Did you know?
- • According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration),
year 2010 tied 2005 as having the warmest global surface temperature
on record.
- • The earth has gotten warmer by 1º F since the industrial
revolution over hundred years ago. (1º F might not seem
like much, but it’s enough to make glaciers and ice sheets
melt)
- • Weather balloons carry special instruments into the sky to collect data about the weather and send it back scientists
on the ground.
- • Crickets can help you tell the temperature outside. Count the number of chirps the cricket makes in 15 seconds and then add 37. This will give you the temperature outside, in Fahrenheit.
Climate is determined by temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall, and other conditions in a certain region over a long period of time. Weather is what those conditions are right now, or within a few days in any geographic area. As you probably know, Southern Arizona is known for having hot, dry weather. Some places, like Seattle, Washington are known for having lots of rain. You probably get shivers when you think of Antarctica. This is the coldest place on earth.
Although some places are very cold, Earth is warm enough to support life because of GREENHOUSE GASES. Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring and are good for us. Gases, like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), and water vapor help trap heat from the sun, like the glass panes of a greenhouse, keeping us nice and warm. Without these gases, heat from the sun would bounce right off the Earth, and escape into outer space. The Earth would then be too cold for us to live on.
Although naturally occurring greenhouse gases are good, some things that people do make additional greenhouse gases. When people burn fossil fuels like coal and oil to make electricity and drive cars, more greenhouse gases go into the air. This thicker layer of gases traps more sunlight than we’re used to, and it’s warming our planet. Some people like to call it Global Warming, but most scientists call it Climate Change or Climate Disruption because it causes more than just planetary warming.
Global Climate Change causes glaciers and ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise. Ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up sooner because of the warming. Snow on mountaintops is melting faster. Plant and animal ranges have shifted. Trees are flowering sooner. Some areas are seeing more intense heat waves. Scientists predict that Climate Change will also cause more frequent wildfires, extended drought, and an increase in tropical storms.
All these effects have consequences. Polar
bears and walruses are struggling to survive
while the ice in their range is melting. Some people are also having
a hard time surviving. Residents of Tuvalu, an island in the
South Pacific Ocean, have had to evacuate their homes because
the island is becoming submerged because of the higher sea level.
Agriculture will be affected.
All living beings on Earth will be affected by climate change and we will have to adapt in order to survive. We can help reduce greenhouse gasses. We can take action to prevent conditions from becoming worse.
How can you help reduce greenhouse gases?
- • Drive less. Walk, ride bikes, take the bus or carpool. Doing this even one day a week helps.
- • Use less electricity by turning off lights, unplugging iPod or cell phone chargers, and using Energy Star light bulbs and appliances.
- • Plug TVs, DVD players, stereos, etc. into a power strip, and then turn the power strip off at night to stop the flow of energy while the devices are not in use.
- • Plant trees and plants. They can provide shade, food and animal habitat and help absorb greenhouse gases.
- • Talk to your parents about solar energy, insulating windows and doors, and changing or cleaning filters in air conditioning units.
- • Reduce, reuse, recycle, and buy products made from recycled materials.
Now that you know some of the major things that contribute to pollution and climate change, can you think of things that you can do to prevent further damage to the environment? Did you know that fast food restaurants use lots of trucks to bring them supplies like meats and vegetables? By eating at home and eating locally grown food more often, not only will you be getting a healthier meal, but you will also help reduce the miles traveled to bring items in from far away to fast food restaurants! Can you think of other things that you can do to help prevent climate change?