Climate change
Problem
1. Definition: a change in climate patterns (regionally or global)
2. Current situation:
- Global issue
- More and more serious
- Negative impact on environment
- Threaten life on earth
Causes
1. Natural factors
- Orbital patterns
- Solar output
- Volcanic activity
2. Anthropogenic factors (human – made)
- Deforestation
- Fossil fuel burning
- Agricultural activity
Cause – and – effect relationships
 Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere
 Global temperature increases
 Ocean waters expand
 Polar ice and glaciers melt
 Sea levels rise
 Global warming
 More extreme weather events
 Other natural disasters
 Global warming
 Heat waves
Solutions
 Governments
- Sign agreement to limit global warming
 Individuals
- Save energy
- Walk, cycle or take public transports
Greenhouse effects
A greenhouse:
- A building with glass walls and glass roofs
- Stays warm inside
Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases
-
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide (n2o)
Fluorinated gases
Albedo effect
- Albedo: whiteness
- Sea ice: white and reflective => not absorb solar energy
- Albedo : measure of ratio of light reflected