Climate Change

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What is climate change?

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Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time. While climate change is a natural phenomenon, human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have accelerated these changes.

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What is the greenhouse effect?

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The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space. This effect is essential for maintaining the planet's temperature but is intensified by increased levels of greenhouse gases.

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What are greenhouse gases?

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Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation. Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

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How does carbon dioxide contribute to global warming?

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Carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperatures. Higher levels of CO2 result from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

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What is the biosphere?

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The biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems, where all living organisms interact with each other and their environment.

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What is the cryosphere?

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The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth, such as glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice.

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What is the hydrosphere?

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The hydrosphere encompasses all water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and water vapor in the atmosphere.

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What is the lithosphere?

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The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, which includes rocks and soil.

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What are some effects of climate change?

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Effects of climate change include increased frequency of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, melting polar ice caps, and changes in precipitation patterns.

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What is global warming?

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Global warming refers specifically to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases.