Climate Change Review

Front

What is climate change?

Back

Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, primarily caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.

Front

What is global warming?

Back

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s climate system due to human activities, particularly the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Front

How do greenhouse gases contribute to climate change?

Back

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in Earth's average temperature, which contributes to climate change.

Front

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thus warming the planet.

Front

What are glaciers and ice caps?

Back

Glaciers are large masses of ice that form from compacted snow, while ice caps are thick layers of ice that cover large areas of land, both of which are melting due to global warming.

Front

What is the troposphere?

Back

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where weather occurs and where most of the atmosphere's mass is found.

Front

What is the stratosphere?

Back

The stratosphere is the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, located above the troposphere, and contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation.

Front

What is the ozone layer?

Back

The ozone layer is a region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone (O3) and protects living organisms by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Front

What happens to solar energy when it reaches Earth?

Back

Solar energy can be reflected, absorbed, or radiated back into space. Some energy is absorbed by land and water, while some is reflected back into the atmosphere.

Front

What are Milankovitch Cycles?

Back

Milankovitch Cycles are long-term changes in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that affect climate patterns and are linked to the timing of ice ages.