El NiƱo is caused by a. human activity b. hurricanes c. weakened winds
During El NiƱo events, warmer winters occur a. in the north b. in the south c. globally
La NiƱa is the name for a. changes in air pressure in El NiƱo years b. a strong type of hurricane over the Atlantic c. the reverse effect to El NiƱo
Discussion/essay questions
El NiƱo is a natural phenomenon unrelated to global climate change. However, some scientists predict that El NiƱo events may become more extreme as temperatures continue to rise. Have you experienced weather changes where you live? What do they look like?
Transcript
El NiƱo is part of a natural weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, storms, and temperatures around the world. During El NiƱo years, many northern places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El NiƱo,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed changes in water temperature before Christmas. El NiƱo also has a reverse effect, called La NiƱa, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El NiƱo/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in air pressure connected to El NiƱo and La NiƱa. El NiƱo and La NiƱa events happen every two to seven years on average.
The town of Longyearbyen is located on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. It is known for its local policy that prevents people from . Residents of Longyearbyen who are very sick or injured are sent to on the mainland. The town has also outlawed burying bodies in the ground, and even cremation requires a permit. While this law sounds unusual, it exists for a good . In the 1950s, residents learned that bodies buried on the archipelago donāt decompose. This is because the is so cold that the ground is always frozen. The problem with this is that the cold ground also preserves viruses that the bodies are infected with. In order to prevent an outbreak, Longyearbyen stopped using the town cemetery.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Many places around the world have some strange laws. For example, it is illegal to enter the British Parliament building while wearing a suit of armour. Are there any unusual laws where you live?
Transcript
The town of Longyearbyen is located on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. It is known for its strange local policy that prevents people from dying. Residents of Longyearbyen who are very sick or injured are sent to hospitals on the mainland. The town has also outlawed burying bodies in the ground, and even cremation requires a permit. While this law sounds unusual, it exists for a good reason. In the 1950s, residents learned that bodies buried on the archipelago donāt decompose. This is because the climate is so cold that the ground is always frozen. The problem with this is that the cold ground also preserves viruses that the bodies are infected with. In order to prevent an outbreak, Longyearbyen stopped using the town cemetery.
As mentioned above, some of the best ways to help prevent climate change are using less energy, taking public transportation and eating meat less. Have you made any of these changes in your life? What else do you do to help prevent climate change?
Transcript
Climate change is a major problem in the world today. Scientists believe that climate change is mainly caused by an excess of greenhouse gases, like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Humans put these into the atmosphere with our everyday activities. The excess of atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused by burning fossil fuels, which we use to power our cars. Climate change is expected to cause many issues in the future, such as droughts, strong storms, and the loss of ecosystems. Scientists predict that the Arctic ice will be completely melted by 2050. However, there are lots of simple ways to help prevent this. Using less energy, taking public transportation often and eating meat less are all easy ways to fight climate change.
