climate change

• What are the two human activities that increase greenhouse gases?

  Burning fossil fuels and deforestation
• How does burning fossil fuels contribute to carbon dioxide levels?

  It releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
• What is the effect of deforestation on carbon dioxide levels?

  It increases carbon dioxide levels by reducing absorption
• What is one example of a fossil fuel that is burned for electricity?

  Coal
• What agricultural practice releases methane?

  Growing rice in flooded paddy fields
• How do cattle contribute to methane emissions?

  They release methane when they pass wind
• How can increased sea levels affect low-lying areas?

  They could lead to more flooding
• What is one potential effect of rising temperatures due to climate change?

  Increased melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers
• What severe weather events could climate change lead to?

  More storms
• How might climate change affect the distribution of animals?

  It could change the distribution of insects
• What is peer review in the context of climate change research?

  It allows scientists to criticize and validate evidence
• Why is climate change difficult to model?

  Because it is complex and involves many variables
• What issues arise from simplified media stories about climate change?

  They can be biased or based on incomplete evidence
• What uncertainty exists regarding climate change?

  We cannot predict with certainty how much temperatures will increase
• What are the potential effects of global climate change?

  • Rising temperatures leading to melting polar ice sheets
  • Increased sea levels causing flooding in low-lying areas
  • More severe weather events, such as storms
  • Changes in the distribution of animals and diseases
• How do scientists validate climate change evidence?

  • Through peer review
  • Critiquing and validating each other's findings
  • Detecting false claims and biases