--- marp: true theme: default html: true --- # Quick check: causes, evidence and responses Year 10 Earth and space · Earth's energy balance --- ## Today **We are learning to** a few quick questions on how human activity creates an energy imbalance, the indicators that show warming, and mitigation versus adaptation. Taught in class; use this to check yourself. - I can link human activities to the energy imbalance. - I can name indicators of climate change and explain one. - I can tell mitigation from adaptation. --- ## Why it matters > The Sun hasn't changed, but Earth is warming. What has? --- ✅ Check ## Adds or not? **Does it add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere?** Groups: Adds greenhouse gases · Does not add them Burning coal for electricity · Clearing forests · Cattle and rice paddies (methane) · Planting forests · Wind turbines making electricity * Answer: Burning coal for electricity → Adds greenhouse gases; Clearing forests → Adds greenhouse gases; Cattle and rice paddies (methane) → Adds greenhouse gases; Planting forests → Does not add them; Wind turbines making electricity → Does not add them --- ✅ Check ## The imbalance **How do more greenhouse gases create an energy imbalance?** - They cool the surface - They trap more outgoing radiation, so Earth absorbs more energy than it sends to space - They block sunlight from reaching Earth - They make the Sun brighter * Answer: They trap more outgoing radiation, so Earth absorbs more energy than it sends to space --- ✅ Check ## Indicator or not? **Is it an indicator of climate change?** Groups: Indicator · Not an indicator Rising global average air temperature · Rising sea level · Shrinking Arctic sea ice · Warming oceans · A single cold day in winter * Answer: Rising global average air temperature → Indicator; Rising sea level → Indicator; Shrinking Arctic sea ice → Indicator; Warming oceans → Indicator; A single cold day in winter → Not an indicator --- ✅ Check ## Sea level **How does the energy imbalance cause sea levels to rise?** - More rain falls into the oceans - The sea floor is sinking - Floating sea ice melts - Warmer water expands, and melting land ice adds water * Answer: Warmer water expands, and melting land ice adds water --- ✅ Check ## Reading a graph **A graph shows global average temperature rising over 100 years, with ups and downs. What does it show?** - That every year is warmer than the last - That temperature does not change - A long-term warming trend, with natural year-to-year variation - That one cold year disproves warming * Answer: A long-term warming trend, with natural year-to-year variation --- ✅ Check ## Melting ice **Why does shrinking Arctic sea ice make the Arctic warm faster than elsewhere?** - Less ice means more greenhouse gases - Dark open ocean absorbs sunlight that the white ice used to reflect, so more energy goes in - Ice blocks the Sun's rays from entering the atmosphere - Melting ice gives out heat * Answer: Dark open ocean absorbs sunlight that the white ice used to reflect, so more energy goes in --- ✅ Check ## Mitigation or adaptation? **Is it mitigation or adaptation?** Groups: Mitigation · Adaptation Replacing coal power with solar and wind · Planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide · Building sea walls · Growing drought-resistant crops · Heatwave warning systems * Answer: Replacing coal power with solar and wind → Mitigation; Planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide → Mitigation; Building sea walls → Adaptation; Growing drought-resistant crops → Adaptation; Heatwave warning systems → Adaptation --- ✅ Check ## In terms of the model **How does mitigation address the energy imbalance?** - It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, so less outgoing radiation is trapped - It protects coasts and crops from the effects - It cools the oceans straight away - It removes all the heat already in the oceans * Answer: It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, so less outgoing radiation is trapped --- ✅ Check ## Why adapt as well? **Why is adaptation needed even if emissions fall?** - Adaptation replaces mitigation - Climate change is not real - Emissions cannot be reduced - Warming and its effects already under way continue for some time, so people need to cope with them * Answer: Warming and its effects already under way continue for some time, so people need to cope with them --- ✅ Check ## Exit ticket **Give one mitigation and one adaptation, and say how they differ.** * Mitigation reduces the cause (e.g. renewable energy). Adaptation limits the harm (e.g. sea walls).