S4.14.7 For the adult
Climate change
Joseph’s grandmother says the seasons have shifted and the sea comes further up the shore than it did. How do scientists know that the Earth is warming?
What this chapter teaches
Several independent records agree that the Earth has warmed by about 1.3 °C since the late 1800s. The scientific consensus is that this is caused mainly by human activity, chiefly burning fossil fuels. The sea is rising from warm water expanding and from melting ice on land. Warmer air makes downpours heavier while drying soils faster.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- What does the record of global temperature show, and how do we know it is reliable?
- What do scientists say causes the recent warming, and what evidence do they give?
- Why does melting ice on land raise the sea level, but melting sea ice does not?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Use data to describe how global temperature has changed
- Explain effects such as rising seas, droughts and floods
What they copy into their notebook
The Earth is about 1.3 °C warmer than in the late 1800s. People cause most of it. Seas rise: warm water expands, land ice melts. Warm air holds more vapour: heavier rain, drier soil.