But this isn’t just affecting polar bears—climate change affects everyone. First, gauge what your kids may already know. Once it’s absorbed, then the energy goes all the way back into the atmosphere as something called infra-red rays. Climate Change The earth's climate has seen many changes in its 4.55 billion years. But climate change also presents an opportunity to change the way we live so we improve things for us and the planet. Lesson objectives, starter task and final task included to fully make use of the worksheet provided. Warmer water changes the patterns of ocean currents, affecting global weather patterns. Weather changes day to day—sometimes it rains, other days it’s hot. Below are 50 Mind-blowing Facts About Climate Change. How do they know? Eat less meat and dairy. Something self-explanatory from global warming facts, but still important for all that. [7] Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. These are the exciting careers of the future. Although changes to the earth's climate are natural, current changes are a result of increasing human populations and activities. The Earth’s average temperature has increased about 1.5°F in the past hundred years. 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. You can do a lot! (Coral can’t survive in water that’s too warm.) Tropical storms could be stronger, and a continuing rise in sea level due to melting polar ice might push people out of their homes. Try some of these tips to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you add to the atmosphere. For example, 18,000 years ago most of Britain was covered in ice and glaciers. When she was eight, she started learning about climate change. Climate is the pattern of the weather conditions over a long period of time for a large area. On the other hand, climate change covers both global warming and its effects. 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. So each time your parents drive their car or you turn on an electrical appliance, you are adding more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Human-caused climate change has caused an approximate temperature rise of 1 degree in the Earth's atmosphere - very rapidly. Interesting Facts about Climate Change. (Buying products that are made with recycled glass and plastic also emits carbon dioxide, though less so.) We need lots of trees, so plant them whenever you can. In the past, the UK has experienced both freezing ice ages and warm tropical climates. You can help to solve climate change problems and challenges. So be cool by doing your best to keep Earth well … cool! A polar bear stands on the shore of the Hudson Bay in North America. The Earth is like a glasshouse, with some important gases that keep us warm like water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. Other effects include heat waves and increased desertification, which brings flooding and smaller harvests. The more fuels that are burnt, the more CO² is sent into the atmosphere. Our Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere made up of gases. 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. Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. [8] They’ve also ruled out the natural factors that caused warming in the past. That’s why many scientists agree that the Earth is now warming because of human activity. 1) Greta Thunberg is an environmental activist. By trapping that heat, our atmosphere keeps Earth warm enough to live on. NASA scientists have observed Earth’s surface is warming, and many of the warmest years on record have happened in the past 20 years. Arctic and Antarctic ice is melting, leading to rising sea levels. This could cause floods. Also, there are loads of artificial things being made that end up in waste dumps. 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. 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. Good thing holey jeans are back in style! When lots of ice melts it becomes water and then goes into streams, rivers, lakes, and seas. 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. It could save your family about $200 a year on its energy bill. What could happen? Environmental conditions can affect the flavour and quality plus it needs a very specific rainfall to grow. Every 40,000 years, the Earth changes positions and this cause climate change. 2021 National Geographic Partners, LLC. That increases Earth’s temperature, which contributes to the planet’s warming. We can tackle it and we are. 3 In fact, the five warmest years in the 1880–2019 record have all occurred since 2015. Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches. But Climate Change: The Facts is a rousing call to arms. Many of … Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp. This is Global Warming. © shaunl. They range from designing satellites for NASA to fixing wind-energy generators to planning drought-tolerant landscapes for homes and parks. Instead of traveling in a car, use public transportation, walk, or ride your bike when you can. 5 | Climate change KS2 scheme of work. FOREST FACTS FOR KIDS. 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. Without it, our planet would be very cold, like Mars. Earth’s climate has always naturally cycled through change, caused by how much of the sun’s energy was absorbed by the atmosphere. Some people don’t believe this is caused by us humans, but let’s get some of the facts together and you can see what you think. 4 Tweet this fact ». Farm animals, er. The frequency and strength of storms is increasing, leaving destruction in their wake. They build them to keep that hot sun in there and not escape. They build them to keep that hot sun in there and not escape. But the ice has started to melt earlier and re-form later than it has in the past. Get all the facts you need to know. Climate change is linked to plants and animals becoming endangered and becoming extinct. 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. Climate change The climate across the world has changed naturally over thousands and millions of years. Each and every one of us can make a difference, and here are some things you can do to help! But during the past few hundred years, oil, gas, and coal have powered homes, cars, and factories. Greenhouse effect – sometimes people build greenhouses, which is a small glasshouse to grow flowers or trees. This is making a big impact on Global Warming and Climate Change. The more she learned, the more baffled she became as to why so little was being done about it. A teacher answer sheet is provided and there is an optional extension exam task. 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. Some places will receive more rainfall, which could lead to flooding, while other places will get less, which might mean drought. Buy locally grown and in-season foods and products to reduce emissions from transporting products. But what happens when temperatures at the top become too warm for the pika? Without the sea ice, the polar bear must scavenge for other, less nutritious food. Global Warming causes land and water to expand because of the heat, and it also causes ice sheets to melt. All this waste produces smoke, fumes, and water vapor. It would be one very chilly place. Fact 2: The United States constitutes 5% of the world population and contributes to 22% of the world’s carbon emission. As humans, we are producing more waste than ever before. As it reaches us on Earth, the land and the water absorb the sunlight’s energy. So as the mountain climate heats up, the pika climbs the slopes in search of cooler habitat. If we don’t tackle it the consequences are grim. Your everyday actions affect people, plants, and animals all over the world—including polar bears! All the artificial things that make us comfortable at home, like computers, irons, kettles, or microwaves are producing more greenhouse gases than ever before. Climate Change –any change in our climate including wind, precipitation (rain, snow, hail), temperature, winds, and other things. There are a couple of words that you need to understand first so that we can explain climate change to you better. 