Learn About Climate
Explore big questions about our planet, from the greenhouse effect to Kenya's amazing wildlife. Click on any topic to dive deeper!
Imagine wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket on a cold night. That's what greenhouse gases do for our planet! They trap heat from the sun and keep Earth warm enough for life.
1How It Works
The sun sends energy to Earth. Some of this energy bounces back toward space, but greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide and methane) trap some of it. This is natural and good! Without it, Earth would be a frozen ball of ice.
2The Problem
Humans are adding extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels (like petrol and coal), cutting down forests, and farming in certain ways. This extra "blanket" is making Earth too warm.
3In Kenya
Kenya's forests, like the Mau Forest, absorb carbon dioxide and help reduce greenhouse gases. That's why planting trees is so important!
🌡️ Venus has a super strong greenhouse effect - it's hot enough to melt lead!
Forests are like Earth's lungs! They breathe in carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and breathe out oxygen (which we need to live). But that's not all they do...
1Carbon Storage
Trees store carbon in their trunks, branches, leaves, and roots. A single large tree can absorb about 22 kg of carbon dioxide per year. That's like removing a car from the road for a month!
2Home for Wildlife
Forests are home to 80% of the world's land animals and plants. From tiny insects to mighty elephants, they all depend on trees for food and shelter.
3Kenya's Forests
Kenya's forests cover about 7% of the land. The Mau Forest is the largest, feeding 12 rivers that provide water to millions of Kenyans. Mount Kenya's forests are home to unique species found nowhere else!
🌳 Wangari Maathai's Green Belt Movement has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya!
Water is life! Every living thing on Earth needs water. Climate change is changing how water moves around our planet, affecting rivers, lakes, rainfall, and even the oceans.
1The Water Cycle
Water is always moving! It evaporates from oceans and lakes, forms clouds, falls as rain, flows in rivers, and soaks into the ground. Climate change is speeding up parts of this cycle.
2Droughts and Floods
A warmer atmosphere holds more water, leading to heavier rains and floods in some places. But it also means more evaporation, causing droughts in others. Kenya experiences both!
3Kenya's Water
Lake Victoria is Africa's largest lake and a lifeline for millions. Lake Turkana, the world's largest desert lake, is shrinking due to climate change. The rains are becoming less predictable, affecting farmers.
💧 Only 3% of Earth's water is fresh water, and most of that is frozen in glaciers!
Energy makes everything work - from lights and phones to cars and factories. The problem is that most energy comes from burning fossil fuels, which creates greenhouse gases. But there's good news!
1Solar Power
The sun sends more energy to Earth in one hour than humans use in a whole year! Solar panels turn this sunlight directly into electricity. Kenya has lots of sunshine, making solar perfect here.
2Wind Power
Wind turbines use the wind to spin generators that make electricity. Kenya's Lake Turkana Wind Power project is one of the largest in Africa with 365 turbines!
3Geothermal Power
Kenya is a world leader in geothermal energy! Deep underground, heat from Earth's core heats water into steam. The Olkaria plants in the Rift Valley use this steam to generate electricity.
⚡ Kenya generates about 90% of its electricity from renewable sources - one of the highest rates in the world!
Kenya is famous for its incredible wildlife! But climate change is affecting animals in many ways - from what they eat to where they can live.
1Elephants
Elephants need lots of water and food. During droughts, they must travel further to find both, sometimes coming into conflict with humans. Amboseli's elephants are studied worldwide.
2Marine Life
Warming oceans and coral bleaching affect Kenya's coastal waters. Fish populations are changing, which affects the communities that depend on fishing for food and income.
3The Great Migration
The wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara depends on seasonal rains. If rain patterns change too much, the migration could be disrupted, affecting millions of animals.
🦁 Kenya is home to about 2,000 lions, 2,500 cheetahs, and over 34,000 elephants!
People often mix up weather and climate, but they're quite different! Understanding the difference helps us understand climate change better.
1Weather
Weather is what's happening outside RIGHT NOW. Is it sunny? Rainy? Hot? Cold? Weather changes quickly - it can be sunny in the morning and rainy in the afternoon.
2Climate
Climate is the AVERAGE weather over a long time (usually 30 years). It tells us what weather to expect in a place. Kenya's climate is warm near the coast and cooler in the highlands.
3Climate Change
Climate change means these long-term averages are shifting. It's not just about one hot day - it's about the pattern of temperatures, rainfall, and seasons changing over decades.
🌦️ "Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get!" - a scientist's saying
Want to Learn More?
Check out our videos, stories from climate heroes, and activities you can do at home!