1.

What are the main sources of evidence used to show that climate change is currently happening on
earth?

The evidence for current climate change comes from a vast and consistent body of observations from
around the world. The main sources are:

· Rising Global Temperatures: Direct thermometer readings from land and sea, going back over a
century, show a clear and accelerating warming trend. The last nine years (2015-2023) are the nine
warmest years on record.

· Warming Oceans: The world's oceans have absorbed about 90% of the extra heat trapped by
greenhouse gases. Measurements show a significant increase in ocean heat content, particularly in the
upper layers.

· Shrinking Ice Sheets and Glaciers: Satellite observations (like from NASA's GRACE missions) show that
the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing mass at an accelerating rate. Mountain glaciers are
retreating almost universally.

· Sea Level Rise: Sea levels are rising due to two main factors: thermal expansion (water expands as it
warms) and meltwater from glaciers and ice sheets. This is measured by tide gauges and satellite
altimeters.

· Declining Arctic Sea Ice: Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice have dramatically decreased,
especially in the summer. The oldest and thickest ice has been largely replaced by younger, thinner ice.

· Increased Extreme Weather Events: There is a statistically significant increase in the frequency and
intensity of many extreme events, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall, droughts, and intense tropical
cyclones.

· Ocean Acidification: The oceans absorb about 30% of the emitted carbon dioxide (CO₂), which reacts
with seawater to form carbonic acid. This is lowering the ocean's pH, with harmful effects on marine life,
especially organisms with shells and skeletons.

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2. How do greenhouse gases warm the planet? Name two important greenhouse gases and describe
how they enter Earth's atmosphere.
How they warm the planet: The Earth absorbs energy from the sun, primarily as visible light, and re-
radiates it back towards space as infrared radiation (heat). Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are
transparent to incoming sunlight but absorb and re-emit this outgoing infrared radiation. This process
traps heat in the lower atmosphere, much like a blanket traps body heat, creating a natural "greenhouse
effect." Human activities have thickened this blanket, leading to enhanced warming.

Two important greenhouse gases:

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂):

· How it enters the atmosphere: The primary human source is the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and
natural gas) for energy, transportation, and industry. A significant secondary source is deforestation and
land-use change, as trees that absorb CO₂ are burned or decomposed.

2. Methane (CH₄):

· How it enters the atmosphere: Key sources include:

· Agriculture: Produced by livestock (cattle and sheep) during digestion (enteric fermentation) and
from the decomposition of manure.

· Fossil Fuel Extraction: Leaks during the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas.

· Decomposition in Landfills: Organic waste decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), producing

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3. What is the difference between climate forcing and feedback in the climate system. Give an example
of each.

· Climate Forcing: An initial, external push that directly disrupts the Earth's energy balance, driving the
climate towards warming or cooling. It is the cause of a change.

· Climate Feedback: A secondary process that is triggered by the initial climate change and which can
then amplify (positive feedback) or diminish (negative feedback) the original forcing.
Examples:

· Example of a Forcing: Increased CO₂ from burning fossil fuels. This is an external addition of a
greenhouse gas that directly traps more heat, providing the initial push for global warming.

· Example of a Feedback: Ice-Albedo Feedback (a positive feedback). As the planet warms (due to the
forcing), ice and snow melt. Because ice and snow are bright and reflective (high albedo), their loss
exposes darker land or ocean surfaces, which absorb more solar radiation. This leads to further
warming, which in turn causes more ice to melt, creating a self-reinforcing cycle.

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4. How do urban areas contribute to climate change?

Urban areas are major hotspots for greenhouse gas emissions and other climate-altering effects:

· High Energy Consumption: Cities concentrate industries, commercial buildings, and homes that require
vast amounts of energy, most of which comes from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating, and
cooling.

· Transportation: Urban centers are hubs for cars, trucks, buses, and airplanes, all of which are major
sources of CO₂ and other pollutants.

· Urban Heat Island Effect: The concentration of concrete, asphalt, and dark surfaces absorbs and re-
radiates more heat than natural landscapes. This makes cities significantly warmer than their rural
surroundings, increasing the demand for air conditioning (and thus energy use).

· Waste and Landfills: High levels of consumption generate large amounts of waste. Decomposing
organic matter in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

· Alteration of Land Surface: Replacing vegetation with impervious surfaces changes local humidity,
runoff patterns, and the carbon storage capacity of the land.

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5. Choose one impact of global climate change on nature and one on people.

Impact on Nature: Coral Reef Bleaching

· What's happening: Coral reefs have a symbiotic relationship with tiny algae (zooxanthellae) that live in
their tissues and give them color and food. When ocean water becomes too warm, corals expel these
algae, causing the coral to turn completely white—this is "bleaching." Bleached corals are not dead but
are severely stressed and subject to mortality.

· Detailed Example: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia has suffered mass bleaching events in 2016, 2017,
and 2020. The 2016 event alone killed an estimated 29-50% of the reef's corals. Repeated bleaching
events, combined with ocean acidification, are preventing recovery and threatening the entire
ecosystem, which supports immense marine biodiversity.

Impact on People: Threats to Food and Water Security

· What's happening: Climate change is disrupting agricultural production and freshwater availability
through changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and the frequency of extreme events like droughts
and floods.

· Detailed Example: In East Africa, recurring and intensified droughts, linked to climate change, have led
to consecutive failed rainy seasons (2020-2023). This has caused widespread crop failure and the death
of livestock, pushing millions of people into severe food insecurity and famine-like conditions. This is
compounded by conflicts over scarce water resources.

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6. Explain the main human and natural causes of global climate change. Which causes are considered
the most important today and why?

Natural Causes:
· Volcanic Eruptions: Large eruptions inject ash and sulfur dioxide high into the atmosphere, which can
form a reflective haze that blocks sunlight and cools the planet for a few years.

· Orbital Variations (Milankovitch Cycles): Slow, cyclical changes in Earth's orbit and tilt alter the
distribution of solar energy, triggering the ice ages over tens to hundreds of thousands of years.

· Solar Output Variations: Small changes in the sun's energy output can influence climate, but satellite
data show this has been minimal over the past 50 years of rapid warming.

Human (Anthropogenic) Causes:

· Burning of Fossil Fuels: This is the dominant cause, releasing billions of tonnes of CO₂ that had been
locked underground for millions of years.

· Deforestation and Land-Use Change: Clearing forests reduces the planet's capacity to absorb CO₂ from
the atmosphere and releases stored carbon.

· Agriculture: As mentioned, this is a major source of methane and nitrous oxide.

· Industrial Processes: Release various potent greenhouse gases like fluorinated gases, which have a very
high global warming potential.

Most Important Causes Today:

Human activities are overwhelmingly the most important cause of the current, rapid climate change.

Why?

The speed and magnitude of the warming observed since the mid-20th century cannot be explained by
natural factors [Link] models show that:

· Natural forcings (like solar and volcanic activity) would have led to a slight cooling over recent decades.

· Only when the effect of human-emitted greenhouse gases is added do the models accurately
reproduce the observed sharp rise in global temperatures.
The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere is now higher than at any time in at least the last 3 million
years, and this increase is unequivocally due to human activities. Therefore, while natural factors have
caused climate change in the deep past, the current crisis is human-driven.