2019 was the second warmest year on record. Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. Fact 2: The United States constitutes 5% of the world population and contributes to 22% of the world’s carbon emission. This includes rising sea levels and changes in established weather systems. These changes in polar sea ice are a result of climate change. But climate change also presents an opportunity to change the way we live so we improve things for us and the planet. These leaders can vote to regulate and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. When lots of ice melts it becomes water and then goes into streams, rivers, lakes, and seas. [8] These are the exciting careers of the future. It shows that volcanic aerosols force fundamental climate mechanisms that play an important role in the global change process." Rainforests and climate Rainforests are weather makers and climate regulators. We need lots of trees, so plant them whenever you can. We hope that you now know all about Climate Change and what you can do to help. Climate change is real and man-made, and there is overwhelming scientific consensus that this is true. As it reaches us on Earth, the land and the water absorb the sunlight’s energy. Wear a warm sweater at home in the winter instead of turning up the heat, and open your windows instead of blasting the air conditioning in the summer. But the ice has started to melt earlier and re-form later than it has in the past. How do they know? Go by bus, and get the whole family to do the same, Get your bike out and go cycling instead of getting in the car. Once it’s absorbed, then the energy goes all the way back into the atmosphere as something called infra-red rays. Because disease-carrying mosquitoes thrive in warm, wet weather, more people could contract illnesses such as malaria as the Earth warms. They build them to keep that hot sun in there and not escape. Over millions of years, and up to the present time, our climate continues to go through shifts. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts. If we don’t tackle it the consequences are grim. Climate change happens all of the time and is natural; weather and climate are almost never the same so there are always slight changes in climate. In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and less predictable. And climate can be affected by Earth’s atmosphere. 4 Most of the warming occurred in the past 40 years, with the six warmest years on record taking place since 2014. . The Earth’s atmosphere is all around us and is the air that we breathe.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'konnecthq_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_13',110,'0','0'])); Some of this energy goes back into space, while a lot of it stays in the atmosphere because of the greenhouse gases, causing the Earth to warm up. But, if the greenhouse effect becomes super strong, it could make the Earth warmer. Electronics use energy even when they’re turned off, so unplug them when you’re not using them. Climate is the pattern of the weather conditions over a long period of time for a large area. We can tackle it and we are. Tropical storms could be stronger, and a continuing rise in sea level due to melting polar ice might push people out of their homes. But this isn’t just affecting polar bears—climate change affects everyone. Send a letter or drawing to your mayor, Senate or House representative, or even to the president. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp. Without it, our planet would be very cold, like Mars. "The pattern of winter warming following the volcanic eruption is practically identical to a pattern of winter surface temperature change caused by global warming. These energy sources release a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The big meeting in Paris and the historic agreement however is about climate change caused by human activity. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/climate-change.html. 3 In fact, the five warmest years in the 1880–2019 record have all occurred since 2015. Factories emit lots of carbon dioxide when making new products. Buy locally grown and in-season foods and products to reduce emissions from transporting products. That increases Earth’s temperature, which contributes to the planet’s warming. Global Warming – any changes in temperature across the Earth. Through careful study, they know that the climate is warming about 10 times faster than the average previous warming times. Greenhouse effect – sometimes people build greenhouses, which is a small glasshouse to grow flowers or trees. By trapping that heat, our atmosphere keeps Earth warm enough to live on. So be cool by doing your best to keep Earth well … cool! There is a lot of buzz around climate change—let’s look at the facts to better understand one of the greatest challenges of our time. Something self-explanatory from global warming facts, but still important for all that. Other species will benefit from a warmer world—but in some cases that would be bad news for humans. Question and answer worksheet to accompany BBC documentary series Climate Change - The Facts. Almost everything we have needs power and this power comes from burning fossil fuels and other natural sources. Lesson objectives, starter task and final task included to fully make use of the worksheet provided. The Short Answer: Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time. So as the mountain climate heats up, the pika climbs the slopes in search of cooler habitat. The Arctic is warming roughly twice as fast as the rest of the world, causing sea ice to melt earlier and form later each year. The American pika, for example, is a small mammal that lives in cool mountainous areas in western North America—in fact, it can die when exposed to temperatures warmer than 78˚F. NASA data show that average global temperatures in 2019 were 1.8 degrees F (0.98 degrees C) warmer than the 20th century average. But Climate Change: The Facts is a rousing call to arms. A polar bear stands on the shore of the Hudson Bay in North America. That’s why many scientists agree that the Earth is now warming because of human activity. Is climate change happening? Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches. What is climate change? She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2003. Instead of traveling in a car, use public transportation, walk, or ride your bike when you can. Wicked Weather Watch has also produced this KS2 scheme of work, which can be used as a complete resource over six (or more) weeks, or individual activities within it can be used on their own, or to support teaching other themes or subjects. This gas traps heat that would otherwise escape Earth’s atmosphere. You can do a lot! Can also be used as a stand alone homework task. It would be one very chilly place. Talk to your parents and the other adults that you know about climate change. Some animals who are losing their habitats due to climate change are polar bears, green sea turtles and coral reefs. Every 40,000 years, the Earth changes positions and this cause climate change. 