Problem: Evidence for Climate Change
We will learn a bit more about climate change in some upcoming lectures, but it is such a hot topic (and is directly related to biology), that we should start discussing it sooner.
Climate change is the scientific theory that the earth's climate is changing at a rapid pace, as a direct result of anthropogenic (a.k.a. human) activity. Notice that I've used the work "theory", instead of hypothesis or idea, because there are thousands of studies that support climate change theory.
One thing I'd like to point out is that the word "climate" means long term patterns, not short term weather events. One example of a long term shift in climate is that on average the number of forest fires has been increasing annually in California, and this year was the worst yet. So, for example, one bad forest fire, or one cold weather event is NOT good evidence for or against the theory of climate change. But a decades long trend? Pretty convincing.
The climate is changing as a general long term pattern, over decades.
Many of us will soon be upon the holiday season, which means we'll be having family get-togethers, and almost everybody has a family member that "doesn't believe in climate change". Or, perhaps even YOU don't yet believe in climate change. This exercise aims to give ample evidence which supports climate change theory. Use it to inform your irate uncle at Thanksgiving, or inform yourself if you're still on the fence!
Assignment:
1) Find an article that describes scientific evidence supporting climate change theory. Post a link to that article.
2) Describe, in one or two sentences, what the article mentions. Need Assignment Help?
3) Describe WHO (people) you think will be affected.
4) Describe WHICH ANIMALS or ECOSYSTEMS you think will be affected.