Question

Scientists claim that climate change is happening because Earth is warming. They also claim that humans have helped cause the warming by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Other people claim that Earth is not experiencing climate change because some winter days are still very cold. Use evidence to evaluate each claim about climate change.

Answer 1

Climate change has always happened on Earth, which is clearly seen in the geological record; it is the rapid rate and the magnitude of climate change occurring now that is of great concern worldwide. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb heat radiation. Human activity has increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution, leading to more heat retention and an increase in surface temperatures. Atmospheric aerosols alter climate by scattering and absorbing solar and infrared radiation and they may also change the microphysical and chemical properties of clouds. Finally, land-use changes, such as deforestation have led to changes in the amount of sunlight reflected from the ground back into space (the surface albedo). It may seem counterintuitive, but
more snowfall during winter storms
is an expected outcome of climate
change. That's because a warmer
planet is evaporating more water
into the atmosphere. That added
moisture means more precipitation
in the form of heavy snowfall or
downpours.
During warmer months, this can
cause record-breaking floods. But
during the winter - when our part
of the world is tipped away from
the sun - temperatures drop, and
instead of downpours we can get
massive winter storms.