Evidence of Climate Change

Evidence of Climate ChangeScientist’s believe that the

Earth’s climate is changing again – and that this time the change is happening because of human activity!

Mainly a result of additional greenhouse gases

1. Rising TemperaturesGeneral trend of increases global

temperatureIn Canada the average

temperature has increase by 1◦C in last 55 years

2. Melting Glaciers, Ice Sheets and Sea IceYou will find out about this in

your assignment!

3. Rising Sea LevelDue to:

◦1. Melting ice sheets◦2. Thermal water expansion (water

expands when it heats up)Results in:

◦Floods

4. Changes in severe WeatherMore heat waves and hurricanesMainly caused by warmer ocean

temperatures

5. Changes in precipitation patternsNorthern hemisphere: more rain,

less snowNorthern Canada: more annual

precipitationSouthern Africa, Mediterranean

and South East Asia: drier

6. Changing SeasonsMany areas have shorter less

severe winters and longer growth seasons

7. Changes in EcosystemsNorth America: plants flowering

earlier and animals breeding earlier

Animals and plants migrating towards poles

EffectsThese changes are going to have

major impacts!

HomeworkRead pg. 373-377Questions p. 378 #1, 2Start thinking of things YOU can

do to help prevent climate change!