Climate Change

Major Causes of Climate Change

Natural CausesNatural Causes• the arctic tundra and wetlands the arctic tundra and wetlands

release methane, a greenhouse gasrelease methane, a greenhouse gas• Earth naturally has a cycle of Earth naturally has a cycle of

climate change that occurs every climate change that occurs every 40, 000 years40, 000 years

• the sun’s solar energy output is the sun’s solar energy output is changing and naturally increases changing and naturally increases Earth’s average temperature by Earth’s average temperature by about 1about 1ºC every centuryºC every century

• Earth’s orbit and tilt alter in Earth’s orbit and tilt alter in relation to the sun, which changes relation to the sun, which changes solar energy outputsolar energy output

Human CausesHuman Causes• Increasing green house gas Increasing green house gas

emissions from burning fossil emissions from burning fossil fuels-oil, coal, gasfuels-oil, coal, gas

• Pollution, smog from factoriesPollution, smog from factories• Large forests have been cut down Large forests have been cut down

(trees absorb CO(trees absorb CO2 2 and pollution, and pollution, deforestation creates about 6 deforestation creates about 6 billion tons of CObillion tons of CO22 per year) per year)

• Increasing world population-more Increasing world population-more people requires more food, people requires more food, energy, transportation, etc. energy, transportation, etc. Farms animals release methane Farms animals release methane from their wastes.from their wastes.

• More people also means more COMore people also means more CO22 production from respiration and production from respiration and less trees to make room for less trees to make room for human populationhuman population

Smog and Pollution From Smog and Pollution From FactoriesFactories

Farm Animals Release Methane Farm Animals Release Methane From their WastesFrom their Wastes

DeforestationDeforestation

Some Effects of Climate Some Effects of Climate ChangeChange

• An average increase in Earth’s temperature during the last centuryAn average increase in Earth’s temperature during the last century• Melting of polar ice—polar bears and other animals are drowningMelting of polar ice—polar bears and other animals are drowning• Migrating birds are forced to change their time and place of Migrating birds are forced to change their time and place of

migrationmigration• Melting of glaciers will lead to higher sea level, which will cause Melting of glaciers will lead to higher sea level, which will cause

floods and put many low-elevation regions at risk of disappearing floods and put many low-elevation regions at risk of disappearing under waterunder water

• Longer summers can disrupt animal habitationLonger summers can disrupt animal habitation• New and widespread diseases because of warm climateNew and widespread diseases because of warm climate• Damaged crops due to sudden climate change and floodsDamaged crops due to sudden climate change and floods• Average precipitation increase around the worldAverage precipitation increase around the world• Droughts, heat waves, extreme winters and storms, hurricanes, Droughts, heat waves, extreme winters and storms, hurricanes,

typhoonstyphoons• More wildfiresMore wildfires

Alternative Energy Sources Alternative Energy Sources and What You Can Doand What You Can Do

Help Save EarthHelp Save Earth

Works CitedWorks Cited• http://www.edugreen.teri.res.in/EXPLORE/climate/causes.htmhttp://www.edugreen.teri.res.in/EXPLORE/climate/causes.htm• http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/

Thewiderenvironment/Climatechange/DG_072920Thewiderenvironment/Climatechange/DG_072920• http://library.thinkquest.org/J003411/causes.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/J003411/causes.htm• http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/Global-Warming-http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/Global-Warming-

Causes.htmlCauses.html• http://www.globalwarming.org.in/global-warming-facts.phphttp://www.globalwarming.org.in/global-warming-facts.php• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-

warming/gw-effects.htmlwarming/gw-effects.html• http://www.effectofglobalwarming.com/images/What-is-global-http://www.effectofglobalwarming.com/images/What-is-global-

warming-img.jpgwarming-img.jpg• http://www.hickerphoto.com/global-warming-pictures-photos.htmhttp://www.hickerphoto.com/global-warming-pictures-photos.htm• http://support.nature.org/site/PageServer?http://support.nature.org/site/PageServer?

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