Causes of Global Climate Change
57 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What were some immediate impacts of the military's refusal to allow humanitarian aid workers into the country after the storm?

The refusal led to nearly 140,000 deaths and the displacement of one million people.

How does climate change contribute to military conflicts in certain regions?

Climate change can lead to severe weather events and resource scarcity, resulting in disputes over access to clean water and food.

What event does the violence in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina exemplify?

It exemplifies how desperation in the face of disaster can lead to violence and conflict.

What was the estimated percentage of the United States experiencing extreme drought in August 2012?

<p>About 60 percent of the United States was experiencing extreme drought.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concerns does the U.S. military have regarding climate change?

<p>The U.S. military is concerned about rising sea levels threatening coastal bases and the demand for disaster relief.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Leon Panetta, how does climate change affect humanitarian assistance?

<p>Climate change raises demand for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief due to more frequent natural disasters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two areas will be explored in Part II of the reading regarding climate change?

<p>Part II will explore prevention of climate change and coping strategies for its effects.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What questions are raised about responsibility concerning climate change?

<p>The questions include who is responsible for climate change and who is most at risk.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines climate change and how does it differ from natural climate variations?

<p>Climate change refers to significant shifts in temperature and environmental factors caused primarily by human activities, differing from natural variations that occur over millennia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are greenhouse gases and why are they important for Earth's climate?

<p>Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, are crucial because they trap heat in the atmosphere, maintaining a temperature necessary for life on Earth.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between human activities and the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

<p>Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, have significantly increased greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the accumulation of greenhouse gases affect global temperatures?

<p>The accumulation of greenhouse gases leads to an increase in global temperatures, contributing to climate change commonly referred to as 'global warming.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might discussions of climate change often follow extreme weather events?

<p>Discussions of climate change frequently follow extreme weather events because these events illustrate the tangible effects of rising temperatures and changing climate conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What would happen to Earth's temperature without greenhouse gases?

<p>Without greenhouse gases, Earth's average temperature would drop to around 0˚F, potentially freezing all water on the planet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify two human activities that contribute to climate change.

<p>The burning of fossil fuels and deforestation are two primary human activities contributing to climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the current average temperature of Earth, and how is it affected by greenhouse gases?

<p>The current average temperature of Earth is 59˚F, which is maintained by greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does warm water vapor influence the power of storms?

<p>Warm water vapor increases the intensity and power of storms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What effect did climate change have on Hurricane Sandy's impact in 2012?

<p>Climate change exacerbated the flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name two health issues that are amplified by climate change-related events.

<p>Heat stroke and asthma are two health issues that worsen due to climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can droughts affect public health?

<p>Droughts threaten access to clean water for drinking and food production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of extreme weather on healthcare access?

<p>Extreme weather can damage medical facilities and disrupt transportation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What geographic changes are occurring among some species due to climate change?

<p>Some species are migrating towards the poles or higher altitudes to escape warming temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are crop yields affected by climate change?

<p>Crop yields may improve in some regions while declining in others due to changing temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are some adaptations farmers may need to make due to climate change?

<p>Farmers may need to change crops, irrigation practices, and use more chemical pesticides.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way could climate change lead to increased political conflict?

<p>Poor harvests and collapses of fisheries can force refugees across borders, causing tensions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What critical role might ocean temperatures play in food supply due to climate change?

<p>Increased ocean temperatures can impact fisheries, essential for food and economies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it difficult for some species to adapt to climate change?

<p>Some species cannot adapt fast enough or may face barriers like roads and competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the relationship between climate change and waterborne diseases.

<p>Climate change can lead to more frequent floods, which may contaminate water supplies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What major health crisis occurred in Europe in 2003 linked to climate change?

<p>The 2003 summer heat wave contributed to over seventy thousand deaths in Europe.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the leading cause of climate change according to the content?

<p>Humans' use of fossil fuels is the leading cause of climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has human activity contributed to the increase of greenhouse gases?

<p>Human activity has increased greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels and clearing land for agriculture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the Earth's land surface is now used for farmland?

<p>Almost half of the Earth's land surface is used for farmland.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the main source of energy before fossil fuels during industrialization?

<p>Wood was the main source of energy before fossil fuels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What environmental changes indicate the presence of climate change?

<p>Rising temperatures, increased ocean acidity, and shrinking glaciers indicate climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 1.4˚F increase in surface temperature over the past century?

<p>A 1.4˚F increase is significant because even a 9˚F decrease can shift temperatures drastically, such as into an ice age.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do trees play in the climate regarding CO2?

<p>Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, which helps reduce greenhouse gas levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the Industrial Revolution impact energy sources?

<p>The Industrial Revolution led to a significant shift from wood to fossil fuels as the main sources of energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What statistical trend is seen regarding atmospheric CO2 levels?

<p>Atmospheric CO2 levels have dramatically increased over the last 400,000 years.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors contribute to the production of climate science?

<p>Climate science is produced through ongoing research and climate models that reflect human and environmental interactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What analogy is used to explain the function of greenhouse gases?

<p>Greenhouse gases function like the glass of a greenhouse, allowing sunlight in and trapping heat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is there a concern about the rate of climate change since 1970?

<p>The rapid rate of warming since 1970 is concerning because it exceeds historical changes over long periods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How much has CO2 increased since the start of the Industrial Revolution?

<p>CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by more than 40 percent since the Industrial Revolution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between climate models and predicting climate change impacts?

<p>Climate models help scientists predict the impacts of climate change by simulating environmental systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are climate models used for in climate research?

<p>Climate models are used to simulate and project future climate conditions based on known interactions between components and past observations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do researchers validate climate models?

