Lecture 11: Climate Change - Causes

what is climate change?

• the long-term shift in weather conditions, identified by changes in temperature, precipitation, and winds

what is the largest contributor to climate change?

fossils fuels (coal, oil, gas)

what is the greenhouse effect? what has enhanced this effect?

a natural process in which atmospheric gases trap the sun’s heat and warm the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere, making Earth hospitable for life.

human activity has increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, trapping extra heat in the atmosphere and slowly warming the planet

name some major greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change

• Carbon dioxide (CO2): makes up 75% of greenhouse gas emissions

• Methane (NH4): as things decompose, they release methane. cattle release methane in digestion

• Nitrous oxide

• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)