1. WEATHER & CLIMATE
1.1. CLIMATE: the average conditions that occur in a region over a long period of time, usually a minimum of 30 years; studied by climatologists
1.2. WEATHER: the environmental conditions that occur at a particular place at a particular time; the effects are immediate and obvious
2. CONSEQUENCES AND CAUSES
2.1. Consequences of Climate Change
2.1.1. CARBON DIOXIDE: increasing CO2 levels are indicated by multiple sources
2.1.2. GLOBAL SURFACE AND WATER TEMPERATURE: the increase in both fields show an overall global warming trend
2.1.3. ARTIC SEA ICE: the melting sea ice shows that the poles are warming up
2.1.4. LAND ICE/GLACIERS: the retreat of these giant ice masses show that these masses are melting, and this melting indicates a warming pattern in the Earth's climate
2.1.5. SEA LEVELS: rising sea levels from the melting ice and warming water show that the Earth is indeed getting warmer and at an alarming rate
2.2. CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
2.2.1. GREENHOUSE GASES
2.2.1.1. 4 MAIN
2.2.1.1.1. WATER VAPOUR
2.2.1.1.2. CO2
2.2.1.1.3. METHANE
2.2.1.1.4. GROUND LEVEL OZONE
2.2.1.2. NITROUS OXIDE
2.2.1.3. CFCs
2.2.2. CARBON SINKS & SOURCES
2.2.2.1. CARBON SOURCE: any process that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
2.2.2.2. CARBON SINK: any process that takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it
3. 4 KEY FINDINGS OF THE IPCC (An organization of the United Nations)
3.1. 1. there is a 95 % certainty that human activities are responsible for global warming
3.2. 2. carbon dioxide is at an "unprecedented" level not seen for at least the last 800,000 years
3.3. 3. sea level is set to continue to rise at a faster rate than over the past 40 years
3.4. 4. over the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been melting and glaciers have receded in most parts of the world
4. EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
4.1. EFFECTS ON THE EARTH
4.1.1. MELTING ICE
4.1.1.1. The melting ice releases freshwater that mixes with the ocean's salt water, as a result, the ocean loses salinity which in turn slows down ocean currents
4.1.1.2. HOW MELTING ICE AFFECTS THE EARTH
4.1.1.2.1. flooding land that is currently just above sea level
4.1.1.2.2. changing habitats of shoreline plants, animals and micro-organisms
4.1.1.2.3. causing the loss of property
4.1.1.2.4. changing geographic coastlines and shapes of continental coasts
4.1.1.2.5. reducing the amount of freshwater available to communities
4.1.2. WARMING OCEANS
4.1.2.1. the expanding warm water causes rising sea levels
4.1.2.2. warm water absorbs less carbon dioxide, making it less effective as a carbon sink
4.1.2.3. not an ideal place for plankton growth and survival
4.1.2.4. produces more intense hurricanes
4.2. EFFECTS ON HUMANS:
4.2.1. AGRICULTURE/FOOD/FARMING
4.2.2. HEALTH
4.2.3. ENERGY
4.2.4. WATER SUPPLY
4.2.5. FORESTS
4.2.6. RECREATION/TOURISM
4.2.7. COASTAL AREAS
4.2.8. PLANTS, ANIMALS AND ECOSYSTEMS