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03 - What is Climate Change

This lesson on Climate Change introduces key terms, discusses its causes, and evaluates its impacts on weather, wildlife, and human communities. It distinguishes between natural climate change and anthropogenic influences, emphasizing the accelerated rate of change due to human activities. The lesson concludes with a call for intervention to alter the negative trajectory of climate impacts and encourages predictions for the future.

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aaron.chadwick
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3 views

03 - What is Climate Change

This lesson on Climate Change introduces key terms, discusses its causes, and evaluates its impacts on weather, wildlife, and human communities. It distinguishes between natural climate change and anthropogenic influences, emphasizing the accelerated rate of change due to human activities. The lesson concludes with a call for intervention to alter the negative trajectory of climate impacts and encourages predictions for the future.

Uploaded by

aaron.chadwick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Climate

Change
Lesson 3
- What is it?
Lesson Objectives

Introduce key terms related to Climate Change

Discuss the causes of Climate Change and compare Natural to Man-


made.

Evaluate the impacts of Climate Change and begin to theorise on the


future implications of the current Climate Crisis.
Starter: Definition Matching

→ “The long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns.”


→ “Elements in the atmosphere Which raise the temperature.”
→ “Caused, and/or influenced by humans.”

→ Match the definition to one of these words.


→ Anthropogenic
→ Climate Change
→ Greenhouse Gases
What is Climate Change?

However, when
We will refer to
discussing Climate
Climate Change is a Climate Change as
Change, we often
natural occurrence, the long-term change
relate this to the
as the earth is in Temperatures and
negative impacts
forever in a state of weather patterns
which humans are
change. caused by
having leading to
atmospheric Gases.
accelerated changes.
Greenhouse Gases

Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap


heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a “greenhouse effect”
that warms the planet.

Activities that produce these Gases increase the concentration


in the atmosphere and intensifies the greenhouse effect. This
has lead to Global Warming and Extreme Weather Patterns.
Natural Climate Change

→ Natural climate change refers to long-term shifts in the


Earth’s climate resulting from natural factors such as
volcanic eruptions, variations in solar radiation,
changes in Earth’s orbit, and natural greenhouse gas
fluctuations.
→ These processes can lead to periods of warming and
cooling over millennia, independent of human
activities.
→ Periods such as the Ice Age was in fact caused by
Climate Change, the opposite of the current Global
Warming.
Natural Climate Timeline
Precambrian Glaciation – (2.4 billion YA) Earliest known Ice Age caused by high Oxygen levels

Paleozoic Activity – (445 Million YA) 2nd Ice Age, caused by a drop in CO². (252 Million YA)
Volcanic activity cause Global Warming.

Mesozoic Warming – (252~66 Million YA) Heightened CO² and Warmer climate which created
perfect conditions for evolution of dinosaurs

Cenozoic Fluctuations – (66 Million YA ~ present) there were 4 major changes in the
atmosphere ranging from mass carbon release and extreme heat, to Ice Ages which caused
the formation of the Antarctic Ice Sheets.
Anthropogen → We are currently in an
Interglacial period, meaning that

ic Causes of the Temperatures are naturally


rising.

Climate → However, this is happening at an


unnatural rate due to Human-
Change activities causing accelerated
Greenhouse Gas release into the
atmosphere. This includes...
→ Burning of Fossil Fuels
→ Manufacturing Process
→ Large Scale Agriculture
→ Deforestation
→ Decomposition in Landfills
→ ... The list goes on!
Task: Diamond 9

→ In pairs, using the 9 cut out pictures,


rank which you believe is the most
damage to our planet. Arrange them
into a diamond of most important to
least.

→ Remember there is no right or wrong!


→ Extension: for your no.1 & 9 write a
summary about why you believe this
as we will discuss as a group.
Fact or Fiction: Evidence for Climate Change

Evidence For Evidence Against


→ Data of Temperature Rising – → Natural Climate Variation is one argument,
https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-tem stating that the change is normal and was
perature/?intent=121
expected to happen.
→ Melting Ice Caps –
https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/ice-sheets → Another argument is that weather changes
/?intent=121 are short term problems and is not due to
→ Sea Level – climate change.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environ → Argument 3 is that Climate Change was
ment/article/sea-level-rise-1
designed as a money making scheme to try
→ Ocean Acidification –
and push more money into desired industries
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-coll
ections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification as these will provide more revenue.
How is Climate
Change impacting
Globally?
Impact on Weather
Patterns

→ The global average temperature has risen by 1.18ºC since the 19th
Century.
→ Causing extreme heatwaves, which in turn cause droughts, and
rainfall to increase in already wet areas.
→ This further leads to extreme weather phenomenon, since 1980
there is evidence to suggest that global warming has resulted in an
increase in Hurricanes, Floods, Storms, Droughts, Wildfires.

→ Have you noticed a change in weather patterns?


Impact on Wildlife
Acidic Oceans are
Forced Migration of causing coral
species and fast bleaching, destroying
adaptation (which the habitat, and on
many species cannot turn putting the 25% of
do) all marine species at
direct risk.
Melting Ice Caps puts
Currently we are in an
species such as Polar
Extinction Event called
Bears at risk by lose of
the anthropocene In
hunting grounds
which 48% of species
needed for survival for
are declining.
over 50% of the year.
Impact on Humans

Displacement of Inability to grow


Loss of income
communities certain crops
due to weather
due to extreme which is leading
and costs of
weather to famine in
having to repair
destroying lesser wealthy
damage.
areas of land. communities.
Impact on the Land-based Industry

Agriculture- Crop Yields are at risk dust to the unpredictability of


weather. Additionally, water supplies needed to grow crops and
nourish livestock are at risk due to shortages and seasonal
droughts.

Horticulture – Increased temperature is increasing number of


pests present on crops and will result in higher use of pesticides.

Animal Management – Conservation of wild species can be difficult


due to increased habitat loss and environmental pressures.
What does the future hold?
Task: My Future View

→ Write a short summative


statement of your predictions for
the future if we do not intervene,
and how a change could alter this
and provide a more positive
outlook for the future.
→ If you wish to do this about a
specific industry or climate issue

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