Transcript
Over the past 140 years, scientists have noticed the following: • Increased global temperature • Patterned increases and decreases throughout the year
1860 1880 1940 1960 1980 2000 1900 1920
Year vs. Average Global Temperature
What does Global Warming mean?
Studying Earth’s core samples, paleoclimatologists know: • Earth’s temperature is increasing at a rapid rate. • Global Warming and Cooling is a cycle. • Humans are altering and accelerating that cycle.
• Notice that there are increases and decreases every year.
• The average temperature is rapidly accelerating.
1860 1880 1940 1960 1980 2000 1900 1920
Year vs. Average Global Temperature
• Global Warming is caused by the inability of the Sun’s heat to escape our atmosphere.
• That inability is caused by the thickening of the Ozone Layer in our atmosphere.
• The thickening of the Ozone Layer is caused by an abundance of Greenhouse Gases in our atmosphere.
• Those Greenhouse Gases are released when humans burn fossil fuels – fuels containing Carbon.
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• Production of farm animals • Waste from farm animals (like
cows) releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
• Deforestation • When trees are cut down they
release the carbon that is inside them into the atmosphere and no longer absorb the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Changes in Weather Patterns • As the temperature of the atmosphere increases, so will the
temperature of the ocean and this will cause disruption of ocean currents.
• This temperature increase will cause the climate and weather to change all over the Earth.
Melting of polar ice caps and glaciers • As temperature increases it causes glaciers to melt, which leads to sea levels rising. • There will also be an abundance of freshwater from caps in oceans • This could also lead to loss of habitats for animals.
Spread of Disease • As temperatures increase, disease causing bacteria, viruses, and organisms will spread to new places.
• Unfortunately, the damage has been done. • We need to take the following steps to insure minimal
disruption: • Invest in clean energy – no more fossil fuels
• Fossil fuels include Coal, Oil, Natural Gas. • Some alternatives are: Solar Power, Wind Power,
Geothermal Power, Hydroelectric Power, Biomass Power
http://www.thegreenbubble.org/images/renewable-energy.gif http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/RenewableEnergy11.jpg
• Uses the power of the Sun to create energy. • Effective, yet currently expensive.
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Images/Solar_Power.jpg
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/solar-power.jpg
• Uses the power of the wind to create energy. • Effective, yet currently expensive.
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http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/wind-power.jpg
• Uses the power of the Earth’s Core to create energy. • Effective, yet currently very expensive to set up and use
efficiently.
http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/energy/geothermal-fossil-energy/production-electricity-from-geothermal-energy.jpg
• Uses the power of water to create energy. • Effective, yet currently expensive. • Very disruptive to water ecosystems.
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/hydro-power.jpg
• Uses the power of breaking down landmass to create energy.
• Not as effective, also very dangerous. • Disrupts natural habitats in large amounts.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/biomass/images/biomass_graphic.jpg
• Increasing global temperatures have negatively affected our environment.
• It is because of humans that the average global temperatures are rising.
• The only way to stop the increase is to: • Change the way that we are living
- Use clean energy - Cease the burning of fossil
fuels
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