Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth's local, regional and global climates. These human-produced temperature increases are commonly referred to as global warming.
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2. What are greenhouse gases? Any gases that cause the “greenhouse effect!” Imagine… a car on a cool but sunny day…
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6. Global Climate Change • Identifiable change in the climate of Earth as a whole that lasts for an extended period of time (decades or longer) – When due to natural processes, it is usually referred to as global climate variability – Usually refers to changes forced by human activities that change the atmosphere
7. Climate Changes Currently Happening
8. What causes Earth’s climate to change? Changes in the atmosphere Natural processes Volcanoes Tectonic plate movement Changes in the sun Shifts in Earth’s orbit Human activities – any activity that releases “greenhouse gases” into the atmosphere
9. Meet an Ice Core Scientist
10. What does this graph mean?
11. What about those natural processes that can cause climate change? Click to explore these natural pr ocesses at the EPA website !
12. IPCC Conclusion: “Their effects [those of human-caused greenhouse gases], together with those of other anthropogenic drivers, have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-
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14. • Warming and sea level rise will continue and will probably occur more quickly than what we’ve already seen • Even if greenhouse gases are stabilized, this will probably continue to occur for centuries • Some effects may be permanent
15. • Effects on Ecosystems – Coral systems and other unique ecosystems cannot handle higher temperatures well – Wildfires will increase – Up to 30% of species will be at increased risk for extinction due to the rapid changes in their ecosystems
16. • Effects in North America – Warming in western mountains: several effects – Increased rain: will actually help some crops – Heat waves will increase in number, length, and intensity – Coastal communities will be affected by increased flooding and storms
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18. Source: Climate Analysis Indicators Tool, World Resources Institute
19. References • IPCC Summary Report for Policy Makers. 2014 • IPCC Summary Report graphics. 2014 • "About IPCC." IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 20 Apr. 2009 . • "Climate Change | U.S. EPA." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 20 Apr. 2009 . • Rischard, J. F. High Noon: Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them. New York: Basic Books, 2002. Presentation created by Cindy Barnes, 2015