Climate change

Greenhouse Gases Increasing

Methane is one of the key greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. It's particularly problematic because of its strong heat-trapping ability.

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Sources of Methane

• Methane is produced during the digestive processes of livestock like cattle and goats.
• As the demand for livestock farming increases, so does the amount of methane being released into the atmosphere.

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Effect of Greenhouse Gases

• Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.
• Human activity has significantly increased the levels of these gases, raising the average global temperature.

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What Scientists Believe

There are different viewpoints on the cause of global warming:

1. Anthropogenic (Human-Caused): Many scientists believe that global warming is mainly caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

2. Natural Fluctuations: Some argue that natural variations in the Earth's climate cycles may also be contributing to the changes in temperature.

3. Data Limitations: While there is strong evidence linking CO₂ and human activity to climate change, some scientists believe we still need more data to fully understand the extent of human influence.

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Global Warming and Its Impacts

• Global warming is a type of climate change that leads to other severe consequences, such as:
  • Melting polar ice caps, causing rising sea levels and more frequent and intense flooding.
  • Disruptions to ecosystems, weather patterns, and human societies.

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Historical Data vs Current Records

Current Data	Historical Data
Modern measurements of global temperature and CO₂ levels are highly accurate and come from all over the world.	Historical data is less accurate, as fewer measurements were taken, and older methods were less precise.

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Ways to Estimate Past Data

Scientists use several methods to estimate historical levels of CO₂ and global temperatures, such as:

• Fossils, tree rings, and gas bubbles trapped in ice sheets.
• These methods give us clues about past climate but are less precise and represent smaller data sets.

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Reducing Greenhouse Gases

To slow down climate change, it's important to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we release. This can be done by:

• Personal Actions:
  • Using a bike instead of driving.
  • Reducing energy consumption at home.
• Larger Scale Efforts:
  • Governments creating policies for greater energy efficiency.
  • Investing in renewable energy like wind or solar power.
  • Researching new energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.