climate change

how long can carbon dioxide remain in the environment?

50-200 years

destruction of coral reefs

A change in water temperature by 1 or 2 degrees Celsius would be enough to destroy coral reef ecosystems. Australia's Great Barrier Reef could lose 95% of its species

methane

A greenhouse gas produced by rice and cattle farming. This gas is 7.5 times more effective as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide but is currently in the atmosphere at much lower levels than carbon dioxide

climate change

A natural phenomenon and normally takes place over several centuries. It is being used now to refer to the current climate. This is because recent scientific records show that the global climate seems to be warming up more rapidly than usual

keep your feet on the ground

Air travel is a major polluter. One short flight produces roughly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as running a small car for three months.

effects of global warming on agriculture

As temperature rises, crops may be able to grow further north. In some areas, drier summer could cause more droughts and lower quality crops or the failure of existing crops

effects of global warming on oceans

As temperatures rise the sea will absorb more heat. This could cause thermal expansion, leading to a continued rise in sea levels. Low lying land would be lost by flooding or increased coastal erosion. This would cause a significant loss of habitat for many organisms

fossil fuels

Carbon based materials that formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals. They are burned to generate heat. This combustion reaction creates carbon dioxide and water as waste products.

most significant greenhouse gas

Carbon dioxide

gases that contribute to the greenhouse gas?

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, water vapor and ozone

effects of global warming on insects

Climate change can affect the life cycles of insects. It is thought that an increase in temperature could cause an explosion in insect populations. This would have a devastating effect on crops. Some species, such as mosquitoes that carry malaria and other diseases, may be able to inhabit areas previously unsuitable

effects of global warming on animals

Climate change could cause a change in the current habitats of many animals. Some animals may no longer have any suitable habitat left; others may not be able to migrate far enough to reach suitable habitats. Competition from invasive species is also a concern. Many species may become in danger of extinction

habitat destruction

Climate change could cause habitats to change faster than animals can adapt to them. Polar bears are one species that could be at risk from extinction

decline in winter sports

Decreasing snowfalls have begun to affect skiing and snowboarding. Some resorts have had less snow cover on the slopes and have needed to close for the summer sooner.

What is the greenhouse effect?

Energy in the form of radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth. The Earth absorbs some of the heat energy and reflects the rest back as longer wavelength infrared radiation. Some of the radiation travels through the atmosphere and escapes into space. Some of the infrared radiation is trapped and reflected back to the Earth by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This effect warms the Earth enough for life to exist on the planet. Higher levels of greenhouse gases increase the amount of radiation reflected back to the Earth. This causes a greater increase in global temperature.

biofuels

Fuels produced from biological sources could reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. The carbon released during combustion is equal to or only slightly more than that consumed during photosynthesis.

get talking

Governments can act together to prevent climate change. So far, 161 countries worldwide have committed to the Kyoto protocol, an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

increased disease

Hotter temperatures could encourage the spread of diseases like malaria. Mosquitoes, the insects that carry malaria, will be able to travel further north as it becomes warmer

extreme weather

In 2005, New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever. Rising sea temperatures could mean hurricanes like this happen more often

heatwaves

In the European heatwave of 2003, over 20,000 people died. Although a milder climate might be pleasant, heatwaves could be a real problem if temperatures increase

proxy record

Indirect climate measures of the climate that have not been recorded using instruments. Ice cores and tree rings.

ice cores

Long cylindrical plugs drilled from glaciers and ice sheets. They are composed of thousands of layers of compressed snow and air bubbles. The air can be analysed to determine the gaseous composition of the atmosphere at that time. Ice cores can provide us with climatic data from up to approximately 400,000 years ago. Long columns of ice that are drilled out of glaciers. They are studied to increase understanding of the history of climate as they provide data about the distant past. Air bubbles trapped in the ice are used to estimate carbon dioxide levels thousands of years ago

get thinking

Making machinery and cars more energy efficient will help reduce the amount of fuel needed.

careful with them cows

Methane, one of the greenhouse gases, is produced by livestock flatulence. Research is being carried out to see if changing the food animals eat reduces flatulence

effects of global warming on plants

Plant distribution could be affected by climate change. In the last 30 years, plant species in Southern California's Santa Rosa mountains have moved up the mountains as temperatures have risen. Some species may be unable to disperse themselves beyond their natural range, or be unable to inhabit new sites. This will result in the loss of these species.

reforestation

Planting more trees or allowing cleared areas to regrow can increase the amount of carbon dioxide taken up by biomass

pollen

Pollen grains and spores are extremely resistant to decay. They can provide evidence as to which species were present in an area at a given time, and therefore an indication of the climate. However, differences in productivity and dispersion rates means that this evidence can only suggest that the climate was warmer or cooler, i.e. it is qualitative rather than quantitative

on yer bike!

Road transport counts for 20% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions. At times, 1 in every 5 cars on the road are taking children to school. Walking, cycling and using public transportation would lower pollution

Natural or anthropomorphic climate change?

Scientists have studied Antarctic ice cores to find out historical information about the climate and carbon dioxide concentration. This graphs shows the fluctuations in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere over 400,000 years before the present. Fluctuations in CO2 concentration and temperature anomaly are similar. As CO2 concentration has increased, the temperature anomaly has too

change in global temperature

The average global surface temperature has increased by around 0.6 degrees Celsius over the past 100 years.

changes in temperature in past and future

The average global temperature has increased by o.6 degrees celsius in 140 years. The ten hottest years for the last 100 years have occurred since 1990. Scientists have predicted that the climate could increase by up to 6 degrees Celsius in the next 150 years

climate

The average weather for a region over a long period of time, usually 30 years

carbon cycle

The chain of reactions of how carbon moves through the environment. Carbon is in the atmosphere and oceans as carbon dioxide. Plants take up atmospheric carbon dioxide when they photosynthesize. Plants store carbon in their cells as sugars, which are eaten by animals. Plants and animals release carbon dioxide during respiration. Carbon dioxide is released by dead matter as it decays. Sediments from dead matter form fossil fuels and carbon-based rocks. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Volcanoes release carbon dioxide from the Earth's core into the atmosphere.

two most important pieces of evidence of climate change

The continual rise of sea levels and the melting of polar ice caps

effects of global warming on birds

The distribution and number of birds may change. Some birds may be required to adapt to different niches due to change in the food availability. A change in climate could affect the time of egg laying and migration. The incidence and distribution of certain diseases in avian populations could also be affected

global warming

The increase in the Earth's temperature due to the greenhouse effect, which can cause changes in climate. Now being used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases and other human activities. This enhanced greenhouse effect may lead to significant climate change

effects of global warming on flooding

The number and duration of severe floods may increase, as annual rainfall is predicted to increase in certain areas of the world. This could cause an increase in the number of waterborne diseases, such as cholera

weather

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. It is measured in terms of factors such as temperature, rainfall, humidity and cloudiness

dendrochronology

The study of the width of tree rings. The rings can be used to determine the relative changes in environmental conditions during the lifetime of the tree, i.e. thicker rings can indicate a warmer year. However, other variables such as species, age and nutrients can also effect the ring width

effects of global warming on glaciers

The volume of glaciers and ice sheets at the poles is decreasing. This could affect some wild plants and animals, such as the polar pear. This would also contribute to rising sea levels

What type of relationship between carbon dioxide levels and temperatures?

There is a positive relationship

dig deep

Trees take up Carbon Dioxide during photosynthesis, so planting trees could soak up emissions. Business and individuals can pay to have trees planted for them to offset their emissions

changes to farming

Warmer weather has already increased the length of the growing season in Europe. However, more tropical areas could suffer from more droughts and famines