Global Warming and Pollution
Earth's climate is changing as the average global temperature rises, which is called Global Warming. Scientists have found that Earth's warming temperature is caused by human actions, which are adding too many heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, called greenhouse gases. Throughout Earth's history, the climate has always changed- impacting the air, water, and land. But this time, climate change is being caused by people, and this change is happening really quickly causing many negative effects. Also, many of Earth's biomes, which are homes to animals, are polluted.
What issues are caused by Global Warming?
• Average global temperature rising
• Ice sheets and glaciers melting
• Rising sea levels, leading to flooding of coastal areas
• More powerful storms and fires
• Destruction of biomes, such as oceans, coral reefs, tundras, and more.
How is our Earth's environment and animals affected by Global Warming?
• Migration and hibernation patterns of animals affected
• Animals are losing the habitat/ biome that they live in and rely on
• Many plants and animals could become extinct because of this
• Precipitation has increased globally
• Changes in weather
• Changes in Ecosystems- such as when freezing or thawing occur, small shifts in climate can transform the way plants, animals, and landforms interact.
• Stormy weather- the strongest tornadoes are becoming frequent
• Warmer ocean temperatures weaken or kill off coral species
• Migration and hibernation patterns of animals affected
• Animals are losing the habitat/ biome that they live in and rely on
• Many plants and animals could become extinct because of this
• Precipitation has increased globally
• Changes in weather
• Changes in Ecosystems- such as when freezing or thawing occur, small shifts in climate can transform the way plants, animals, and landforms interact.
• Stormy weather- the strongest tornadoes are becoming frequent
• Warmer ocean temperatures weaken or kill off coral species
How are humans causing Global Warming?
• Burning coal, gas, fossil fuels and oil for energy pollutes the air
• Biomes are being polluted when trash is dumped into oceans and land biomes.
• Overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide, (because of industrial emissions and cars) pollutes our air.
• Carbon dioxide helps keep the Earth warm (the greenhouse effect), BUT too much carbon dioxide can be harmful since it absorbs too much UV (sun) rays and heats up the Earth.
• Burning coal, gas, fossil fuels and oil for energy pollutes the air
• Biomes are being polluted when trash is dumped into oceans and land biomes.
• Overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide, (because of industrial emissions and cars) pollutes our air.
• Carbon dioxide helps keep the Earth warm (the greenhouse effect), BUT too much carbon dioxide can be harmful since it absorbs too much UV (sun) rays and heats up the Earth.
How does air pollution affect the environment?
• Acid rain; combined pollutants with water droplets, then fall down to Earth as rain (habitats become acidic and kill animals)
• Natural gas, along with coal and oil poison the air and oceans
• Pollutes our environment, and melts ice caps and glaciers
• Air pollution releases dangerous chemicals (CO2/ carbon dioxide) into the air
• Smog; mixture of smoke and fog destroys the ozone (an important layer in the atmosphere that shields Earth from the sun's strong rays)
• Power plants, factories, stoves, etc also add to air pollution