1. What are the causes of Climate Change?

2. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon.
It has kept the earth at around 15oC, suitable for life to thrive, for
over 3 billion years. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas.

3. Natural causes – ‘Sun spots’
Approximately every 11 years, the sun experienced
increased activity, releasing more radiation (Sun Spots)

4. Natural causes - Volcanoes
• Eruptions release
vast amount of
greenhouse gases
into the upper
atmosphere
• Can lead to cooling
in the lower
atmosphere

5. Natural causes Mt PinatubuPinatubo, 1991
- Volcanoes – Mt
• Released 20 million tonnes of sulphur dioxide into the
atmosphere
• Average temperatures dropped by 0.2-0.5°c for several
years

6. Human causes
Humans have added more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere mainly by
burning fossil fuels. This has added more CO2 to the atmosphere causing
more warming (nearly 1oC in the last 100 years).

7. Human causes of climate change
Various human activities increase greenhouse
gases.
•Burning fossil fuels (CO2)
•Cement manufacture (CO2)
•Deforestation (CO2)
•Rice production (methane)
•Digestion of grass by cattle (methane)
•Domestic sewage and landfill (methane)
•Industry (CFCs etc)

8. By 2100: scientists predict …
Between 2 and 6oC rise in temperature!
What will be the effects of this the
planet?

9. Top 10
BIGGEST
effects of
global
warming
1. Extinction of
plants and animals

10. 2. Destruction of ecosystems
3. More extreme heat waves

11. 4. Sea level rise
5. Spread of disease

12. 6. Drought
7. War

13. 8. Shrinking glaciers
9. More storms and floods

14. 10. Economic hardship
Task…
Draw a BIG mind map showing people:
The effects of climate change.
(remember the domino effect…)

15. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentan
dgreenerliving/Thewiderenvironment/Cli
matechange/DG_072929
Next = Solutions … use Horizons p90-91.