CLIMATE CHANGES

Global Warming
Glaciers and ice sheets are melting.
This can be seen clearly in
photographs.
The glaciers advanced during the
Pleistocene ice age. They have
been melting back since then,
except for during the Little Ice Age.
However, the rate of melting has
increased tremendously in recent
decades.
 Temperature Variations

Since the end of the Pleistocene, Earth’s temperature has risen. The image below shows how
it changed over just the last 1500 years (Figure above). The Medieval Warm Period was a
time of somewhat higher average temperatures. The Little Ice Age was a time of somewhat
lower average temperatures. But for each time, the anomaly (the difference from average
temperature) was less than 1° C (1.8° F). Still, the overall trend is slightly upward.
Since the mid 1800s, Earth has warmed up quickly (Figure below). By the end of
2017, 17 of the 18 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998! This
temperature rise is what is usually meant by global warming.
Since the mid 1800s, Earth has warmed up quickly (Figure below). By the end of
2017, 17 of the 18 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1998! This
temperature rise is what is usually meant by global warming.
 Causes of Global Warming
Recent global warming is due mainly to human actions.
The actions involve releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Remember that greenhouse gases keep the atmosphere warm? And that
carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas?
When you burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is released into the
atmosphere.
The more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the better the atmosphere can
trap heat. In other words, an increase in greenhouse gases leads to greater
greenhouse effect.
Burning forests also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Other
human activities release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. For
example, growing rice and raising livestock both produce methane.
 Effects of Global Warming
There are already many effects of global warming being seen.
As Earth has gotten warmer, sea ice has melted.

This has raised the level of water in the oceans about 3 mm per year.
The rate of sea level rise is now accelerating and might be more than 10
mm per year in 2100.

Although this doesn’t sound like much, added together over the years it
can be a lot.
The greatest danger from flooding will be when storm surge is added to
the top of higher sea levels.

The extent of Arctic sea ice in summer has been decreasing rapidly.
The ice pictured below is the sea ice minimum in 2016
Other effects of global warming include more extreme weather.
Earth now has more severe storms, floods, heat waves, and droughts than it
did just a few decades ago.
Many living things cannot adjust to the changing climate.
Coral reefs in many parts of the world are struggling to survive.
Species are moving uphill where temperatures are cooler.
Those at the top of the mountain are being run off.
Migration and egg-laying behaviors in birds are off of their normal. There are
many more examples of the effects of changing climate.
 Summary
● Average global temperature has been rising since the end of the ice ages.
● The largest temperature rise has been in the past two decades.
● The rise in Earth's temperature since the late 19th century is referred to as global

warming
● Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels and other human

activities release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

● Greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere are increasing. Global temperatures are

increasing.
● Changes due to increasing temperatures are seen around the globe. Living organisms

and humans are also affected.

Quiz