Human influence on climate

Question 1

What is the major contributor to climate change?

Answer 1

the greenhouse effect

Question 2

what does the global temperature record show?

Answer 2

shows the fluctuations of the atmospheric and oceanic temperatures through various spans of time.

Question 3

what is the concept of a greenhouse?

Answer 3

A greenhouse isa building with glass walls and a glass roof.
Greenhouses are used to grow plants, such as tomatoes and tropical flowers.
A greenhouse stays warm inside, even during the winter.
In the daytime, sunlight shines into the greenhouse and warms the plants and air inside.

Question 4

name greenhouse gases

Answer 4

carbon dioxide
water vapour
methane
nitrous oxide
ozone

Question 5

How have humans released excess CO2 into the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Burning fossil fuels for energy
deforestation and burning of forests (a carbon sink)

Question 6

Evidences

Answer 6

1. global temperature changes
2. rising sea levels
3. Loss of Ice Cover

Question 7

Evidence 1 (global temperatures changes) information

Answer 7

increase in greenhouse gases results in more heat being trapped in the atmosphere. this has resulted in both surface and ocean temperatures increasing.

Question 8

Evidence two ( rising sea levels) information

Answer 8

The increase in global temperatures means more melting of the ice caps and glaciers.
This has resulted in an increase in sea levels as more water is released from the glaciers and added to the volume of the sea.

Question 9

Evidence 3 ( Loss of Ice Cover) information

Answer 9

The increase in global temperature translates to more melting of the ice caps and glaciers.
This results in less radiation being reflected from the surface, so more heat is absorbed by earth surface which leads to more ice melting - a positive feedback loop.