Natural vs. Anthropogenic Climate Change

Dear students,

 

By the end of this WebQuest you will:

• Differentiate Natural vs. Anthropogenic Climate Change.

• Conduct online research to gather evidence for both natural and human causes of climate change.

• Work in teams to create Google Slides presentations supporting your climate change position.

• Debate and defend your viewpoints, critically evaluating opposing arguments to deepen understanding of global issues.

​

​

           Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

• Climate change refers to any long-term or permanent alteration in the Earth's climate. It results from two sources: natural climate change, which consists of the natural climate cycles that have always occurred throughout Earth's history and anthropogenic climate change, which is caused by human activities.

• The Greenhouse Effect, a term used by scientist is at the core of Climate Change. Earth's temperature is controlled by the balance of energy entering and leaving its system. When sunlight hits the Earth's surface, it can either be reflected back into space or absorbed. The absorbed energy heats the planet and this energy is then emitted back into the atmosphere as heat (infrared radiation). Conversely, the sunlight that is reflected back into space does not contribute to the Earth's warming.

• Certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, ozone) absorb energy, which slows down or prevents heat from escaping into space. These gases, called "greenhouse gases," function like a blanket, warming the Earth more than it would be otherwise. This natural and essential process, known as the "greenhouse effect," supports life on our planet. However, the recent increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities has altered the Earth's climate, leading to harmful impacts on human health, well-being, and ecosystems.

• Take a look on this photo: