Global Warming

• Carbon cycle


  Process by which carbon is exchanged between the Earth's biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
• Carbon dioxide has an important role in keeping the Earth warm enough for life
• Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not good
• How the Earth's temperature is balanced

  1. Energy from the Sun

  2. Energy radiated back out into space
• Greenhouse gases


  • Absorb energy that would normally be radiated out into space
  • Re-radiate it in all directions, including back towards the Earth
• Greenhouse gases increase the temperature of the planet
• The main greenhouse gases whose levels we worry about are carbon dioxide and methane
• The Earth is gradually heating up because of the increasing levels of greenhouse gases, this is global warming
• Global warming is a type of climate change and causes other types of climate change, e.g. changing rainfall patterns
• Higher temperatures


  Cause seawater to expand and ice to melt, causing sea levels to rise
• Rising sea levels will lead to flooding and loss of habitats
• Increasing temperatures and changing rainfall


  Changes the distribution of many wild animal and plant species
• Some species may become more widely distributed, others may become less widely distributed
• Changes in migration patterns, e.g. some birds may migrate further north as more northern areas get warmer
• Biodiversity could be reduced if some species are unable to survive a change in the climate, so become extinct