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Questions and Answers
What is the primary cause of climate change during the last two hundred years?
What is the result of warmer atmosphere holding more moisture?
What is the consequence of melting ice caps on the Earth's surface?
What is released into the atmosphere as a result of thawing permafrost?
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What is the effect of rising temperatures on air pollution?
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What is the primary function of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
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What is a consequence of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and clearing forests?
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What is the natural process by which the atmosphere is warmed?
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What type of radiation is absorbed by the earth's surface?
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What is the term used to describe the human-enhanced warming of the atmosphere?
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Study Notes
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
- The Earth's atmosphere consists of greenhouse gases such as water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) that absorb and release heat, warming the atmosphere.
- These gases allow visible light and some infrared and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun to pass through, which is then absorbed by the Earth's surface and transformed into heat.
- The natural warming effect of the troposphere is called the natural greenhouse effect, essential for maintaining the Earth's surface temperature.
Human-Enhanced Warming and Climate Change
- Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and growing crops release CO2, methane, and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, leading to a significant increase in the average temperature of the Earth.
- Global warming is defined as the human-enhanced warming of the atmosphere.
- Climate change refers to the long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by industrial activities over the last 200 years.
Climate Change Impacts
Weather Patterns
- Warmer temperatures increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves, posing health risks, particularly for young children and the elderly.
- Warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to extreme weather, including droughts, intense storms, and floods.
Melting Ice Caps
- Melting snow and ice expose darker-colored ocean and land, absorbing more incoming solar radiation and releasing heat to the atmosphere, causing more warming and ice melting.
Melting Permafrost
- Thawing of frozen soils in polar regions releases trapped carbon as CO2 and methane, causing more warming and thawing of frozen soil.
Air Pollution
- Rising temperatures worsen air pollution by increasing ground-level ozone, created when pollution from cars, factories, and other sources react to sunlight and heat.
- Ground-level ozone is the main component of smog, linked to higher hospital admission rates and death rates for asthmatic people.
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Description
Learn about the effects of climate change on the environment, including more frequent and severe weather events, and how human activities contribute to this global issue. Test your knowledge on the impacts of climate change and its consequences on our planet.
