Climate Change Lecture 4

Climate Change (Lecture 4)

• Climate change is a shift in average temperatures and weather patterns over a long time period.
• The planet is warming due to climate change.
• Rising temperatures cause sea levels to rise.
• Rising sea levels flood coastal areas, destroying habitats and displacing people.
• Warming temperatures reduce sea ice.
• Sea ice reflects 80% of sunlight back into space.
• Global temperatures are rising due to existing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O).
• Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere.
• Main human activities contributing to climate change are burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and reducing biodiversity.
• The USA, EU, and China are responsible for approximately 60% of climate change.
• Countries least responsible for climate change are often most affected.
• The greenhouse effect is the trapping of heat energy by greenhouse gases.
• Measuring recent temperature changes is done directly with thermometers.
• Measuring long-term changes is done indirectly using ice cores, coral remains, tree rings, and historical records.
• Effects of warmer temperatures include melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and increased ocean water levels.
• The majority of scientists believe global warming is due to human activity, specifically greenhouse gas emissions.
• A minority of scientists believe global warming is due to natural fluctuations.
• A 1°C increase in global temperature will lead to melting glaciers, island flooding, coastal flooding, changes in weather patterns, difficulty in growing food, floods/droughts, salt water contaminating fresh water supplies, and increased mortality related to weather.
• Renewable energy sources are an alternative to burning fossil fuels.
• Earth's four interconnected systems are the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
• The atmosphere traps solar energy, keeping Earth's surface warm enough for liquid water to exist.
• The atmosphere is a mix of permanent and variable gases, along with suspended microscopic particles.
• Nitrogen (N2) comprises 78% of the atmosphere.
• Weather is the day-to-day or short-term atmospheric conditions.
• Climate is the average weather condition over several decades.
• Troposphere temperature decreases with altitude.
• Stratosphere temperature increases with altitude.
• Mesosphere temperature decreases with altitude.
• Estimated average temperature without greenhouse gases is -5°C.
• Actual Average Temperature is 15°C.

Explore the key concepts of climate change discussed in Lecture 4. This quiz covers the impacts of rising temperatures, sea levels, and greenhouse gases on our planet. Test your understanding of human activities contributing to climate change and the global responsibilities towards mitigation.