#Analysis of global climate data 
library(plyr)
library(dplyr)
library(tidyr)
library(ggplot2)
library(knitr)
library(choroplethr)
library(choroplethrMaps)

Sneak Peak into the Data

kable(clim_data[1:4,1:5])
dt AverageTemperature AverageTemperatureUncertainty State Country
1855-05-01 25.544 1.171 Acre Brazil
1855-06-01 24.228 1.103 Acre Brazil
1855-07-01 24.371 1.044 Acre Brazil
1855-08-01 25.427 1.073 Acre Brazil

Plotting Global Average Temperatures

qplot(Year, Temperature, data=clim_data2i, main="World Average Temperature 1855-Present",geom=c("point","smooth"))+ aes(colour = Temperature) + scale_color_gradient(low="blue", high="red")
## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess'

##As seen from the above graph, global temperatures have been rising steadily over the past several decades. Clearly global warming is not a tale concocted by anybody. It is real and it is happening as we speak.

Let us look at how the ‘US Mainland Temperature Averages’ have changed over the years.

qplot(Year, Temp, data=clim_data2, main="US Average Temperature 1850-Present",geom=c("point","smooth"))+ aes(colour = Temp) + scale_color_gradient(low="blue", high="red")
## `geom_smooth()` using method = 'loess'

As seen from the above graph , the temperatures of the mainland US has been rising. The impact of rising temperatures can cause reduced crop yeilds, and taking into account the threat to crops from pests that thrive in hotter climates can be result in deadly consequences.

Plotting USA Temperatures on a Map

print(state_choropleth(clim_data1850,
                       title="USA Land Temperature 1850", 
                       num_colors = 9,
                       legend="Degrees"),reference_map=TRUE)
## Warning in self$bind(): The following regions were missing and are being
## set to NA: hawaii

print(state_choropleth(clim_data2013,
                       title="USA Land Temperature - Present day", 
                       num_colors = 9,
                       legend="Degrees"),reference_map=TRUE)

##

Observations:

During the 19th century, Southern States(Texas, Lousiana,Florida etc) were in the 17.66C-21.83C bracket. But at the dawn of the 21st century, the southern states have shifted into the hotter 19.44C-23.33C bracket. Similarly in the nothern states the average temperatures have risen by quite a bit, as seen from the change in the average lower temperatures.

Conclusion :

Global Warming is not a myth. Rising temperatures can result in soil losing its water retention properties, rendering farmlands useless. Conscious and continuous efforts worldwide through global afforestation, reduction in fossil fuels and embracing cleaner renewable energy resources can help our planet recover. Parallely, research into alternate forms of raising crops, something along the lines of vertical farming or farming on floating bodies in the ocean etc could also be worthwhile.

Contact : https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivekmangipudi/