Global warming is occurring much more rapidly than past climate changes, primarily due to greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. As the Earth moved out of ice ages over millions of years, the global temperature rose 4 to 7 degrees Celsius over 5,000 years, whereas the current warming is occurring much faster. Climate determines patterns of temperature, wind, humidity and rain that shape different world climates and seasonal changes. These climate conditions affect plant and animal species as well as human activities like food, water, air, clothing and jobs that rely on a stable climate.
Global warming is occurring much more rapidly than past climate changes, primarily due to greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. As the Earth moved out of ice ages over millions of years, the global temperature rose 4 to 7 degrees Celsius over 5,000 years, whereas the current warming is occurring much faster. Climate determines patterns of temperature, wind, humidity and rain that shape different world climates and seasonal changes. These climate conditions affect plant and animal species as well as human activities like food, water, air, clothing and jobs that rely on a stable climate.
Global warming is occurring much more rapidly than past climate changes, primarily due to greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. As the Earth moved out of ice ages over millions of years, the global temperature rose 4 to 7 degrees Celsius over 5,000 years, whereas the current warming is occurring much faster. Climate determines patterns of temperature, wind, humidity and rain that shape different world climates and seasonal changes. These climate conditions affect plant and animal species as well as human activities like food, water, air, clothing and jobs that rely on a stable climate.
GLOBAL WARMING IN CLIMATE • Global warming is the unusually rapid increase in Earths average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by people burning fossil fuels. Earth has experienced climate change in the past without help from humanity. But the current climatic warming is occurring much more rapidly than past warming events. As the Earth moved out of ice ages over the past million years, the global temperature rose a total of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius over about 5,000 years. IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING • Our climate is determined by patterns of temperature, wind, atmospheric pressure, humidity and rain over a long period of time. There are different climates around the world, such as tropical, dry and moderate. As a large country, Australia has a variety of climates. • The climate of an area determines its seasons and when they come and go. This, in turn, affects the type of plants that grow and which animals survive. The species and places we love depend on intricate ecosystems, and even small changes to the climate can disrupt the delicate balance of nature. • As humans, every aspect of our life is reliant on the natural environment. This includes the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the clothes we wear and the products that are made and sold to create jobs and drive the economy. A healthy and stable climate is our most precious natural resource.