Intro Quiz: Human causes of climate change

Video: Human causes of climate change

﻿Hello, and welcome to today's lesson. My name is Miss McComb and today we're going to be learning about the human causes of climate change. These are all the activities that we do that increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. And each of these causes are so significant in how they contribute to climate change that it's so important that we learn about what they are. So that later on, we can learn about how we actually reduce those causes. So before we begin, can you please make sure that you have a pen and some paper. Can we start by writing out the title of today's lesson? And come underline it please. Once you've done that, can you clear away any distractions so that there's nothing that will interfere with your learning. If you need to press pause to do any of this, then please do so. Okay, are we now ready? Let's get started. So when we talk about climate change, we must consider the causes in order to understand why and how it affects our climate. Which leads us to fossil fuels. When we burn fossil fuels, they release what we call carbon emissions into the atmosphere. We use coal, gas, and oil in many ways. And each time that we do, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. So just take a minute to think about all the ways in which we use fossil fuels in our day-to-day lives. Before we move on, please write down the definition of a fossil fuel. Press pause if you need to and press play when you're ready to continue. So carbon emissions. What are they? Carbon emissions is the release of carbon into the atmosphere. So when we use and burn fossil fuels for things such as cars, buses, aeroplanes , so transportation. Or in power stations, where we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity or even heating in our homes. When we burn those fossil fuels, they release carbon into the atmosphere. So please copy out the definition of carbon emissions. Press pause and then press play when you're ready to continue. Over time, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have changed. Now carbon dioxide is often referred to as CO2. If we's to do the graph, we can see the general trend of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 1950 to 2010. But you might be thinking, "Well, why does the graph go up and down? Why does it have that wiggly line?" This is what we call fluctuations. Where it goes up and down and up and down. So this graph fluctuates, but in an increasing way. But why does that happen? Well this occurs due to variations between the summer and winter months. So in the northern hemisphere, we have a huge landmass with lots of trees and vegetation. So in the summer months, the trees have leaves. Now those leaves absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So therefore, there is less. So here, where we can see the bottom. This is where we are in the summer months, where the trees have absorbed the carbon dioxide through their leaves. Where we see the peaks of temperature over the years. This represents the autumn and the winter months, when the trees lose their leaves. So when they lose their leaves, the rate of photosynthesis is reduced. So therefore, there's less carbon dioxide being absorbed. So more of the carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere. So think about what might this graph look like in another 50 years time. We might think about the impact deforestation has on the amount of carbon. Or the change in global temperatures. If areas are warmer for longer. Will it have an impact? So what is the greenhouse effect? We'll start by talking about the Earth's atmosphere. Which is very thin and it's vital to support life on Earth. It's made up of lots of different gases. Such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide. A natural function of the Earth's atmosphere is to keep in some of the heat that is lost from the Earth's surface. This is the greenhouse effect. Now let's study the diagram on the right hand side. Which will help show us what the greenhouse effect actually is. So we'll start here with the Sun. So solar radiation from the Sun enters the atmosphere towards Earth. As what we call short wave radiation. We can see here at number two, that some of the Sun's rays are absorbed by the Earth. Some of the sunrays are reflected away from Earth back through the atmosphere. As long wave radiation. We can also see that there is a layer of greenhouse gases which trap in heat and warm the Earth. Now pollution adds to greenhouse gases. So humans make the greenhouse effect worse. This is what we call the enhanced greenhouse effect. So due to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, it becomes thicker as more of these gases are released. So more of the Sun's rays are trapped. Which causes the planet to heat up. Okay, so shall we see what you can remember about the greenhouse effect? So what I'd like you to do is to write the paragraph down. And where there's a blank, I'd like you to fill in the correct word using the keywords from the box on the right hand side. As you write your keywords down, just go back and read through the sentence. And if it doesn't make sense, then that will be because the word that you've chosen is probably incorrect. Once you've written down the paragraph, we'll read through it all again from start to finish. When you're ready, please press pause and then press play when you want to have a look at the answers. Good luck, off you go. Did you get the answers correct? Let's go through them. The Sun's rays come to Earth known as short wave radiation, which passes through the atmosphere. The rays reflect off the Earth as long wave radiation. Some rays are trapped by the atmosphere whilst others escape. As more greenhouse gases are released, the atmosphere becomes thicker. This causes more of the Sun's rays to become trapped and causes the climate of the planet to increase. Well done for getting all of those correct. What a superstar. Brilliant. So let's move on and we'll start to look at the causes of climate change. These are the human causes of climate change. It's not only the burning of fossil fuels that can contribute to climate change. We can see from the image at the top of the screen that there's lots of other factors that increase the amount of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere. These can also be called sources of greenhouse gases. And the four that we will look at today, are transportation, deforestation, agriculture, and industry. So lots of different types of transport. And it's about how we as humans can travel around or how we deliver different products or things like food. So we might use things like cars and buses and aeroplanes . And every time we use a type of transportation, we use fossil fuels. And as we learned earlier, when we burn fossil fuels, they release carbon emissions into the atmosphere. So have a think about what will happen to these carbon emissions from transportation when population increases. I think you're right. So when population increases, we have more people. More people using transportation. More food needed. So more ships and more lorries to help transport that food. So with an increase in the need for transportation, even