Observe: Climate Change

  Geography Connection

Imagine a 50 lane traffic jam!

This is life in China, where the large population making goods is contributing to both air pollution and CO2 emissions.

China is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Coal (plant material combined with heat and pressure) is cheap, there's a lot of it, and humans know how to use it-but when burned in large amounts, some scientists call it 'dirty'.

In 2013, China's "airpocalypse" was linked to its use of coal to make products. The "airpocalypse" made it difficult for people to go outside because of the smog. In 2105, coal made up 66 percent of China's energy use. Not only that, China is increasing its coal-fired power plants by 155 by 2020. There is a lot of pressure on China to change. So, in 2018 some people had no heat in their houses and some school classes were held outside in 2018 because China tried to reduce coal use.

China is skeptical of making big changes to energy use. One problem China faces in reducing CO2 emissions is that because of wind, air pollution travels. Therefore, CO2 emission's effect is difficult to measure. Also, China argues energy changes could increase the cost for food, cars, and heat. Ending coal use is difficult and even unrealistic for lower-income families and countries to make. Other countries argue China is so large a player in the world economy, that if this country does not change its emissions, why should they?

This world map shows global temperature change from 1999-2008 compared to normal temperatures in 1940-1980. The brighter the red colour, the greater the warming. You can see by the map that the Arctic shows the most extreme warming. 
This world map shows global temperature change from 1965-1975 compared to normal temperatures in 1937-1946.  The brighter the blue, the greater the cooling .  You can see by the map that the Arctic shows the most extreme cooling.

Over the past 1 000 years, the Earth has warmed and cooled. In the medieval warming period, Vikings settled Greenland. By learning more about weather and climate, we can better understand climate trends.

That global climate change is occurring, that carbon dioxide seems to be increasing, and that greenhouse gases contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect all lead to some very important questions:

  • If Earth is warming, what might happen to climate around the world?
  • If Earth is warming, is that a bad thing?
  • If we want to decrease greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, what can we do, what is the cost, and do the numbers add up?

This activity looks at the relationship between humans and global warming.


How does global warming affect Earth? 

Materials

Notebook

Click here to download the instructions for this activity. Save to your Weather Notebook.


  Skill Builder

Click a link below to learn how to:

construct a chart in Google Docs

Need A Hint?

Consider the following questions.  They are intended to guide you as you complete your Effects of Global Warming chart.

  1. If global temperatures warm, how could arctic sea ice be affected? 
  2. How could climate change affect where crops can be grown?
  3. How could climate change affect the number and strength of tropical storms?
  4. How could climate change affect the amount of snow that falls in mountain regions?
  5. How could global warming affect sea levels?
  6. How could climate change affect coral reefs?
  7. How could global warming affect the amount of rainfall and number of trees?
  8. How could rising global temperatures affect the spread of diseases?