Human Impact on Climate (NEW)

The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space, which warms the planet.

Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation. Key examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor.

Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

An Ice Age is a period in Earth's history characterized by significant cooling, during which glaciers covered large parts of the planet's surface.

Infrared radiation gets absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases, contributing to the warming of the atmosphere.

Increased carbon dioxide levels are associated with rising global temperatures, indicating a direct relationship between greenhouse gas concentrations and climate change.

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, increase greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, typically expressed in equivalent tons of CO2.

Deforestation reduces the number of trees that can absorb CO2, leading to higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities and the greenhouse effect.