Climate Change Flashcards
What is happening to the levels of carbon dioxide and methane ?
They are increasing due to human activity
Why is carbon dioxide increasing ?
We are burning fossil fuels Eg coal for electricity and gas to heat our homes
Deforestation which causes large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released
How is carbon dioxide usually absorbed ?
Growing trees however rainforests are now being destroyed by deforestation
How is methane released/ what is causing it to increase ?
Agriculture
- cattle such as cows pass wind
- growing rice in flooded paddy fields
What does the increase in green hour gassed mean ?
Temperature of the atmosphere is rising
What does the rise in temperature mean ?
Cause melting the polar ice sheets and glaciers- increased sea levels- flooding
Change the distribution of animals and insects
What could climate change cause ?
More severe weather such as more storms in the UK
Why do many scientists believe in climate change ?
The evidence is shared between different scientists
Who can critism the evidence and decide on wether it’s valid
This is called peer review
What does peer reviewing scientific work do ?
Allows scientists to detect false claims that could be based on poor evidence or bias
What is the problem with our understanding of climate change ?
It’s complex and difficult to model so we therefore see stories about climate change in the media that are either simplified or biased
What must scientists have to do ?
Work harder to communicate the ideas around climate change to the general public due to false claims and speculation made by the public
What are some uncertainties surrounding climate change ?
We cannot predict with certainty how much the temp of the atmosphere will increase which can lead to speculation of the public
