Human Causes of Climate Change
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.4.4
Human Factors and Climate Change
The following human activities are increasing the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases:
Burning fossil fuels
- Fossil fuels include coal, petrol, natural gas and oil.
- When fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is released.
Cement production
- Limestone, which is a carbon-based compound, is the starting material for making cement.
- This carbon is released as carbon dioxide when cement is made.
Farming
- The digestive systems of cows produce lots of methane.
- Rice paddies also emit lots of methane.
- Methane is a greenhouse gas.
Deforestation
- During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it to make food.
- Deforestation means there are fewer trees removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Additionally, carbon dioxide is released when trees are burned and the carbon inside them is released into the atmosphere.
Test yourself on Human Causes of Climate Change
What human activities are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases?
Which of the following is not a fossil fuel?
What is cement made from?
What components of agriculture emit methane?