Directed Reading Section: Climate Change
Define Global Warming
A gradual increase in the average global temperature that is due to a higher concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
How could global warming affect plants and animals?
An increase in global temperature can lead to an increase in evaporation. Increased evaporation could cause areas to become drier. Some plants and animals can not live in drier conditions.
According to the Milankovitch theory, what three factors can lead to climate changed?
Changes in the shape of Earths orbit, changes in Earths tilt, and the wobble of the Earth.
How could the melting of polar icecaps affect the shoreline and its inhabitants?
Could raise sea level by adding water to the oceans. The shoreline could shift inland many miles.
Climate change can affect what three life-forms?
Earths atmosphere, Oceans, and Land
The shape of Earth's orbit changes from__________ to circular, affecting Earth's distance from the sun and therefore Earth's temperature and climate.
Elliptical
Sulfur and ash from__________can decrease temperatures by reflecting sunlight back into space.
Eruptions
By studying_______, scientists can learn how animals adapted to changing climates.
Fossils
Computer-generated climate models that simulate changes in one variable when other variables remain unchanged are called_______
General circulation models (GCMs)
What can increases in CO2 levels lead to?
Global warming, an increase in temperatures around Earth
What are three potential climate changes that could make survival of life on Earth more difficult for both humans and other species?
Global warming, sea-level changes, and changes in precipitation
High levels of CO2 found in__________ indicate warmer climate in the past, whereas ice ages follow decreases in CO2
Ice cores
What two questions do scientists work to answer?
Make observations and inferences
Complex computer models can model interactions between what five elements?
Oceans, wind, land, clouds, and vegetation
What human activities are responsible for releasing carbon dioxide, CO2, into the atmosphere?
Pollution
When driving, what are three things that can be done to make sure the car is burning fuel more efficiently?
Properly tuned, tires are properly inflated, and driving at a consistent speed.
Define Climatologist ?
Scientific study of climate
When scientists fine high 18O levels in_________, they know that the water was cool in the past.
Sea-floor sediment
what practice helps climatologists make predictions about future climates?
Studying the evidence left by past climates
What four climate conditions can computer models be used to predict?
Temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and sea level
What four factors might cause climate changes?
The movement of tectonic plates, changes in the Earth's orbit, human activity, and atmospheric changes.
What actions have countries taken to reduce the potential effects of global warming?
Treaties and laws have been passed to reduce pollution. Industrial practices are being monitered and changed.
Thin________ indicate cool weather and low precipitation in the past
Tree rings
List four actions individuals can take to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere that are caused by pollution.
Turning lights off when not in use, turning down the heat in winter, reducing air conditioner use in summer, and recycling.
How can hybrid cars reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Use both gasoline and electricity
Name two ways that people can change their transportation habits to reduce the release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Using public transportation and driving fuel-efficient vehicles
The wobble of Earth on its axis changes the direction of Earth's tilt and can reverse the ____________
seasons
the movement of continents over millions of years caused by__________ may effect climate changes.
tectonic plate motion
Decreasing__________ decreases temperature differences between seasons.
tilt
