You might be wondering if the environment has a way of contributing to polluting the climate. Well, this brings us to the question: what are the environmental effects of pollution on our climate?

In this article, you will learn the effect of environmental pollution on the climate and how beneficial winter or summer is.

As we all know, there is no way human beings can be separated from the environment. This means that what happens in the environment must be due to natural or human activities. Several human factors, such as pollution from industries, smoke and gases from automobiles, exhaust from pipes, burning of coal, burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, fumes produced from factories, pesticides used on weeds, etc., would contribute to climate pollution. These harmful materials released into the environment are consequently linked with increased carbon footprint and climate change.

Volcanic eruption, ocean variations, plate tectonic movements, thermohaline circulations, solar variations, etc., are natural causes of climate change.

Below we have explained what you need to know about the environmental effect on climate and weather conditions.

What are the environmental effects of pollution on our climate?

Various environmental issues impact the climate and cause the climate to change in terms of weather conditions. It’s difficult to say whether the summer or winter has worse air pollution. While some pollutants are most active in cold weather, others are usually more harmful on warm days. In the same way, air temperature affects airflow.

On the other hand, when it’s cold outside, pollutants like vehicle exhaust fumes are easier to see. It does not necessarily follow that there are more pollutants, though. It’s essential to note that while wood burning and car exhaust fumes usually increase in the winter, industrial emissions are constant throughout the year.

The global temperature has been increasing, this has had impacts on various climate-related factors. Water availability is shifting due to climate change, becoming more scarce. It also increases the dangers of ecological and agricultural droughts, harming crops and making ecosystems more vulnerable.

Also, ocean depths have experienced a significant rise due to global warming and glacier melting over the past 20 years. The ocean warms up, and so does its volume. Other climate change-related effects are hunger, species loss, poverty, health risks, loss of habitable land, etc.

What impacts our winters today?

You might be interested in knowing the factors that impact our winter. Here it is. Our winter today is impacted by climate change. One of the predicted impacts of climate change is that there is usually more snowfall at the time when there are snowstorms. This is because a warmer planet is releasing more water into the atmosphere. This can result in floods. However, when our world is tilted away from the sun, temperatures drop during the winter, and we may experience severe winter storms rather than downpours.

How are summers different now?

Warmer global temperatures are closely correlated with the changing seasons. Due to these environmental shifts, many trees and spring wildflowers bloom sooner than usual. Winters are, therefore, shorter. Summer lasts longer. A study that was released in the Geophysical Research Letters journal indicated that the three different seasons are getting shorter, and the summers are getting hotter.

Health benefits of summer

Below are some of the health benefits of summer you need to know.

1.   You get access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

One of the health benefits of summer you should know is that you get fresh vegetables and fruit. You might think you can get fresh fruit even on a normal day, but the fruits or vegetables are extra fresh in summer. The warmth and sunlight encourage development. Consequently, summer is the perfect time of the year to readily increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.

2.   Vitamin D

One of the most crucial vitamins, vitamin D, is what you get during summer. It is a crucial vitamin for many physiological processes contributing to optimum health. Vitamin D serves purposes such as boosting your immune system. It is very important for metabolism, cancer prevention, mental health, and bone health.

3.   You get to sweat more.

Sweating can be a bit yucky sometimes; it’s understandable. During summer, we tend to sweat well, which is good because most of us don’t exercise or don’t exercise enough to sweat all year. We regularly obstruct our pores with antiperspirants that have chemicals. Despite sweating being an essential part of good detoxification for the best health, we hardly move around enough for perspiration purposes.

4.   Outdoor activity

During summer, the warmth we feel makes us want to go outside. We, therefore, engage in a variety of physical activities. We can go jogging or swimming, go on bike trips, do outdoor yoga, play soccer, and more. During this time, you can engage in many activities to increase your daily activity level.

5.   You can walk barefoot.

This might sound weird somehow to many of us, but it is essential for good health. When it is warmer outside, we have the chance to go barefoot. It is one of the ways to feel healthy, and there are two main health advantages, whether on a beach or in your backyard. The first advantage is a reflexology massage, and the other is you can get a grounding effect.

Health benefits of winter

1.   It boosts your brain activity.

We might have noticed that we can think clearly when cold. According to research, individuals work more effectively in environments that are cooler than those that are warmer.

2. You get to burn calories.

Your body works harder to keep your core temperature when it is cold outside. When we’re outside in the weather, our bodies expend a lot of energy to keep us warm and humidify the air we breathe.

3. Low risk of diseases

You might have a higher chance of getting a cold, but you’re immune to many illnesses and infections more common in warmer climates.

4. You can fight infections.

You might catch a cold in the winter, but you are better prepared to activate your immune system and successfully combat the infection. According to studies, exposure to the cold can help stimulate the human immune system, strengthening a person’s infection resistance.

5. You get healthy skin.

Because cold temperatures constrict the blood vessels in the epidermis, they may be beneficial for skin health. Since you typically create less oil and sebum in the winter, you might experience fewer breakouts.

Environmental effects of pollution on our climate – summer or winter, which is better?

Winter

Winter is undoubtedly one of the best seasons of the year because of all the lovely holidays, the cozy weather, and seasonal sports.

It is simple to enjoy outdoor activities without worrying about wasp stings, mosquito bites, or other irritations during the winter because most insects migrate or hibernate. Also, the cold weather simplifies playing and competing without getting too hot.

Unfortunately, some individuals experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) because of the reduced sunlight during the winter. But according to Medical News Today, taking vitamin D supplements, controlling your diet, and keeping active can help you fight SAD.

Summer

According to studies, people are more active and less sedentary during summer than winter. Positive emotions, relaxation, and even memory are all improved by sunshine and higher temperatures. Shining Sun benefits include production of Vitamin D and norepinephrine. Sweating benefits the immune system, endorphin production, and cleansing.

Physically, cold conditions are not advantageous. In lower temperatures, populations continually face greater health risks and higher mortality rates, with excessive cold frequently being the primary cause of weather-related deaths. Cold environments are linked to increased cardiovascular mortality, exacerbated respiratory issues, and increased chance of rheumatoid arthritis.

Conclusion

We have explained above all you need to know about the environmental effects of pollution on our climate. We are sure you now know how environmental factors caused by natural phenomena and human activities can impact the climate resulting in climate change and ultimately having an effect on the weather condition, specifically the winter and summer.

Images: istockphoto

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