How Do We Know?: Introduction

The video discusses the pressing issue of climate change, highlighting the rapid changes and potential dangers of human interference. It emphasizes the significant investments made by the National Science Foundation in understanding climate change. Dr. Killeen provides evidence of global warming through various observations, including temperature records and ecosystem changes, underscoring the need for scientific understanding of these changes and their future implications.

What is a major concern about the current climate changes?

• They are within the normal range of the past 1,000 years.

• They are happening slower than expected.

• They are occurring faster than anticipated.

• They have no impact on future generations.

What has the National Science Foundation done to address climate change?

• Ignored the issue completely.

• Invested billions in research.

• Focused only on local climate changes.

• Reduced funding for climate studies.

How do we know that the global climate is changing?

• Through predictions without any data.

• By relying solely on historical records.

• By observing consistent patterns across various data sources.

• Through anecdotal evidence.

What type of evidence shows changes in ecosystems due to warming?

• The timing of spring bud break remains unchanged.

• Ecosystems are unaffected by temperature changes.

• The timing of spring bud break is shifting.

• Rivers freeze earlier each year.

What role does remote sensing play in understanding climate change?

• It provides inconsistent data.

• It offers a global perspective on climate changes.

• It is only useful for local weather predictions.

• It has no relevance to climate studies.