4 Tweet this fact ». It is an alarm clock set at a horrifying volume. Fix your appliances and clothes instead of buying new products. All rights reserved. Here’s an example for you to think about. Designed for use with a year 9 group studying climate change. But there’s another thing that adds to Global Warming, and that is the fact that there are fewer forests all over the world which means that there are fewer trees absorbing carbon, so that’s also going into the atmosphere. A teacher answer sheet is provided and there is an optional extension exam task. Climate change affects more than temperature. [7] Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. When the sun heats the earth, these gases make sure that the heat is kept on the surface of the Earth.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'konnecthq_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',109,'0','0'])); Without these gases, the heat would escape back into space and our temperatures down here would be about 16⁰C colder. But during the past few hundred years, oil, gas, and coal have powered homes, cars, and factories. In the past, the UK has experienced both freezing ice ages and warm tropical climates. Climate Change can be difficult for plants and animals, for example where polar bears and penguins live in icy conditions and those ice sheets start to melt, they’ll have nowhere to live. For example, there are places that were really, really cold and now they’re getting warmer, and on the other hand, there are places that are really hot and they’re getting colder. In particular, according to the scientific reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the sharp increase in global warming since 1950 can no longer be explained by natural climate … The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Designed for use with a year 9 group studying climate change. All this waste produces smoke, fumes, and water vapor. On the other hand, climate change covers both global warming and its effects. Weather changes day to day—sometimes it rains, other days it’s hot. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which makes it very difficult to grow tea. Biking or walking 10 miles each day instead of riding in a car can save up to 1.9 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year. Have you heard about climate change or even global warming?eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'konnecthq_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',102,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'konnecthq_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_7',102,'0','1'])); Well we’re going to make it easy for you to understand exactly what climate change is. Between 1901 and 2012, apparently, the Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.89⁰.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'konnecthq_com-box-4','ezslot_9',106,'0','0'])); The amount of rainfall has risen in certain parts of the northern hemisphere since the beginning of the 20th Century. Each and every one of us can make a difference, and here are some things you can do to help! The Earth’s average temperature has increased about 1.5°F in the past hundred years. Also, there are loads of artificial things being made that end up in waste dumps. The average global surface temperature has already increased by 1.04°C in the last 130 years. 5 | Climate change KS2 scheme of work. Forests affect the weather worldwide by reducing temperature extremes and helping to regulate the climate. This could cause problems for us, plants, and animals.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'konnecthq_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',111,'0','0'])); Today we’ve got loads of different industries, with things like cars, planes, and engines being produced in millions every year. Eat less meat and dairy. FOREST FACTS FOR KIDS. Photograph by Cindy Creighton, Shutterstock. Climate Change The earth's climate has seen many changes in its 4.55 billion years. You can help to solve climate change problems and challenges. Forests in tropical and temperate regions have a cooling effect, whereas boreal forests found in high northern latitudes make their climate warmer. Reduce and reuse things as much as possible. (Buying products that are made with recycled glass and plastic also emits carbon dioxide, though less so.) They expect the climate will warm another .5°F to 8.6°F by the year 2100. Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. Sir David Attenborough is returning to BBC One presenting a documentary called Climate Change - The Facts. And of course, these are getting trapped in the atmosphere and making the Earth’s surface warmer. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner. Many of … The carbon dioxide factor There are concerns that the Amazon region could become a net source rather than a sink (storage) of carbon dioxide (CO 2), a gas emitted mainly from burning fossil fuels, coal, oil and natural gas - and the major driver for global climate change. This means that our water levels are rising. Some are more dramatic than others: 800 to 600 million years ago, the Earth was so cold that it was covered with ice. They build them to keep that hot sun in there and not escape. The greenhouse effect is really important, as without it we wouldn’t be able to live on Earth as it wouldn’t be warm enough. Get all the facts you need to know. Our weather can be more extreme where we could have more droughts, or vicious storms and heavy rain. Although changes to the earth's climate are natural, current changes are a result of increasing human populations and activities. It’s simple to make a difference to keep the Earth healthy. The American pika, for example, is a small mammal that lives in cool mountainous areas in western North America—in fact, it can die when exposed to temperatures warmer than 78˚F.So as the mountain climate heats up, the pika climbs the slopes in search of cooler habitat. Sunlight comes shining through the atmosphere as it passes through a blanket of all the greenhouse gases. But what happens when temperatures at the top become too warm for the pika? It could save your family about $200 a year on its energy bill. The bear would usually be on the sea ice hunting for seals, pouncing when the seal comes up to breathe. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'konnecthq_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_11',107,'0','0']));report this adIt is also believed that sea levels have gone up by about 19cm across the entire world with lots of icy glaciers melting. In fact over the past 650,000 years, the Earth has gone through seven ice ages and warming periods. Interesting Facts about Climate Change. As humans, we are producing more waste than ever before. When confronted with inaccurate information, the best way to respond is with facts — so keep these seven climate change facts in mind. This is making a big impact on Global Warming and Climate Change. This warming is called Global Warming and is caused by the greenhouse effect we’ve just described. 1) Climate change never took a break. The Earth is like a glasshouse, with some important gases that keep us warm like water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. 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