<p>Researchers validate climate models by running simulations of past climates and comparing the results with actual historical data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What significant change in CO2 levels was observed in the atmosphere?

<p>CO2 levels in the atmosphere were relatively constant until about 150 years ago, after which they began to rise significantly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main goals of studying past climate conditions?

<p>The two main goals are to understand how the climate has changed over time and to develop models for predicting future climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do some people doubt climate change science?

<p>Some people doubt climate change science because they believe that predictions made by climate models are uncertain and not trustworthy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What kind of uncertainty affects climate models?

<p>Uncertainty in climate models affects predictions about future greenhouse gas emissions, which depend on various unpredictable factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one method used to extract climate data from the past.

<p>Researchers extract ice cores from glaciers to study variations in past climate conditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the projected impacts of climate change on sea levels?

<p>Climate change is projected to raise sea levels by up to three feet by the year 2100.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does climate change affect extreme weather patterns?

<p>Climate change leads to more extreme temperatures, increased heat waves, and more frequent and severe storms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is causing some coastal properties in the southeastern U.S. to be at risk?

<p>Rising sea levels due to climate change are putting many coastal properties in the southeastern U.S. at risk of flooding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'climate change refugees'?

<p>'Climate change refugees' are people forced to leave their homes due to rising sea levels and the impacts of climate change.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ecological impact is associated with increased CO2 levels in oceans?

<p>Increased CO2 levels lead to ocean acidification, which is harmful to marine life and ecosystems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of how climate change predictions are similar to planning in other sectors.

<p>Similar to public health, where officials prepare for potential disease outbreaks, climate change predictions also involve planning for uncertain future scenarios.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'global weirding'?

<p>'Global weirding' refers to the unpredictable and extreme effects of climate change beyond just rising temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Causes of Global Climate Change

  • Greenhouse gases: Naturally occurring gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor) trap heat, vital for Earth's temperature. Without them, Earth's average temperature would be drastically lower, potentially freezing all water.
  • Human activity: The primary cause of increased greenhouse gases and current climate change. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) is the leading contributor, increasing CO2 levels by over 40% since the Industrial Revolution.
  • Agriculture's role: Deforestation for farming, reducing CO2 absorption by trees, contributed to increasing greenhouse gases, although it wasn't as pronounced as the impact of burning fossil fuels.
  • Industrialization: A key factor in escalated fossil fuel use. Starting with Britain in the late 1700s, industries expanded coal use, then developed oil drilling. By the 20th century, coal and oil powered much of the world's economy, with coal responsible for a large portion of CO2 emissions in 2012.

Evidence of Climate Change

  • Rising temperatures: Earth's average surface temperature has increased by 1.4°F over the past 100 years; a relatively small rise, but significant given a global temperature decrease of only about 9°F marks the difference between current temperatures and an ice age. The most significant warming has occurred since 1970.
  • Other indicators: Rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidity levels, shrinking glaciers, and more frequent extreme weather events are all observed effects related to climate change.
  • Scientific consensus: The scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that climate is changing drastically based on rising temperatures and other observed effects documented over several decades.

Understanding Climate Science

  • Dynamic nature of science: Scientific knowledge continuously evolves as scientists refine their understanding of the natural world. Climate change science is continually improving based on new data and models.
  • Climate models: Scientists create mathematical representations of how human and environmental systems interact to project future climate change. They involve dividing the Earth into components (land, atmosphere, ocean, ice), entering known information and testing accuracy using past simulations and comparing them to real data. Further refinement and future simulations predict future climate changes.
  • Ice core analysis: Data from ice cores analyzed from thousands of feet below the earth's surface shows that the amount of atmospheric CO2 remained relatively stable for a long time but then rose sharply about 150 years ago. Scientists use this information to further understand past conditions and improve future climate change models.

Doubt and Uncertainty in Climate Change Science

  • Uncertainty in projections: There is natural uncertainty associated with climate projections due to the impossibility of precisely predicting future greenhouse gas emissions. Many factors like international negotiations, regional decisions, natural events, and technology developments influence future emission levels.
  • Planning despite uncertainties: Predictive planning based on best available information is common in many sectors. Decisions adapt in light of unfolding information.

Effects of Global Climate Change

  • Rising sea levels: Glacier melting and warming ocean water expansion cause sea level rise, potentially increasing coastal flooding. This threatens coastal cities, low-lying countries, and coastal properties in the coming decades.
  • Extreme weather events: Climate change increases the likelihood of extreme temperatures extremes (heatwaves, cold snaps), increased number of droughts, and increased intensity of powerful storms. Warmer ocean water evaporates more, strengthening storms.
  • Health impacts: Heatwaves, air pollution, and changing disease distribution increase the risk of heatstroke, allergies, asthma, heart disease, and the spread of diseases like cholera and dengue fever. Droughts and flooding decrease access to clean water and healthcare, and climate-related impacts disrupt health systems in affected areas.
  • Species migration: Many species are shifting their ranges to higher altitudes and latitudes, adjusting to warming temperatures. This relocation could lead to competition in new areas, blockages by human constructions in migration routes, and extinctions.
  • Food and agriculture: Climate change affects agricultural yields, increasing costs due to lower crop yields from changing temperature and precipitation patterns; more frequent floods and droughts make farming more challenging, with reliance on more chemicals and potentially changing crops and techniques. Fish populations may also be affected, adding strain to the already increasing global demand for food.
  • Conflict and security: Climate change could lead to conflicts over resources like water and food, and displacement of populations, possibly creating security risks.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Description

This quiz explores the various factors contributing to global climate change. You'll learn about greenhouse gases, human activities like burning fossil fuels, and the impact of agriculture and industrialization on the climate. Test your knowledge on how these elements interact and affect our planet's future.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser