What is Climate Change?
To change, you first need to know what is happening.
Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time. NASA scientists have observed Earth’s surface is warming, and many of the warmest years on record have happened in the past 20 years. (NASA)
The Earth’s average temperature is about 15C but has been much higher and lower in the past.
There are natural fluctuations in the climate but scientists say temperatures are now rising faster than at many other times. (BBC)
The Greenhouse Effect
The Cause of Warming
The Greenhouse Effect describes how the Earth’s atmosphere traps some of the Sun’s energy.
Solar energy radiating back to space from the Earth’s surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-emitted in all directions.
This heats both the lower atmosphere and the surface of the planet. Without this effect, the Earth would be about 30C colder and hostile to life. (BBC)
Heat Enters
Heat and light from the Sun enters the atmosphere, with some of it bouncing away due to the greenhouse gases
Heat Spreads
Heat warms up the land the raises temperatures, bouncing from location to location
Heat is Stored
Some heat is trapped inside the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases and bounce back to Earth, heating it up even more.
Is this Bad?
By itself, the greenhouse effect is not bad. It is responsible for maintaining a livable atmosphere where plants and animals can survive. Without it, plants and animals would freeze. However, when there are too many greenhouse gases, too much heat is trapped, causing the earth to warm up.
Humans and the Climate
Humans affect the Climate. Every time you pick up a phone or browse the internet on your laptop you are contributing to the output of greenhouse gases like CO2 by using electricity, which is mostly generated by burning fossil fuels.
Mobile Devices
One year of using your phone emits as much CO2 as two round-trip flights
The Internet
The internet is responsible for 2% of all global greenhouse gas emissions
The Effect
The effect of climate change is all around us. From the increasing yearly temperatures to the rising sea levels, to the melting ice caps, to the animals losing their homes and habitat and going extinct. Just look outside.