•Weather is what is happening now or in the near future. Weather includes: temperature, rainfall, wind & humidity.
•Although an area's climate is always changing, the changes do not usually occur on a time scale that's immediately detectable to us.
•Weather patterns and climate types take similar elements into account, the most important of which are:
• For example, if the average temperature over a region increases significantly, it can affect the amount of cloudiness as well as the type and amount of precipitation that occur. If these changes occur over long periods of time, the average climate values for these elements will also be affected.
• All of these methods provide clues to past temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns as well as the chemical make-up of the atmosphere.
• The “blanket” is a collection of atmospheric gases called greenhouse gases that trap heat just like the glass walls of a greenhouse.
•While the earth’s temperature is dependent upon the greenhouse-like action, the amount of heating & cooling are also influenced by several factors:
1. Type of surface that the sunlight first encounter
Forests, grasslands, ocean, ice caps, deserts & cities all absorb and reflect light differently
Greenhouses Gases
• any gas in the atmosphere capable of absorbing infrared radiation (heat) reflected from the earth’s surface
Nitrous Oxide• Sources:• Fertilizer production• burning fossil fuels & wood• agricultural soil (nitrification & denitrification)
Global Warming vs. Climate Change
• Global warming: trend towards increasing temperatures. 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1990. • Global climate change: changes
in precipitation, temperatures, storm intensity. Global warming can lead to global climate change.
Proof….
• 20th century was hottest on record• Since 1861, average global
temperature has risen between 1o- 1.4o F (most of that has been since 1980)
• 16 hottest years on record have been since 1980, 10 hottest have been since 1990.
• Glaciers and sea ice are shrinking.• Sea level rising (4 to 8 inches)
Factors affecting Earth’s temps•Oceans can store heat
and CO2, but no one knows how much.• Cloud cover: can warm by trapping and releasing heat or cool by reflecting heat back to space (albedo effect)!
Factors affecting Earth’s temps
•Outdoor air pollution: aerosols can either warm or cool the atmosphere (much like clouds)
Factors affecting Earth’s temps
• Stimulate photosynthesis: more CO2 can temporarily cause higher photosynthesis. Temporary because plants will “level off” and die, releasing their CO2
9) Warmer water temps10) Coral bleaching–Algae & coral are losing their bright colors…b/c the algae are dying from the warm temps.
10) Ocean acidity11) Migration patterns12) Food production13) Desertification–An area experiencing desert like condition… lack of water, etc.
1. Use and production of energy• Efficiency and conservation• Alternative sources – Wind, solar, hydroelectric
3. Agriculture and Forestry• Soil and forest absorb carbon dioxide• Careful farming practices can keep soil in place to help it hold carbon.• Trees planted to replace those that are cut down.
4. Cap-and-Trade
•Government put a limit or cap on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be released by an industry.
5. Carbon Tax• A fee that a government changes polluters for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit.
6. Carbon Offsets• Instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, an industry or person voluntarily pays another group or person do to so.
Example: Someone taking an airplane ride…feels guilty about the amount of greenhouse gases emitted so pays an organization to plant trees that will absorb carbon dioxide to compensate for the emissions used by the plane.
7. Carbon Sequestration•Way to capture and store carbon• Stored underground but no guarantee that is may not leak out
The treaty is binding which means the countries that signed it MUST commit to reducing greenhouse gases.•The US did NOT sign the treaty.
9. Copenhagen Accord•Developed nations pay billions of dollars to developing nations to fund the reduction of greenhouse gases.