Anthropogenic Effects of Climate Change

Anthropocene

Current era dominated by human impact, starting around the Industrial Revolution (~1700s).

The Great Acceleration

A period of rapid changes after 1950 caused by population growth, technology, and resource use.

Tragedy of the Commons

Shared resources get destroyed when people act selfishly.

Industrial Revolution Impacts

Shift to machines and factories, leading to increased pollution, resource extraction, and urbanization.

Dust Bowl

A period from 1925 to 1936 caused by drought and bad farming practices, resulting in soil loss and starvation.

Conservation Ethics

The different philosophies regarding the use and preservation of nature, including Romantic-Transcendental, Resource Conservation, and Land Ethic.

Keystone Species

A species that controls an ecosystem and whose removal can disrupt the ecosystem.

Climate Change

A change in Earth’s climate over time, now characterized by a warmer and more unpredictable climate.

Greenhouse Effect

A natural process where heat is trapped by gases, essential for keeping Earth warm.

CO₂ and Earth's Thermostat

The relationship where more CO₂ leads to a warmer planet and less CO₂ leads to a cooler planet.

Feedback Loops

Processes that can either amplify changes (positive feedback) or stabilize the system (negative feedback).

Fossil Fuels Problem

The burning of oil and coal releases stored carbon, quickly increasing CO₂ levels and contributing to global warming.

Hockey Stick Curve

A graph showing a sudden increase in global temperatures over time.

Future Predictions of Climate Change

Predictions that global temperatures will rise between +1.5°C and +5°C by 2100, depending on human actions.

Sea Ice Loss

Rapid melting of Arctic sea ice, leading to habitat loss and increased warming.

Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas are significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities.

Extreme Weather Chain

The process where increased heat leads to more evaporation, resulting in increased rainfall and subsequent flooding.

The Earth System is characterized by ________ & ________.

• Critical thresholds

• Abrupt changes

What does the term “anthro” mean?

human

Who is overwhelming the Earth’s geologic, atmospheric, hydrologic, and biological processes?

Humans

What controls the Earth as a system?

Feedback Loop

What has humanity change now?

• Climate

• Land

• Water

• Biodiversity

Why is the Anthropocene important?

Humans are now the main force shaping Earth

What best describes the Anthropocene?

Human-dominated era

Which is a greenhouse gas?

Carbon Dioxide

What type of feedback loop makes climate change worse?

Positive

What is the main cause of modern climate change?

Burning fossil fuels

What does the Keeling Curve show?

CO₂ increase

What causes sea level rise?

Thermal expansion & melting ice

Tragedy of the commons results from:

Shared resource overuse

Which ethic focuses on using resources wisely?

Resource Conservation

Explain positive vs negative feedback loops.

👉 Positive = amplifies change
👉 Negative = stabilizes system

Why is CO₂ called a thermostat?

👉 It controls Earth’s temperature (more = warmer, less = cooler)

Name 2 effects of climate change.

👉 Sea level rise, extreme weather, ice loss, species extinction

What is the tragedy of the commons?

👉 Overuse of shared resources leading to depletion

Since the Industrial Revolution shifted to machines & factories, it increased:

• Pollution

• Resource extraction

• Urbanization

What were the major impacts of the Dust Bowl?

• Drought (natural)

• Bad farming (human)

What were the results of the Dust Bowl?

• Soil loss

• Crop failure

• Starvation

What was the Greenhouse effected by?

Heat gets trapped by gases (CO₂,CH₄,N₂O,).

What are the Conservation Ethics?

• Romantic - Transcendental

• Resource Conservation

• Land Ethic