L 4.4: Climate Change

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What is La Niña?

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La Niña is a climate pattern characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can lead to changes in weather patterns, including increased rainfall in some areas and drought in others.

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What is the role of climate models?

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Climate models are scientific tools used to simulate and predict how different variables, such as greenhouse gas emissions and land use changes, affect Earth's climate over time.

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What has been observed in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?

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Scientists have observed an increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, primarily due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

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How does an increase in CO2 affect global temperatures?

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An increase in CO2 in the atmosphere leads to an increase in global temperatures, contributing to climate change and global warming.

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What are natural causes of climate change?

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Natural causes of climate change include the movement of tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, and variations in solar radiation.

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What is climate change?

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Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, which can be caused by both natural processes and human activities.

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What is the greenhouse effect?

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

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What are greenhouse gases?

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Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

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What is El Niño?

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El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can disrupt normal weather patterns globally.

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How do human activities contribute to climate change?

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Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to climate change.