Weather
What is air pressure?
Air pressure is the force air exerts on a surface/area
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather:is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere in a specific place.
Climate: is the average pattern of weather in a place over a very long time, like 30 years or more
what is a drought?
A drought is a long period of time when there is no water
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are natural energy sources—like coal, oil, and natural gas
What causes sea level rise?
melting glaciers and ice sheets adding more water to the ocean, and the fact that water naturally expands and it takes up more space as it gets warmer.
What effect does air pressure have on wind?
Air pressure drives wind by forcing air to move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
How does being close to the ocean affect a place's climate?
The ocean takes a long time to heat up and a long time to cool down. Because of this, it keeps nearby land from getting too freezing cold in the winter or too scorching hot in the summer.
Name one major greenhouse gas.
Carbon dioxide
How does burning coal, oil, or gas cause climate change?
Burning these fuels releases stored carbon into the air as carbon dioxide.This extra gas thickens Earth's heat-trapping causing temperatures to rise
What are forest fires?
Forest fires (or wildfires) are large, uncontrolled fires in wild areas. Climate change makes them worse because hotter temperatures dry out plants and trees
What are the three main states of water found in the water cycle?
Liquid (Rain)
Gas (Water vapor/evaporation)
Solid (Snow/Ice)
What is the equator, and why is it warmer there?
The equator is the imaginary line wrapped around the middle of the Earth. It is warmer there because sunlight hits that part of the Earth directly all year round.
How does the greenhouse effect trap heat on Earth?
Sunlight passes through the atmosphere to warm the Earth. The Earth then tries to send that heat back out into space, but greenhouse gases in the air act like a blanket, trapping some of that heat inside.
What is deforestation and how does it affect the climate?
Deforestation is the permanent cutting down or clearing of forests. Trees naturally suck up and store carbon dioxide; when they are cut down or burned, they can no longer help clean the air
What is happening to glaciers and ice sheets because of climate change?
They are melting at a much faster rate than normal because the global air and ocean temperatures are warming up.
What is humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapor that is currently floating in the air.
How does elevation affect the temperature?
As you go higher up a mountain, the air gets thinner and holds less heat, making the temperature colder.
Can the greenhouse effect be helpful and necessary for life on Earth?
Yes! Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth would be a frozen, lifeless block of ice (around -18C)
Try and name a type of clean and renewable energy that does not cause climate change.
Solar energy or Wind energy
How does warmer ocean water affect coral reefs?
When the water gets too hot, corals get stressed and kick out the tiny, colorful algae that live inside them and give them food, leaving the coral white and sickly.
How do clouds form?
Clouds form when warm, wet air rises and cools down high up in the sky.
What are ocean currents, and how do they move heat around the planet?
Ocean currents are like giant rivers flowing through the ocean. They carry warm water from the equator up toward the cold poles
What human activity releases the most greenhouse gases?
Burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) to generate electricity, run factories, and power cars.
How do farm animals, like cows, contribute to climate change?
When cows and other livestock digest their food, their stomachs produce a powerful greenhouse gas called methane
What is an "extreme weather event"?
Massive hurricanes, severe heatwaves, or historic floods.