Climate Change > In Pictures: Climate Change

Hi, I'm Ed Mathez , a geologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Find out more about Earth's warming climate, its consequences, and what we can do.

Hi, I'm Ed Mathez , a geologist at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. I'm also the curator of a new exhibition at the Museum called Climate Change: The Threat to Life & A New Energy Future. Find out more about Earth's warming climate, its consequences, and what we can do.

Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil provide the energy that we need.
When coal is burned, it releases CO₂ into the atmosphere.
CO₂ is a greenhouse gas. It traps heat in our atmosphere and Earth's climate is warming.
As the atmosphere and oceans warm, giant masses of ice at the North and South Poles are melting.
There is less snow and ice in the Arctic for polar bears to call home.
Melting ice will cause sea level to rise, leading to flooding and erosion to coastlines.
Warmer oceans transfer heat into the atmosphere. We might see a greater number of severe storms.
A warmer climate also means there could be less rain in certain regions. Drought can dry up the land.
Marine animals like corals might be affected by changing ocean chemistry.
World population is rising. More people means more energy needs. Governments need to look for cleaner ways to create electricity.
We'll need to use multiple clean energy sources, like solar, nuclear, and wind power. There is no single solution.
You and I can also do simple things to save energy, like switching to energy-saving light bulbs in our homes.
We can use less electricity by turning off and unplugging lights, TVs, and other appliances when we're not using them.
Instead of riding in a car for short trips, we can walk or ride a bike. As we change our lifestyles, together we can make a difference.