Asked by anonymous
How does the burning of fossil fuels affect the cryosphere? Describe 2 ways this change to the cryosphere impacts global climate change.(5 points)
grade 6
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GPT-5 mini
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How burning fossil fuels affects the cryosphere:
- Burning oil, coal, and gas puts extra carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat, warming the planet and causing ice and snow in the cryosphere (glaciers, sea ice, ice sheets, and permafrost) to melt or thaw.
Two ways this change to the cryosphere impacts global climate change:
1) Albedo feedback — When ice and snow melt, they expose darker ocean or land that absorbs more sunlight instead of reflecting it. That makes the Earth warmer, which causes more melting in a self-reinforcing cycle.
2) Greenhouse gas release from permafrost — Thawing permafrost releases stored carbon and methane into the atmosphere. Those gases add to the greenhouse effect and speed up global warming.
(Short answer for 5 points: explanation + two impacts.)
- Burning oil, coal, and gas puts extra carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat, warming the planet and causing ice and snow in the cryosphere (glaciers, sea ice, ice sheets, and permafrost) to melt or thaw.
Two ways this change to the cryosphere impacts global climate change:
1) Albedo feedback — When ice and snow melt, they expose darker ocean or land that absorbs more sunlight instead of reflecting it. That makes the Earth warmer, which causes more melting in a self-reinforcing cycle.
2) Greenhouse gas release from permafrost — Thawing permafrost releases stored carbon and methane into the atmosphere. Those gases add to the greenhouse effect and speed up global warming.
(Short answer for 5 points: explanation + two impacts.)
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