Climate Change Review

In recent years, the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have ...

increased and scientists believe this is due to human activity.

Climate change is already causing ...

more severe and frequent droughts and floods.

CO2 (carbon dioxide) accounts for ...

roughly 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.

Methane accounts for ...

20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.

The burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity, fuel vehicles, and power industry contributes ...

87% of all human-produced CO2 emissions.

How does a volcanic eruption affect climate?

As volcanic ash and gases spread throughout the atmosphere, they can block enough sunlight to cause global temperatures to drop.

How does solar activity affect the climate?

Cyclical changes in solar energy output are linked to the presence of sunspots. The number of sunspots increases from a minimum to a maximum and then back to a minimum over a period of about 11 years. This is called the sunspot cycle.

What would happen if we didn't have the Greenhouse Effect?

Earth would not be warm enough to sustain (keep) organisms alive.

If there is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, what will happen to Earth?

Earth's temperature will rise.

Evidence for Climate Change

Ice core analyses Melting sea ice and mountain glaciers Ocean waters heating up and acidifying Increasing height of the tropopause Shifting range of biological species and temporal advancement of spring events

What has caused CO2 to increase?

It is caused by deforestation and the burning of wood, car exhaust and the burning of fossil fuels in industry and power stations to produce electricity.

What releases methane?

It is released by rice farming, decaying organic matter in landfills and composts, farm livestock, and burning biomass for energy.

Greenhouse Effect

Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

How has climate for the past 400,000 years been calculated?

Using ice cores which show the gas concentrations and therefore the global temperatures.

Climate Change

a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

Global Warming

a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.