in a Neoarchean suprasubduction back-arc basin by rifting of a TTG-dominated island arc terrane. The final closure of the back-arc basin resulted in their tectonic juxtaposition forming thrust-imbricated structures. There may have been several Neoarchean “forearc-island-arc-backarc” systems in the NCC that are similar to modern accretionary tectonic orogens, indicating that plate tectonics has been in operation since at least 2.55–2.50 Ga.

Opportunities for Blue food in a turbulent future - what’s ahead for a growing aquaculture industry?

The scale and speed of human activities and technological developments have substantially increased since the 1950s resulting in reshaping of the biosphere and moving humanity into a new geological epoch — the ”Anthropocene”. This is characterized by changes in several Earth system processes and structures on which human life depends. The global food system is a major driver of changes in the biosphere – for example greenhouse gas emission and other environmental changes including global biodiversity loss. Blue foods (aquatic foods) have slowly made their way into international high-level sustainability discussions and increasingly now form part of nutritious, climate smart and low environmental impact food narratives. Today farmed and captured aquatic animals and plants play a central role in food and nutrition security for billions of people, and constitute cornerstones for many livelihoods, economies, and cultures. The blue food portfolio is highly diverse and also supported by a wide range of ecosystems, cultural practices and production modalities. This diversity poses both potential for supporting food system resilience in uncertain times, and challenges for making simple guidance on sustainable development of food production. The anticipated continuous growth of aquaculture trigger questions related to “what, how and why”. Many blue foods are rich in bioavailable micronutrients and can be produced in ways that are more environmentally sustainable than some terrestrial animal-source foods. However, blue foods are diverse and planning for future expansion through i.e. aquaculture involves identification of properties for different species and systems, as well as identification of development priorities and acknowledging trade-offs and context specificity out from a broader Sustainable Development Goal framework. Environmental stressors may narrow the window for blue food production and climate change is a main driver affecting the function and productivity of aquatic and supportive terrestrial ecosystems.

On dialogue about earth processes and sustainable environment in a changing world: a tribute to the legacy of the landscape traveller Augusto Pérez-Alberti

On dialogue about earth processes and sustainable environment in a changing world: a tribute to the legacy of the landscape traveller Augusto Pérez-Alberti

Climate change, causes, economic impact and mitigation

The earth and its environment is currently undergoing changes, which may be natural as a result of the earth’s processes or artificial, as a result of man’s activities that has altered the natural earth processes. Climate change is a result of the alteration of the atmospheric balance which in-turn has diverse effects on the earth’s processes and her inhabitants. The aim of this review is primarily to elaborate the climate change, the causes, economic impact and methods of mitigating climate change. The effect of climate change is massive but this article is targeted towards the economic impact of climate change and methods of eliminating this effect in this area. It is a universal challenge, it therefore requires universal attention. This article is a review work on the previous publications on climate change including journals and other articles that are closely related to this topic, it goes ahead to reveal the current situations and effect of climate change in our society today and scientifically proven means of mitigating such effects. Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of all carbon emissions. Human activities have warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land, producing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere. The methods of mitigating climate change are primarily by reducing the use of fossil fuels in order to stop adding more CO2, Nitrous acid and methane (which are all greenhouse gases) to the atmosphere, by using more of renewable energy such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and hydroelectricity. Practicing better farming systems to improve crop yield other than using harmful chemicals. Implementing policies against gas flaring, faulty automobiles discharging high amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, bush-burning, deforestation etc, should be practiced more.