Climate is important to people, plants, and animals. It makes a difference in where and how people live and work. It affects the amount of food that can be grown to eat. But did you know that there are things that can change the climate? Natural events and people can cause long-term changes in the climate.
One natural event that can change the climate is a volcano. When a volcano erupts, it throws huge amounts of dust into the atmosphere. The dust may stay in the air for many years, scattering the sun’s rays and blocking sunlight from the ground. So a volcanic eruption may actually cool parts of the earth.
The actions of people have also changed the climate. The climates of areas that are now cities have become warmer than nearby land. This is because large buildings, streets, and pavements hold heat. Also, pollution slows water vapour from rising into the atmosphere, so most cities have a slightly wetter climate, too.
