8 Module title: : Introduction to Climate Education We know that human activities are the cause of this increase because the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by burning fossil fuels carries a distinct chemical fingerprint that’s detectable in the atmosphere. Scientists have known since the 1800s that greenhouse gases trap heat, preventing it from escaping to space. The warming effect of greenhouse gases is amplified by feedbacks, especially from water vapor (a powerful and plentiful natural greenhouse gas), leading to more warming and changes in climate. Natural influences on climate, such as changes in solar radiation, natural cycles, volcanic eruptions, and the climate’s normal year-to-year variability, can‘t fully explain the current warming trend. The climate changes observed in recent decades follow a number of patterns—such as cooling at high altitudes and more warming at night than during the day—that are consistent with what scientists would expect from an increase in greenhouse gases rather than changes in solar variability or other natural causes. Watch this and reflect! Climate Action Tracker: The state of the climate crisis in 2021 | TED Talk Why is climate change a serious problem? The Earth’s average temperature has risen by 1.5°C over the past century, and climate scientists estimate it will rise another 0.5 to 8.6°C by the end of this century, depending, in part, on future emissions. That may not sound like much to worry about, since most of us experience much greater temperature changes over the course of a day or from season to season. But the global average temperature during the height of the last ice age was only 5 to 9°C cooler than it is today. Relatively small changes in the planet’s average temperature can mean big changes in local and regional climate, creating risks to public health and safety, water resources, agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Here are some examples: • Increasing heat waves • More extreme weather: In addition to heat waves, changes in precipitation patterns, including extreme precipitation events, storms, and floods, are becoming more common and more severe in many regions, and this is expected to continue. • Intensified droughts: Higher temperatures lead to increased rates of evaporation and can lead to more rapid drying of soils. • Impacts on crops: Over the past 40 years, climate disruptions to agricultural production have increased, and this is expected to continue. • More wildfires • Rising sea levels • Impacts on health: Climate change is increasing our exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme weather events; degraded air quality; diseases transmitted through food, water, and insects; and stresses to mental health and well-being. These threats to human health are expected to increase with continued climate change. Take that quiz! Quiz: Global warming – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov)
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