Evidence of Climate Change

• Temperature Records

  • Air temperature increased by 1 degree celcius over 100 years
  • We have had 10 of the warmest years on record since 2000
• Historical Records - Ice Core

  • Scientists drill into ice and obtain ice cores
  • They observe bubbles within the layers of ice - more bubbles indicate the presence of more gasses e.g. CO2, which drives the greenhouse effect.
• Glacial Retreat

  • Global ice is melting
  • By 2025, estimated some glaciers may disappear
  • Arctic sea ice has thinned by 65% since 1975
• Tree Rings

  • Tree rings are thicker in warmer, wetter conditions
  • Tree rings are thinner in colder, drier conditions
  • 1 ring on a tree = 1 year of growth
  • Dendrochonology
• Sea Level Rise

  • IPCC - Average global sea level risen between 10-20cm in the past 100 years due to:

  1. Melting Glaciers
  2. Thermal expansion (warming of the oceans)