more fossil fuels will be burned. And even more carbon emissions will go into our atmosphere. So deforestation is another human cause of climate change. And to me, it's one of the saddest causes. If we look at the picture on the screen, it shows deforestation in one of our beautiful rainforests. And deforestation rates are rapidly increasing in those rainforests. When we cut down trees, it affects the amount of carbon dioxide that's in the atmosphere. So let's break it down and we'll have a look at how. So all trees and plants need carbon dioxide. So they absorb the carbon from the atmosphere through their leaves. And along with sunlight and water. They convert it to organic matter. They release oxygen into the atmosphere. This is photosynthesis. So if we cut down the trees. That means we have less trees to absorb the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So therefore, more of the carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere. Agriculture is also a human cause of climate change. And it's to do with different farming practises. So we'll start by looking at our cute cattle. Now did you know that cattle can belch? Fun fact, one to share with your friends and family. So when cattle belch, they actually release methane. And they also release methane through their cow dung. But 95% of the methane released by cattle comes from belching. So next time you're walking past a field full of cattle, listen out for the belches. The second of our agriculture comes from rice paddies. So rice paddies can be found in lots of asian countries such as Japan and Thailand, who grow rice crops. Now when the rice paddies flood, they release methane. Microbes produce the methane as they decay the organic matter that's under the water of the flooded rice paddies. Now we might need to think about how will a population increase affect agriculture. Industries, is the final human cause of climate change that we will look at today. Now industries create manufactured goods. And this is increased due to population increase. So the more goods that we need, the more industries will use fossil fuels. So the more fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are burned by these different factories. More carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere. We also, through building, use a lot of limestone. Now limestone is used to make cement. Limestone contains carbon. So in the production of cement, the limestone is heated. And as it's heated, it releases carbon. So the more building that we do, the more cement we need. And the more carbon will be produced and will go into our atmosphere. So the four cause that we've looked at. Through burning of fossil fuels, we've looked at transportation. We've talked about deforestation and how we remove trees that actually absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We've looked at agriculture and the release of methane from cattle and rice paddies. And we've talked about industry and how the increase in needed manufactured goods has led to an increase in the burning of fossil fuels in the different industries. So when you're ready, I'd like you to press pause to complete the task on the screen. I'd like you to write down one to four in your book. And I'd like you to match up the correct explanation for each one. So alongside one to four, you'll write down the correct letter that matches each cause of climate change. So as soon as your ready, please press pause. And then press play to continue and find out the answers. Let's see how well you've done. So at number one, burning fossil fuels. Hopefully we've matched it up with C. At number two with farming, it matches B. Three, cement production, is D. And the last one of deforestation, is A. Did you get them all correct? I thought you would. Well done, brilliant work. You shown that you really do understand the human causes of climate change. So our final task of today's lesson is to complete the question on the screen. Identify and explain two human causes of climate change. Using the success criteria, it will guide you to producing a really great answer. Give an example of human cause. Say how your example contributes to climate change. Then we'll give a second example of a human cause. And then finally, say how this example contributes to climate change. So here, we have two model answers. Deforestation is a human cause of climate change. This is because during photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. So when the trees are cut down, there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So that's a really good answer that has the example given of deforestation. But then has developed the answer to explain why. In Teacher Model B, we talk about cement production. So there's the example, cement production. And then we go on to continue to explain how cement production contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide is released when the limestone needed to make cement is heated. So when you're ready, please press pause and complete your task. Once you've done so, please press play and we'll review your answers. Off you go. So let's review your learning and let's see how well you have done. So as we just go through the answers, please just do a little bit of self-assessment and check how well you have completed them. And if you've missed anything, please feel free just to write a little note underneath it. So if we start with the burning fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels is a human cause of climate change. One mark. This is because when we burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. They release huge amounts of carbon dioxide. So a great answer. So one, we give the example. And two, we have explained it. Agriculture is a human cause of climate change. This is because cattle release methane, which is a greenhouse gas. Or rice paddies release methane when they are flooded. So another great answer. The example being given is agriculture. And then we've explained. We've developed the answer to show how. So well done for completing your task. Really good work that demonstrates an increase in your knowing and understanding of the causes of climate change. So that brings us to the end of today's lesson. And a huge well done from me. You've worked incredibly hard to learn about the different human causes of climate change. From burning fossil fuels to transportation, deforestation, agriculture, and industry. So now you have a lot more knowledge to be able to explain exactly what they are and how they contribute to climate change. So before we do finish, please read through all of the notes that you've taken through today's lesson. And make a note of three of the most important things that you have learned. Okay, very well done. So please join us next time, where we will start to look at the effect of climate change on both people and the environment. So take care and enjoy the rest of your learning today. Bye!

Exit Quiz: Human causes of climate change

Completed: Human causes of climate change

In this lesson we will be studying how humans contribute to climate change, through transportation, deforestation, agriculture and industry.

Geography

Human causes of climate change

Introductory Quiz

Video

Final Quiz

Lesson Complete