Climate Change - National Geographic Society

7/20/22, 9:53 PM Climate Change | National Geographic Society
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Climate Change
Climate change is a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns. Often
climate change refers specifically to the rise in global temperatures from the mid-
20th century to present.
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Climatology, Earth Science
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Fracking tower
Fracking is a controversial form of drilling that uses high-pressure liquid to create
cracks in underground shale to extract natural gas and petroleum. Carbon emissions
from fossils fuels like these have been linked to global warming and climate change.
P H OTO G R A P H B Y M A R K T H I E S S E N / N AT I O N A L G E O G R A P H I C
E N C YC LO P E D I C E N T RY VO C A B U L A RY
Climate is sometimes mistaken for weather. But climate is different from weather
because it is measured over a long period of time, whereas weather can change
from day to day, or from year to year. The climate of an area includes seasonal
temperature and rainfall averages, and wind patterns. Different places have
different climates. A desert, for example, is referred to as an arid climate because
little water falls, as rain or snow, during the year. Other types of climate include
tropical climates, which are hot and humid, and temperate climates, which have
warm summers and cooler winters.
Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather

patterns in a place. Climate change could refer to a particular location or the planet
as a whole. Climate change may cause weather patterns to be less
predictable. These unexpected weather patterns can make it difficult to maintain
and grow crops in regions that rely on farming because expected temperature and
rainfall levels can no longer be relied on. Climate change has also been connected
with other damaging weather events such as more frequent and more intense
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hurricanes, floods, downpours, and winter storms.
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In polar regions, the warming global temperatures associated with climate change
have meant ice sheets and glaciers are melting
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at an accelerated rate from season to
season. This contributes to sea levels rising in different regions of the planet.
Together with expanding ocean waters due to rising temperatures, the resulting rise
in sea level has begun to damage coastlines as a result of increased flooding and
erosion.
The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning

fossil fuels, like natural gas, oil, and coal. Burning these materials releases what are
called greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere. There, these gases trap heat from
the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere causing Earth’s average temperature to rise.
This rise in the planet's temperature is called global warming. The warming of the
planet impacts local and regional climates. Throughout Earth's history, climate has
continually changed. When occuring naturally, this is a slow process that has taken
place over hundreds and thousands of years. The human influenced climate change
that is happening now is occuring at a much faster rate.
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Climate Change
Global temperatures and sea levels are rising, and possibly contributing to larger more
devastating storms. This can all be contributed to climate change. Climate change is
defined as gradual changes in all the interconnected weather elements on our planet
over approximately 30 years. The data shows the Earth is warming and it's up to us to…
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7/20/22, 9:53 PM Climate Change | National Geographic Society

Climatology, Earth Science

Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather

The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning

1145 17th Street NW

National Geographic Society

National Geographic Partners

News and Impact

Resources for Educators

Museum and Events

Technology and Innovation

Apply for a Grant

We use our own

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