Horgan Seminar Blog

Climate change is having a huge impact on our planet, especially our oceans. Rising temperatures, stronger storms, and rising sea levels are just some of the ways our oceans are changing. Scientists, like Dr. Phillip Orton from Stevens Institute of Technology, are working to understand these changes and how we can protect coastal communities from the dangers of climate change. One of the biggest effects of climate change on our oceans is rising sea levels. This happens for two main reasons: first, as the Earth gets hotter, ocean water expands; second, ice sheets and glaciers are melting, adding more water to the ocean. This is a huge problem for cities near the coast. A study from NASA found that places like San Francisco and Los Angeles are sinking while the ocean is rising, making flooding even worse. The research showed that some areas of California could see sea levels rise by 6 to 14.5 inches by 2050. This could lead to flooded neighborhoods and billions of dollars in damages ( ny...

Connor Robinson   Science Writing Seminar   Essay #4   How Cooked are we Actually?        I have been hearing my entire life about the dangers of climate change and how much of an iss ue it will be in the future. But now I am wondering how big of a threat it is and what is being done on a larger scale to prevent it. I have always tried to be mindful of small things that I can do such as recycling a water bottle or turning off a light when I leave a room. But d oes this even matter ? Are these small acts putting even a slight dent in preventing climate change? Probably not, but at least they make me feel like I’m doing a good deed.   The scary part about the timeline of climate change is that the devastating effects are happening currently. It’s not going to be some drastic shift that happens suddenly, these effects will occur over time and slowly destroy the Earth. N ASA has stated that “glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking” and “...

  Harrison Teele 12 March 2025 HST401 - Seminar in Science Writing Professor Horgan Is Data the Issue? Since 1880, global temperatures have risen 1.5 C. Sea levels have risen 4 inches since 1993. The oceans had an increase of 127 zetajoules of heat since 2010. All of this is staggering data and should be worrisome to anyone. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) collect incredible data on environmental shifts and climate change, with billions of dollars in federal funding being put towards their efforts. Climate change has been a sort-of “doomsday” topic for decades, with scientists and politicians seeking to reverse the damage we have done to our planet before we are too far gone. Talks of sea level rise and rising greenhouse gas emissions have proliferated in the media, citing observations from NASA and NOAA. With these organizations delivering strong evidence of worsening climate change, why do we not see more major reform in politics and activism?...

HST 401 Paper #4 Maya Lapinski The True Cost of Wildfire Recovery Amid Class Disparities The devastating consequences of uncontrolled climate change is revealed through the recent and rampant wildfires throughout California. Not only do forest fires threaten the environments in which they blaze down, but they also exasperate class disparities. The difference in wildfire response between varying economic classes highlight the unfair advantages and resources that wealthier communities have access to that remain limitations for lower income households. It is evident that climate change will remain a prevalent concern, requiring ongoing awareness. This should emphasize the significance of addressing economic inequality, ensuring that an individual is not limited in their ability to protect themselves and their livelihoods– especially circumstances beyond their control. The California wildfires have demonstrated in real time the disproportionate relief available to higher income communities...