Effects of Global Warming: melting ice, extreme weather, biodiversity and health

Melting ice: Explain in your own words how global warming causes sea levels to increase.

1. Global warming raises Earth's average temperature, which melts glaciers and ice sheets that sit on land.
2. The meltwater flows into the oceans, adding more water volume to them.
3. As a result, sea levels increase; the reduction of Arctic Sea ice is one of the most dramatic effects of global warming.

Respuesta orientativa: Global warming makes glaciers and ice sheets melt, and the resulting water flows into the sea, causing sea levels to rise. The loss of Arctic Sea ice is highlighted as one of the most dramatic consequences.

Extreme weather events: List the weather events mentioned and classify them.

1. The text mentions: heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and floods.
2. Heat waves and droughts are related to excessive heat; wildfires are often triggered by heat and dry conditions; floods are caused by extreme rainfall.
3. All of them are becoming more frequent and severe because of global warming.

Loss of biodiversity: Why does global warming lead to the loss of biodiversity?

1. Global warming causes changes in ecosystems (temperature, rainfall, habitats).
2. Species that cannot adapt quickly enough decline or disappear.
3. This chain of changes leads to the loss of biodiversity.

Respuesta orientativa: Because global warming changes ecosystems, species lose their habitats and food sources, so many cannot survive, which leads to a loss of biodiversity.

Health impacts: Identify the diseases and conditions caused or increased by global warming.

1. Mosquito-borne diseases increase: malaria and dengue fever.
2. Chronic conditions also rise, specifically asthma.
3. These are the health impacts described in the text.

Comprehension questions (answer in English).

Vocabulary in context: match the underlined expressions with their meaning.

1. "melting ice" → hielo que se derrite
2. "extreme weather events" → eventos climáticos extremos
3. "loss of biodiversity" → pérdida de biodiversidad
4. "health impacts" → impactos en la salud