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climate change

Arctic ice is melting. Coral reefs are disappearing. Sea levels are rising around the world. These events are part of an even bigger problem: a change in Earth’s climate. Global temperatures have risen over the past 100 years, leading to changes in long-term weather patterns. Human activities are the major cause. When we burn fossil fuels to produce energy, we add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. These extra greenhouse gases cause Earth’s climate to warm.

Stats

Definition: long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns
Effects: an increase in storms, melting polar ice, sea-level rise, warmer oceans, habitat destruction
Cause: more greenhouse gases in atmosphere
Human Impact: burning fossil fuels for energy and releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide
Cool Fact: There is still time to slow climate change if people put pressure on world leaders to take action now.

Story

The Greenhouse Effect
When you step inside a greenhouse, it feels warmer than it does outside. That's because the clear walls let sunlight in and keep the heated air from escaping.

In a way, Earth acts like a giant greenhouse. Its atmosphere absorbs and holds heat from the Sun, keeping Earth's climate warm enough for life to exist. This heat-absorbing process is called the greenhouse effect. As the Sun's energy reaches the atmosphere, about half makes it to Earth's surface. About 30% is reflected back into space, while the rest is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane. Heat energy also radiates back from Earth's surface, and this gets absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, too.

This is a natural process that keeps the planet livable. But in recent history, human activity is increasing greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels. The more greenhouse gases we put into the air, the more heat they absorb—and the warmer our Earth becomes.

Stumper

Earth is not heating up at the same rate everywhere. The _____ is warming more than other regions.

Arctic

Equator

Oceans

Correct!

The lighter and brighter Arctic ice reflects sunlight back into space, while darker oceans absorb more heat. As ice slowly melts from rising temperatures, less sunlight is reflected and more heat is absorbed. In turn, Earth warms and polar ice melts even more.

Fact or Fiction

Increased flooding and droughts are both effects of a warming climate.

Fact

Fiction

Fact

Climate change affects different parts of the world in different ways. Some areas experience widespread droughts, while others have higher sea levels and still others experience river flooding.

Fact or Fiction

This is not the first time in Earth's history that global temperatures have risen.

Fact

Fiction

Fact

During its long history, Earth's temperatures have risen and fallen naturally. But the current increase in temperatures is faster and higher than human beings have ever experienced.

Quote

“

What one person does
may not have an observable impact on climate change.
But if millions of people changed their lifestyle, it could make a difference!

„

Ed Mathez, Earth scientist

Image credits: main image, NSIDC, CU Boulder; Ed Mathez: courtesy of AMNH.

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Explore the connections between technology, population and rising atmospheric CO₂.

Correct!

Fact

Fact

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What is Climate Change?

Rising CO2