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Explanation: Correlation means two variables follow a similar pattern, in this case, rising CO₂ levels and rising global temperatures. This correlation exists because CO₂ is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. The Antarctic ice core graph shows this trend over hundreds of thousands of years. However, this doesn’t prove causation, other factors like solar activity or natural feedback cycles could also influence temperature. Causation requires direct evidence that one factor causes the other, which can be confirmed through experiments and models.                                                Reflection: This distinction matters because we cant assume causation is caused from correlation alone, it will deliver misleading conclusions. In climate science,  solid evidence is needed to understand the drivers of global warming and to make informed decisions. The correlation between CO₂ and temperature is big, but only when supported by scientific reasoning we can say that human emissions are causing climate change.  

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Explanation: A positive feedback cycle in climate change is a process where an initial change triggers effects that produce a change in the overall system. For example, rising global temperatures cause Arctic ice to melt, releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. This methane increases the greenhouse effect, which causes more warming and further melting. This creates a loop that amplifies climate change. The diagram above shows how warming leads to methane release, which leads to even more warming.                               Reflection: A real-world example is the melting permafrost in Siberia, where trapped methane escapes into the atmosphere. These emissions are hard to control and can speed up global warming even if human emissions are reduced. This feedback loop is dangerous because it can lead to irreversible climate changes. It makes us reflect: What could happen if this cycle continues unchecked? Understanding these loops helps us recognize the urgency of cutting emissions before damage is permanent. 

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A tipping point is a critical threshold where a small change causes a large irreversible change in the system. In the boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere, rising temperatures and more frequent wildfires push the ecosystem toward a tipping point. When trees die, they release stored carbon and reduce the forest’s ability to absorb CO₂. This leads to more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which heats up the atmosphere and improves forest decline, a good example of the positive feedback cycle.                 A real-world example is occurring in Canada and Siberia, where wildfires transform boreal forests into grasslands or wetlands, permanently changing the ecosystem. If this tipping point is passed, the boreal forest could go from a carbon sink to a major carbon source. The reflection here is: How close are we to this tipping point and what happens if we go beyond it? Understanding this helps emphasize the urgency and importance of protecting these forests and regulate global warming. 

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Ice reflect sunlight due to its high reflectivity, helping to keep Earth cool. As global temperatures rise, more of this ice melts, exposing darker ocean or land surfaces underneath. These darker surfaces absorb more heat, which leads to further ice melt, an example of a positive feedback cycle. Unlike melting glaciers, sea ice doesn’t raise sea levels directly, but the warming effect it triggers accelerates climate change worldwide.                                                                                       A clear real-world example is the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice, particularly around Greenland and northern Canada. In some regions, landfast ice and ice anchored to the coast is melting earlier in the season and returning later, changing ecosystems and local communities. The reflection is: If this feedback continues, how much warming will become irreversible? This emphasizes the urgency of reducing emissions to slow ice loss and stabilize global temperatures, controlling global warming. 

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Ocean currents and upwelling help regulate Earth's climate by transporting heat and nutrients around the globe. Upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface, supporting marine ecosystems and cooling surface temperatures. However, climate change is changing these patterns. Melting ice and increased freshwater input weakens  major currents like the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, slowing heat transport and reducing upwelling. This leads to warmer surface waters and even more ice melt, a positive feedback cycle.                          A real-world example is the weakening of the AMOC, which scientists have observed over the past decades. If this current slows too much, it could change weather patterns, increase sea level rise on eastern coasts, and collapse fish populations that rely on nutrient-rich zones. The reflection is: What would happen if these ocean systems fail completely? This shows how vital ocean circulation is for climate stability and how quickly things could spiral if it breaks down.

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As global temperatures rise, many species are changing their natural ranges, moving toward the poles or higher altitudes to stay within their ideal climate conditions. This shift is a response to warming, but it can destabilize ecosystems. For example, pests or invasive species might spread to new areas, altering food webs or harming native organisms, having irreversible changes in this ecosystems. Some species can't migrate fast enough, leading to biodiversity loss. These changes can reduce carbon storing ecosystems like forests or coral reefs, reinforcing climate change, a positive feedback cycle.                                                                                            A real-world example is the northward migration of the pine beetle in North America. Warmer winters allow beetles to survive and reproduce in new regions, killing millions of trees in Canadian and U.S. forests. These dead forests release CO₂ instead of absorbing it, contributing to global warming. The reflection is: If ecosystems break down faster than species can adapt, how will this affect global climate resilience? This highlights the importance of the connection between biodiversity and climate stability.

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Coral reefs are highly sensitive to temperature. When ocean waters warm even slightly, corals become stressed and expel the algae (zooxanthellae) they rely on, this process is called bleaching. Without these algae, corals can't survive long, leading to a lot of corals dying. Since reefs support vast marine ecosystems and help regulate carbon, their collapse can reduce ocean biodiversity and decrease the ocean's capacity to act as a carbon sink, accelerating climate change with positive feedback cycle.                             A real-world example is the mass bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, with its surface being over 90% affected in recent years. These events are driven by rising ocean temperatures and prolonged heatwaves. The reflection is: If reefs collapse permanently, what happens to the millions of species and coastal communities that depend on them? Coral reef loss is not only an ecological problem but a warning sign of a climate system under extreme stress. 