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. But, if the greenhouse effect becomes super strong, it could make the Earth warmer. Designed for use with a year 9 group studying climate change. Forests affect the weather worldwide by reducing temperature extremes and helping to regulate the climate. It’s simple to make a difference to keep the Earth healthy. Almost everything we have needs power and this power comes from burning fossil fuels and other natural sources. CLIMATE-CHANGE FACTS FACT: Carbon dioxide, a byproduct of fossil-fuel combustion, is a greenhouse gas, which traps solar radiation in the atmosphere. A polar bear walks along a rocky shore, looking for food. Photograph by Cindy Creighton, Shutterstock. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which makes it very difficult to grow tea. When confronted with inaccurate information, the best way to respond is with facts — so keep these seven climate change facts in mind. Fact 1: The global temperature on an average has increased by 0.6 to 1 degree Celsius till the 20 th century. 1) Climate change never took a break. Our weather can be more extreme where we could have more droughts, or vicious storms and heavy rain. In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and less predictable. 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. 4 Most of the warming occurred in the past 40 years, with the six warmest years on record taking place since 2014. . Electronics use energy even when they’re turned off, so unplug them when you’re not using them. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/climate-change.html. 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. Can also be used as a stand alone homework task. The average global surface temperature has already increased by 1.04°C in the last 130 years. Because disease-carrying mosquitoes thrive in warm, wet weather, more people could contract illnesses such as malaria as the Earth warms. This includes rising sea levels and changes in established weather systems. In fact over the past 650,000 years, the Earth has gone through seven ice ages and warming periods. Learn how the Earth’s temperature is rising due to increased greenhouse gases. Through careful study, they know that the climate is warming about 10 times faster than the average previous warming times. Fact 1 The term global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet. Climate Change –any change in our climate including wind, precipitation (rain, snow, hail), temperature, winds, and other things.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'konnecthq_com-banner-1','ezslot_12',108,'0','0'])); Global Warming – any changes in temperature across the Earth. 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. "The pattern of winter warming following the volcanic eruption is practically identical to a pattern of winter surface temperature change caused by global warming. You can use this information in projects, or just become clued up on what climate change is all about!eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'konnecthq_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',104,'0','0'])); There have been loads of rumblings about how our climate is changing, with scientists warning us all the time that these changes are happening right now, and they’re harming living and non-living things on Earth. Global Warming – any changes in temperature across the Earth. 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. Sir David Attenborough is returning to BBC One presenting a documentary called Climate Change - The Facts. This means that our water levels are rising. Climate change affects more than temperature. Some are more dramatic than others: 800 to 600 million years ago, the Earth was so cold that it was covered with ice. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2003. Designed for use with a year 9 group studying climate change. 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. 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. 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. Rainforests and climate Rainforests are weather makers and climate regulators. Learn more about climate change and long term weather patterns on BBC Bitesize. Greenhouse effect – sometimes people build greenhouses, which is a small glasshouse to grow flowers or trees. We hope that you now know all about Climate Change and what you can do to help. It shows that volcanic aerosols force fundamental climate mechanisms that play an important role in the global change process." The big meeting in Paris and the historic agreement however is about climate change caused by human activity. When sunlight enters our atmosphere, some of the sun’s heat is trapped by the gas, and some bounces back out into space. The bear would usually be on the sea ice hunting for seals, pouncing when the seal comes up to breathe. A planned lesson on PowerPoint with a question and answer worksheet to accompany BBC documentary series Climate Change - The Facts. NASA data show that average global temperatures in 2019 were 1.8 degrees F (0.98 degrees C) warmer than the 20th century average. They expect the climate will warm another .5°F to 8.6°F by the year 2100. The term climate change encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet. 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. Sunlight comes shining through the atmosphere as it passes through a blanket of all the greenhouse gases. Some animals who are losing their habitats due to climate change are polar bears, green sea turtles and coral reefs. 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. 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. Here’s an example for you to think about. 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. These leaders can vote to regulate and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Wash your clothes in cold water, and hang them to dry. And climate can be affected by Earth’s atmosphere. The effects of climate change are everywhere. Hundreds of plant and animal species have already experienced changes because of climate change. 1. Sunlight Differences in Polar Climates. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- 2019 was the second warmest year on record. Climate change has caused an increase in the temperatures of polar climates, which has resulted in more ice melting there. Climate change is real and man-made, and there is overwhelming scientific consensus that this is true. Forests in tropical and temperate regions have a cooling effect, whereas boreal forests found in high northern latitudes make their climate warmer. Climate change is the biggest threat we face. Send a letter or drawing to your mayor, Senate or House representative, or even to the president. These energy sources release a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. These changes in polar sea ice are a result of climate change. 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. Is climate change happening? Factories emit lots of carbon dioxide when making new products. Here, in an effort to set the record straight, are five facts about climate change everyone needs to know. This gas traps heat that would otherwise escape Earth’s atmosphere. Teaching the Basics to School-Age Kids (Ages 6–12) Explain the science, simply. This warming is called Global Warming and is caused by the greenhouse effect we’ve just described. It is an alarm clock set at a horrifying volume. Reduce and reuse things as much as possible. 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 … Question and answer worksheet to accompany BBC documentary series Climate Change - The Facts. If future generations are to make an impact on global warming and fight back against climate change, it's vital for children to learn the importance of forests, the role they play in shaping the environment, and the impact of deforestation. Talk to your parents and the other adults that you know about climate change. It doesn’t sound like much, but scientists think that the temperature increase has caused melting glaciers, drought, and coral reef die-off. What is climate change? Climate change is the biggest threat faced by polar bears. And of course, these are getting trapped in the atmosphere and making the Earth’s surface warmer. 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