Global warming: the evidence is strong

The 80’s of the previous century were the earth’s warmest decade since records began, according to scientists at the Meteorological office and the University of East Anglia.

The finding provides strong evidence that global warming caused by human activity is already underway, as predicted by theory. But scientists warn that it cannot be regarded as conclusive proof.

Phil Jones, senior researcher at the University of East Anglia, said:”I think the greenhouse effect is the most likely cause, and I think the great majority of climatologists would now agree.

If we are changing the climate, it is much easier to do something now rather than waiting until the warming is more severe.”

Since 1900, average temperatures have risen by about 0.5 degrees C. The culprits(виновники) are carbon dioxide gas, produced by the burning of fossil fuels(органическое топливо) and forests, and pollutants such as methane and chlorofluorocarbons.

Climatologists predict that by the middle of the 21^st century temperatures may have risen by as much as 4 degrees C. Happening so quickly, that could catastrophically reduce mankind’s ability to grow food, destroy or severely damage what wildlife remained and raise sea levels, flooding coastal cities and farmland.

1. What job does Phil Jones do?

2. Where does he work?

3. Which ten years have been the hottest since records began?

4. What is the most likely cause of global warming?

5. How much has the average global temperature risen since 1900?

6. By how much might average temperatures have risen by the middle of the 21^st century?

7. What might happen to the world if temperatures do rise dramatically over the 21^st century?

8. What products of human activity are mainly responsible for the warming up of the globe?

4. Read the text, try to understand it without a dictionary, a) explain the title, b) entitle its paragraphs, c) make a list of all the predictions about the future. Do you agree with them? Say if there is a way out of this situation.

Find the examples of the Present and Future Simple Tenses, Present Continuous; examples of the Passive Voice and Conditionals (name their types)

The Amazon forest and the future of the world

The Amazon forest, in Brazil, covers five million square kilometers – an area as big as the whole of Europe excluding Russia. It contains one third of the whole trees.

However, the trees are disappearing. Nearly half of the forest was cut down in the previous century. If the destruction of the forest continues at the same rate, there will be nothing left in the following decade.

Scientists say that there are a lot of changes in the climate because of the disappearance of trees. In Peru, there is less snow than before on the high peaks of the Andes Mountains. In Bolivia, there is less rain than before and more wind. In some parts of North-East Brazil there is now very little rain.

What will happen, if more of the Amazon forests are cut down? According to climatologists, two things are likely to happen: there will be serious effects on the world’s climate, and the air that we breathe will lose some of its oxygen. Why is this?

Trees absorb the gas carbon dioxide from the air and give out oxygen into the air. The trees of the Amazon rain forest are chemically very active, and some scientists believe that they provide 50% of the world’s annual production of oxygen. If we lose the tropical forests, the air will contain much less oxygen and much more carbon dioxide. It will become difficult – perhaps even impossible – to breathe.

With more carbon dioxide in the air, the temperature will rise; the ice-caps at the North and South Poles will melt; the sea level will rise, and many coastal cities will be flooded.

Scientists do not agree about exact figures. But all of them agree that if we destroy the Amazon forest it will be environmental suicide – like losing an ocean. Life on Earth will become different, and it may become impossible.

5. Match the words in the box with their definitions.

Pollution, devastation, campaign, environment, ecology.

1. The natural world, including the land, water, air, plants and animals.

2. The study of the natural world and the way plants, animals and humans live together and affect each other.

3. The process of damaging the air, water or land with chemicals or other substances.

4. Damage or destruction affecting a large area or a lot of people and animals.

5. A series of actions intended to produce political or social change.

6. Match A and B to form a compound noun or phrase. Then use them in the sentences below.

A Natural Rain Ozone Global Greenhouse Acid

B Effect Warming Forest Layer Rain Resources

1. The rain that contains dangerous chemicals caused by smoke from factories is called … .

2. The country is rich in such … as gold and nickel.

3. The … stops harmful radiation from the sun reacting the earth.

4. An increase in carbon dioxide will result in an increase in world temperature, the … .

5. Cutting down tropical … in the Amazon valley is harmful to the climate on our planet.

6. The … is the process in which heat is unable to escape from the atmosphere and causes the temperature of the Earth to rise.

7. Complete these word-building tables:

Noun	Adjective
damage
environment
harm
danger
	safe

Noun	Verb
waste
	protect
	destroy
pollution
damage

8. Match the types of pollution with their effects

Acid rain Traffic jams Water contamination Destruction of the ozone layer Air pollution

Skin cancer Respiratory problems Carbon monoxide given off Stomach-related diseases Forest dying

9. Complete the texts with the words from the list below. Use

your dictionary

1)Killed, 2)banned, 3)danger, 4)threat, 5)protection, 6)reserve, 7)areas(2), 8)endangered(2), 9)breeding.