About the Author

Kaelyn Knight A student at Fairmont State University (FSU) working towards her bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology. Kaelyn has always shown interest in various topics within the realm of psychology and was introduced to the field of sociology shortly after completing her first year at FSU. She is currently finishing up her last year of undergraduate school and planning to graduate in May 2026. 

What is Climate Change?

You may be thinking, "how does this affect where I live, in West Virginia?" Believe it or not, there are several ways that climate change impacts people and communities. Warmer temperatures can cause severe storms which eventually leads to the destruction of ecosystems, communities, buildings, and the lives of people.  We are going to visit some of the causes, affects, and results of climate change so let's go!

Climate change refers to any long-term effects that permanently alter previous climate systems and patterns. Temperature, rainfall, and other weather-related phenomena are examples of climate change. 

Tides 

Tides are controlled by the gravitational force of the moon and sun, but they are very interactive with climate change. For example, those warming temperatures I mentioned can cause a rise in sea level which creates additional problems like flooding, erosion, and severe storms.  

Tsunami's

Tsunamis are the result of geographical forces, not climate change BUT they do increase the intensity of them. Warm temperatures cause the ocean to expand and sea level to rise. If sea level is higher, flooding will be worse and more land will be affected. 

Red Tides

Climate change alters the environmental conditions in a bad way. Warmer water temperatures cause algae to grow faster and runoff into oceans supply algae with extra nutrients, creating rapid reproduction.

Ocean Warming

As ocean temperatures increase, glaciers melt, weather patterns change, and there is more carbon dioxide floating in the atmosphere. 

Hurricanes 

Wind speed, strength, flooding, and farther-reaching storms have all intensified due to climate change factors. They destroy coastal ecosystems and communities, leaving devastation behind. 

Dead Zones 

Climate change and dead zones influence and interact with one another. As dead zones increase and widen, they release more greenhouse gases into the environment, speeding up climate change. 

Ocean Currents 

Wind patterns, heatwaves, and sea level can all explain changes in ocean currents while also speeding up climate change at the same time, creating a chain reaction. 

Ocean Acidification 

Excess amounts of carbon dioxide in the air created more acid in our oceans which results in a lower pH level. Too much acid limits the absorption of carbon dioxide which creates warmer waters. Food webs and ecosystems are harmed by this. 

Offshore Drilling

Ocean pollution is a very serious problem that has been happening for centuries. Oil leaks and spills, burning oil, and greenhouse gases are emitted from offshore drilling. This is also a very expensive and dangerous job.