Relationship Map
Transcript: Climate Change Rishika Garg Block 5 Root Causes Root Causes Increasing Livestock Farming Livestock farming is when farm animals such as pigs, cows, or chickens are raised and used to sell produce such as meat, eggs, milk, etc. The main greenhouse gases emitted from this are methane and nitrous oxides. 1 Deforestation Deforestation is the clearing of a wide area of trees. When trees are cut down, burned, or decayed, carbon dioxide is released into the air. This traps heat in our atmosphere. 2 Combustion of Fossil Fuels When fossil fuels are burned (primarily in factories), they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which traps heat in our atmosphere. 3 Overpopulation Overpopulation is a chain reaction which leads to other causes such as deforestation, over-farming, and water pollution. If the population keeps growing, it will outgrow the carrying capacity of Earth, which is the amount of individuals an ecosystem can carry with its resources. 4 Wildfires Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that occur most frequently in forests. During wildfires, a large amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere. They also damage forests that would otherwise help in taking carbon out of the air. 5 Transportation Driving is the most popular form of transportation. This burns a large amount of gasoline and diesel into the atmosphere, which traps heat. 6 Overuse of Electricity Fossil fuels such as coal or oil are burned to create heat to generate steam which drive turbines and generate electricity. The spread of these gases in our atmosphere traps solar heat that would otherwise go into space. 7 CFCs CFCs are chlorofluorocarbons that consist of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. They are mostly found in refrigerants and aerosol propellants and are harmful when released into the atmosphere because they can have a chemical reaction with the ozone atmospheric layer and destroy. it. This layer is very important because it protects us against harmful UV radiations. 8 Effects Effects Rising Sea Levels Warming ocean waters melt glaciers and ice caps, resulting in rising sea levels. This can result in loss of habitat for many animals, increase erosion, and cause flooding. 1 Ocean Acidification Carbon released into the atmosphere can dissolve into the ocean and cause ocean acidification. Acidification can dissolve many sea animal's exoskeletons and shells and is one of the main reason for coral reef extinction 2 Extreme weather patterns 3 Climate change causes extreme weather patterns such as floods, droughts, fires, storms, etc in different areas. Since the Earth is becoming warmer, it boosts evaporation. In some areas this may cause droughts and increase the risk of fires, and in other places this may cause more moisture in the air to intensify rain and storms. Food scarcity Because of climate change, global crop yields are decreasing and food prices have been increasing. Extreme weather patterns will also threaten food security for many people 4 Solutions Solutions Using Other Energy Sources There are many more sustainable energy sources we can use that do not release harmful gases into the atmosphere. Some examples include solar and wind energy. 1 Eat Less Meat There are many harmful effects associated with the production of meat such as fossil fuel usage, animal methane, and water and land consumption. Eating less meat will help you decrease your carbon footprint greatly. 2 Be More Efficient There are many ways individuals can practice sustainability in their every day lives from conserving electricity to carpooling, taking the bus, or buying an electric car instead of driving a gasoline-powered car. 3 Reduce Cutting Trees Every year, 33 million acres of forest is cut down. We should find ways to recycle more and practice forest management. We should also balance out the number of trees cut down with the number of trees planted. 4