climate change

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What is climate change?

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Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate, particularly an increase in temperature due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.

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What gases are primarily responsible for climate change?

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Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the primary greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, as they trap heat in the atmosphere.

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What is the greenhouse effect?

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

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What is phenology?

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Phenology is the study of the timing of biological events, such as flowering, breeding, and migration, and how these are influenced by climate and seasonal changes.

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What is a trophic mismatch?

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A trophic mismatch occurs when the timing of biological events, such as the availability of food and the life cycles of predators or prey, become out of sync due to environmental changes.

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How does climate change affect species distribution?

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Climate change can alter habitats and ecosystems, leading to shifts in species distribution as organisms move to find suitable conditions.

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What is a positive feedback loop in the context of climate change?

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A positive feedback loop in climate change is a process that amplifies the effects of warming, such as increased methane release from thawing permafrost, which further accelerates global warming.

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What impact does deforestation have on climate change?

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Deforestation contributes to climate change by reducing the number of trees that can absorb CO2, thus increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

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What role do oceans play in climate regulation?

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Oceans absorb a significant amount of CO2 and heat, helping to regulate the Earth's climate, but they can also become saturated, leading to increased atmospheric CO2 levels.

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What is the significance of ice coverage in climate change?

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Ice coverage reflects sunlight, helping to keep the Earth cool. Loss of ice due to warming reduces this reflection, leading to increased absorption of heat and further warming.