Global Climate Change

What is climate change?

A long-term change in average climate conditions, including temperature and rainfall patterns.

What is global warming?

The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature.

What is the main cause of recent global warming?

Increased greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily from human activities.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term patterns.

How can increased greenhouse gases affect global temperatures?

They strengthen the greenhouse effect, causing warming.

What evidence supports global warming?

Temperature records, ocean warming, melting glaciers and rising sea levels.

How can ice cores provide evidence of past climates?

They contain trapped gases and chemical information about past atmospheric conditions.

How can historical temperature records provide evidence?

They show long-term changes in measured temperatures.

How can glaciers provide evidence of climate change?

Many glaciers have lost mass and retreated as temperatures have increased.

How can ocean measurements provide evidence of climate change?

They show increasing ocean heat content.

Why is sea level rising?

Mainly because of thermal expansion of seawater and melting land ice.

Why does melting land ice increase sea level?

It adds additional water to the oceans.

Why does warming seawater contribute to sea-level rise?

Water generally expands as its temperature increases.

What is one possible consequence of rising sea levels?

Increased coastal flooding and erosion.

How can climate change affect rainfall patterns?

It can alter precipitation, drought and flooding risks.

How can climate change affect ecosystems?

It can alter habitats, food webs and species distributions.

How can climate change affect agriculture?

It can change growing conditions, water availability and crop yields.

How can climate change affect human populations?

It can increase risks from heat, flooding, food insecurity and displacement.

Why is reducing greenhouse gas emissions important?

It can limit the extent of future warming and associated impacts.