Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

Ryan de Viso

Eng. 101

Bojan Louis

Arizona State University

Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

Abstract

Global Warming affects everything from the snow to the waves and everything in

between.

Key words: Snowboarding, Surfing, Climate Change.

Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

Global Warming Isn't Cool

For years the Earth has been getting warmer plain and simple. Whether it is

because of us humans or not we have a responsibility to help the earth out. Not for

future generations, not for the polar bears but for the snow and waves. With out snow

there would be no snow sports and therefore no opportunities to ever snowboard again.

If there was something to do to prevent this why wouldn't we do it. Climate change

doesn't just effect snow it effects everything from tides in the ocean to major storm cells

around the world which doesn't help the snowboarders and surfers.

The earth Naturally heats and cools in intervals. These continual cycles of

heating and cooling of the earth is called climate oscillation. In the natural cycle, the

world can warm, and cool, without any human interference. For the past million years

this has occurred over and over again at approximately 100,000 year intervals. About

80-90,000 years of ice age with about 10-20,000 years of warm period, give or take

some thousands of years. (http://ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/global-

warming/natural-cycle) This occurs due to the Milankovitch cycles. These cycles are the

way the earth is positioned in the orbit around the sun. The more time the earth or land

mass spends closer to the sun (at perihelion), the more energy it receives thus

warming. The more time it spends farther form the sun (at aphelion) the less energy it

receives and the earth cools (http://ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/global-

warming/natural-cycle) These two factors are a huge part of the current global warming

problem that is taking place today, But its not the whole story.

There are about 1 billion cars on the road today, there are over 5.75 trillion

pieces of plastic in the oceans, and sea level has risen at an alarming rate of 4-6 inches
Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

over the past century due to glacier melt. Humanity as a whole should be accredited to

part of the current global warming problem. As we continue to to pollute the earth snow

and tides are changing around the world making it harder for surfers and snowboarders

alike. Global warming doesn't just mean that the earth is getting hotter. It also means

that predictable times for storms change, changing the tides and swells around the

wold. Despite all the mass hysteria you see about climate change and crazy weather,

latest research suggests that more areas will actually see smaller waves than bigger

waves at the end of the century. (http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/how-climate-

change-could-impact-surf_94000/) Smaller waves mean less surf. This is bad

considering that surfing actually improves economies along the coast especially in

major surf towns.

The reason for these smaller conditions around the world are because of multiple

factors like over fishing and plastic trash, but the number one reason why this is

happening is because of ocean warming. Sea surface temperature increased during

the 20th century and continues to rise. From 1901 through 2015, temperaturerose at an

average rate of 0.13F per decade (https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-

change-indicators-sea-surface-temperature) Green house gasses such as carbon

dioxide are the main cause of this. As Carbon dioxide enters the oceans it gets

absorbed into everything from the plants to the animals. But now since we are over

producing carbon dioxide the ocean cannot keep up with us, causing the ocean to

become warmer. As the oceans become warmer swells start to shift, for example by not

hitting a major surf spot like that type of swell usually would. As these swells shift so do

the storms.
Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

To get snow you need a storm. The number one thing that these storms need are

cold temperatures. These conditions are becoming harder and harder to come by.

Snowfall has decreased by 16.5 in just under 90 years (https://www.epa.gov/climate-

indicators/climate-change-indicators-snowfall) This is bad considering that snow is the

earths natural way of cooling itself. Now instead of snow most areas across the globe

are reporting an increase of rain during their winter months. In areas where snow is

certain like Alaska and other well known snowboard destinations this is dangerous. The

perfect snow is a dry and fluffy type of snow. This snow tends to pack together very well.

but as the rain comes and or a wet snow falls this will not mix with the dry snow causing

layers in the snowpack. This type of layering presents many dangers one being

avalanches. Avalanches kill more than 150 people worldwide each year. Most are

snowmobilers, skiers, and snowboarders. (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/

environment/natural-disasters/avalanches/) Backcountry snowboarding is already

dangerous as it is, now the increase of avalanches don't make it any safer.

Most people aren't going backcountry snowboarding or skiing anytime soon. So

what about those people? Why should they care about the increase of rain and lack of

snow? If you get a rain on snow event or just get less snow in general, its hard to

attract more skiers, Elizabeth Burakowski, a postdoctoral researcher at the National

Center for Atmospheric Research, said. No amount of grooming can make a rainy day

go away. (http://www.climatecentral.org/news/winters-becoming-more-rainy-across-

us-20017) No one wants to be snowboarding while its raining. Slushy conditions are just

not fun. In an interview pro snowboarder Danny Davis had this to say about the recent

winter olympics. When you had the test event last time around in Sochi, it was a poor
Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

event. The test event went really bad, they didn't even really have a competition

because the pipe wasn't to standard and it was falling apart due to temperatures. And of

course we go to the real event and it was sort of the same thing. (https://

www.grindtv.com/snowboarding/pro-snowboarder-danny-davis-talks-the-olympics-

peace-park-and-more/) Temperatures, He was saying that because of the raising

temperatures, something no one can directly control, the the biggest stage in sports the

Olympic courses were not up to par. And Danny Davis didn't hold back.

Theres nothing any of us can do to stop the earths natural cycle of global

warming. But being eco friendly could help slow down the process and conserve this

planet a little while longer. There are multiple organizations around the world that are

working to improve awareness for global warming and are trying their best for

conservation of the planet. One in particular helps protect the snow. Protect our Winters

is an organization of the community of out door sports fighting climate change. They are

Athlete driven, meaning that professional athletes in winter sports team up to change

how climate change is seen to society. But for the rest of us normal people fighting

climate change can be as easy as recycling our bottles or volunteering for a much

needed beach clean up.

The earth is in desperate need of help. If you are like me youre going to want to

do your part for the earth so the earth can do its part for you, by providing snow and

good waves. The last thing we want is for the entire earth to be as hot as Arizona in the

summer.
Global Warming Isn't Cool 1

Global Warming Natural Cycle. (2014, October 12). Retrieved November 22, 2017, from
http://ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/global-warming/natural-cycle

Global Warming Natural Cycle. (2014, October 12). Retrieved November 22, 2017, from
http://ossfoundation.us/projects/environment/global-warming/natural-cycle

HOW CLIMATE CHANGE COULD AFFECT SURF. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22,
2017, from http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/how-climate-change-could-impact-
surf_94000/

Climate Change Indicators: Sea Surface Temperature. (2016, December 17). Retrieved
November 22, 2017, from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-
indicators-sea-surface-temperature

Climate Change Indicators: Snowfall. (2016, December 17). Retrieved November 22,
2017, from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-snowfall

Avalanches. (2009, October 09). Retrieved November 22, 2017, from https://
www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/avalanches/

More Rain, Less Snow for U.S. Winters. (2016, February 11). Retrieved November 22,
2017, from http://www.climatecentral.org/news/winters-becoming-more-rainy-across-
us-20017

Brower, R. (2017, October 10). Pro snowboarder Danny Davis talks the Olympics,
Peace Park and more. Retrieved November 22, 2017, from https://www.grindtv.com/
snowboarding/pro-snowboarder-danny-davis-talks-the-olympics-peace-park-and-more/