Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems - AQAEvidence for global warming
Biodiversity is a measure of how many different species live in an ecosystem. Human activities like changing land use, deforestation and peat bog destruction reduce this.
For many years the evidence that linked increased carbon dioxide levels to the greenhouse effectThe retention of heat in the atmosphere caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases. and global warmingThe rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface. was not enough to convince everyone. In recent years more and more evidence has been collected and many scientists believe that this is the case. The evidence used by scientists is 'peer reviewed' by other scientists, which is the method used by the science community to ensure that research findings are valid. Peer review ensures that the science community are confident in the accuracy of data and any conclusions made.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the USA have recorded the top ten hottest years since records begin in 1880. They are shown in the table below and put in order of the warmest.
