What is Climate Change? Natural Greenhouse Effect Linking CO2 and Global temperatures
Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns or average The Earth is kept warm by a natural process called the The rate of carbon dioxide and increase in global
temperatures. Earth has had tropical climates and ice ages many times in its 4.5 billion years. Greenhouse Effect. As solar radiation hits the Earth, temperatures is strong. Scientist agree that this
some is reflected back into space. However, greenhouse increase is cause by human activity.
gases help trap the sun’s radiation. Without this process,
Quaternary geological period
the Earth would be too cold to support life as temperature
would average as -18°C instead of +15°C.
The quaternary period is the last 2.6 million years.
During this period temperatures have always
fluctuated. The cold ‘spikes’ are the glacial periods, Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
whereas the warm points are the interglacial periods.
Recently, there has been an increase in humans burning
Today’s temperature is higher than the rest of the fossil fuels for energy. These fuels (gas, coal and oil) emit
period. Despite alternate cold and warm moments extra greenhouse gases. This is making the Earth’s
within this period, global temperatures have increased atmosphere thicker, therefore trapping more solar
above average in the past 100 years. This current trend radiation but causing less to be reflected. As a result, our
is what's become know as global warming. Earth is becoming warmer.
Evidence for climate change Retreat of the Columbia Glacier, Alaska, USA Greenhouse Gases
Earth’s temperature has changed over the last 2.6 million years. Scientist know Located in southern Alaska, it flows 50km to the sea. The Most greenhouse gases occur naturally. Some greenhouse gases have
this by collecting a range of evidence that is trapped or stored in the environment glaciers has been retreated by 16km and has lost half of greater potential to increase global warming than occurs as different
around us. its thickness in the last 30 years. Scientist believed this gases trap and absorb different amounts of radiation.
is due to global warming, which if continued will
Geological fossil Plants and animals fossils/remains which favour certain contribute towards continued sea level rises. Carbon Accounts for 60% of the enhanced greenhouse
evidence environmental conditions have been found in dioxide gases. It is produced by burning fossil fuels through
contractionary conditions, thus suggesting periods of a
warmer and colder time. E.g. Mastodon in USA. Topic 2 producing electricity, industry, cars and deforestation.
Ocean Sediment Layers of sediment that has built up over time have
provided scientist trapped oxygen isotopes. Scientist
have used them to calculate and understand that
CHANGING CLIMATE Methane Accounts for 15% of the enhanced greenhouse
gases. 25x more efficient than Carbon dioxide.
Produce from landfills, rice and farm animals.
atmospheric temperature have indeed changed.
Past Evidence: The Little Ice Age (1300-1870) Halocarbons Human made and makes a tidy proportion of all
Ice Cores Ice cores are made up from different layers that each greenhouse gases. 15000x more efficient at trapping
The Little Ice Age was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm radiation than Carbon dioxide. Produced from air-
represents a different historical time. By exploring the Period in parts of Europe and North America. Impacts included…
water molecules of these cores, scientist have calculated conditioning, refrigerators and aerosols.
fluctuating temperatures of the atmosphere. 1. Price of grain increased and vineyards become unproductive.
Nitrous Accounts for 6% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Historical records Historical records from ancient cave paintings, diaries 2. Sea ice engulfed Iceland and the sea force around parts f the UK. Frost Fairs Oxide 250x more efficient than Carbon dioxide. Produced
and written observations have provide evidence of were held on rivers such as the River Thames. from fertilisers and car exhausts.
climate change through personal accounts from the
people through them. 3. People suffered from the intense cold winters as food stock were limited. Whose responsible?
Recent Evidence for climate change. Evidence of natural change LIDCs Countries in Africa, such as Kenya,
emit low levels of carbon dioxide.
In the past 100 years, scientists have become pretty good at collecting Climate change has occurred in the past without human ever being present. This suggests This is due to these countries not
accurate measurements from around the world. These measurements that there are natural reasons for the climate to change. being industrialised or having a
have suggested a trend that the climate is yet again changing. population wealthy enough to
consume lots of energy
Milankovitch Milutin Milankovitch argued that climate change was linked to the
Global Evidence collected by NASA suggests average cycle way the Earth orbits the Sun, and how it wobbles and tilts as it does
temperature global temperatures have increased by more than it. There are three ideas that are thought to change climate. EDCs Countries such as China and India
data 0.6°C since 1950. are increasingly more industrialised Not what is seems
1. Eccentricity: Changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit. and therefore are emitting more
Ice sheets and Evidence from maps and photos have shown many carbon dioxide. These increasing Although China is
glaciers of the world’s glaciers and ice sheets are melting. population sizes and steadily responsible for the
2. Obliquity: Changes in how the Earth tilts on its axis.
E.g. the Arctic sea ice has declined by 10% in 30 increasing wealth mean more highest amount of
years. energy is being consumed. carbon emission, 1.4
3. Precession: The amount the Earth wobbles on its axis.
billion people do live
there. However, per
Sea Level Evidence from the IPCC has shown that the average Sun Spots Dark spots on the Sun are called Sun spots. They increase the ACs Countries such as the USA and UK person, the USA
Change global sea level has risen by 10-20cms in the past amount of energy Earth receives from the Sun. are industrialised with a wealthier (320 million) actually
100 years. This is due to the additional water from population that enjoy lifestyles contributes far more
fresh water ice and thermal expansion of the ocean Volcanic Volcanoes release large amounts of dust containing gases. These which required a large consumption CO2 emissions.
due to higher temperatures. Eruptions can block out sunlight and results in cooler global temperatures. of energy.
Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns or average The Earth is kept warm by a natural process called the The rate of carbon dioxide and increase in global
temperatures. Earth has had tropical climates and ice ages many times in its 4.5 billion years. Greenhouse Effect. As solar radiation hits the Earth, temperatures is strong. Scientist agree that this
some is reflected back into space. However, greenhouse increase is cause by human activity.
gases help trap the sun’s radiation. Without this process,
Quaternary geological period
the Earth would be too cold to support life as temperature
would average as -18°C instead of +15°C.
The quaternary period is the last 2.6 million years.
During this period temperatures have always
fluctuated. The cold ‘spikes’ are the glacial periods, Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
whereas the warm points are the interglacial periods.
Recently, there has been an increase in humans burning
Today’s temperature is higher than the rest of the fossil fuels for energy. These fuels (gas, coal and oil) emit
period. Despite alternate cold and warm moments extra greenhouse gases. This is making the Earth’s
within this period, global temperatures have increased atmosphere thicker, therefore trapping more solar
above average in the past 100 years. This current trend radiation but causing less to be reflected. As a result, our
is what's become know as global warming. Earth is becoming warmer.
Evidence for climate change Retreat of the Columbia Glacier, Alaska, USA Greenhouse Gases
Earth’s temperature has changed over the last 2.6 million years. Scientist know Located in southern Alaska, it flows 50km to the sea. The Most greenhouse gases occur naturally. Some greenhouse gases have
this by collecting a range of evidence that is trapped or stored in the environment glaciers has been retreated by 16km and has lost half of greater potential to increase global warming than occurs as different
around us. its thickness in the last 30 years. Scientist believed this gases trap and absorb different amounts of radiation.
is due to global warming, which if continued will
Geological fossil Plants and animals fossils/remains which favour certain contribute towards continued sea level rises. Carbon Accounts for 60% of the enhanced greenhouse
evidence environmental conditions have been found in dioxide gases. It is produced by burning fossil fuels through
contractionary conditions, thus suggesting periods of a
warmer and colder time. E.g. Mastodon in USA. Topic 2 producing electricity, industry, cars and deforestation.
Ocean Sediment Layers of sediment that has built up over time have
provided scientist trapped oxygen isotopes. Scientist
have used them to calculate and understand that
CHANGING CLIMATE Methane Accounts for 15% of the enhanced greenhouse
gases. 25x more efficient than Carbon dioxide.
Produce from landfills, rice and farm animals.
atmospheric temperature have indeed changed.
Past Evidence: The Little Ice Age (1300-1870) Halocarbons Human made and makes a tidy proportion of all
Ice Cores Ice cores are made up from different layers that each greenhouse gases. 15000x more efficient at trapping
The Little Ice Age was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm radiation than Carbon dioxide. Produced from air-
represents a different historical time. By exploring the Period in parts of Europe and North America. Impacts included…
water molecules of these cores, scientist have calculated conditioning, refrigerators and aerosols.
fluctuating temperatures of the atmosphere. 1. Price of grain increased and vineyards become unproductive.
Nitrous Accounts for 6% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Historical records Historical records from ancient cave paintings, diaries 2. Sea ice engulfed Iceland and the sea force around parts f the UK. Frost Fairs Oxide 250x more efficient than Carbon dioxide. Produced
and written observations have provide evidence of were held on rivers such as the River Thames. from fertilisers and car exhausts.
climate change through personal accounts from the
people through them. 3. People suffered from the intense cold winters as food stock were limited. Whose responsible?
Recent Evidence for climate change. Evidence of natural change LIDCs Countries in Africa, such as Kenya,
emit low levels of carbon dioxide.
In the past 100 years, scientists have become pretty good at collecting Climate change has occurred in the past without human ever being present. This suggests This is due to these countries not
accurate measurements from around the world. These measurements that there are natural reasons for the climate to change. being industrialised or having a
have suggested a trend that the climate is yet again changing. population wealthy enough to
consume lots of energy
Milankovitch Milutin Milankovitch argued that climate change was linked to the
Global Evidence collected by NASA suggests average cycle way the Earth orbits the Sun, and how it wobbles and tilts as it does
temperature global temperatures have increased by more than it. There are three ideas that are thought to change climate. EDCs Countries such as China and India
data 0.6°C since 1950. are increasingly more industrialised Not what is seems
1. Eccentricity: Changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit. and therefore are emitting more
Ice sheets and Evidence from maps and photos have shown many carbon dioxide. These increasing Although China is
glaciers of the world’s glaciers and ice sheets are melting. population sizes and steadily responsible for the
2. Obliquity: Changes in how the Earth tilts on its axis.
E.g. the Arctic sea ice has declined by 10% in 30 increasing wealth mean more highest amount of
years. energy is being consumed. carbon emission, 1.4
3. Precession: The amount the Earth wobbles on its axis.
billion people do live
there. However, per
Sea Level Evidence from the IPCC has shown that the average Sun Spots Dark spots on the Sun are called Sun spots. They increase the ACs Countries such as the USA and UK person, the USA
Change global sea level has risen by 10-20cms in the past amount of energy Earth receives from the Sun. are industrialised with a wealthier (320 million) actually
100 years. This is due to the additional water from population that enjoy lifestyles contributes far more
fresh water ice and thermal expansion of the ocean Volcanic Volcanoes release large amounts of dust containing gases. These which required a large consumption CO2 emissions.
due to higher temperatures. Eruptions can block out sunlight and results in cooler global temperatures. of energy.
