Climate Change
The Earth's climate is constantly changing and has been for the last 4.6 billion years. This section explores some of these changes and the evidence we can find around us and the role and history of British Geology. Using the fossil record we can explore previous enviromental events, such as the Ice Age, and use that information to inform and develop research. For current research on climate change see The Royal Society and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change.Global warming and the greenhouse effect
When radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some gets absorbed and some is reflected back into space. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as water carbon dioxide and methane, stop the Sun's radiation escaping. If we didn't have this protective layer the Earth would be cold and lifeless. Greenhouse gases keep the Earth approximately 14°C warmer than it otherwise would be.
This is called the greenhouse effect. This is a naturally occurring process, but burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, has produced large amounts of extra greenhouse gas increasing the amount of warming. Carbon dioxide strongly absorbs the reflected infra-red radiation reflected back from the surface of the Earth. Scientists have found (see this Royal Society report) that carbon dioxide is "the dominant human-influenced greenhouse gas" and is responsible for more than half of global warming due to changes in its concentration in the atmosphere.
What are fossil fuels and why are they important?
Fossil fuels are an energy source that formed from the remains of dead plants or animals, these include coal, oil and gas. The organisms are buried deep in the Earth and over millions of years the heat and pressure converts them to coal, oil or gas.
Fossil fuels are important because they are used to generate approximately 90% of the electricity in the UK. Oil is processed into petrol and used to make plastics. This has massive implications for climate change. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the North West of Britain was at the heart of the UK's coal production.
Look on our database for more information on coal, oil and gas and carbon capture and gas hydrates and the links to the environments of the past.