Intro to Climate Change

Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere. Climate describes what the weather is like over a long period of time in a specific area.

Factors that affect weather are air temperature, air pressure, humidity of the air, amount and kind of cloud cover, amount and kind of precipitation, and speed and direction of the wind. Factors that affect climate are latitude, ocean currents, wind and air masses, elevation, and closeness to water.

Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.

Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.

Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.

Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.

Records of temperatures, examining tree rings, and studying ice cores from glaciers are some ways scientists have used to compare today’s climate with climates of the past.

Changes in the amount of energy from the Sun reaching Earth, an increase in volcanic eruptions, changes in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Process that occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the sun’s heat being reflected back from the surface.

Earth would be too cold for life. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would be –18℃.

One of the greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. CO2 has increased in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which begins with the industrial revolution.

There has been an increase in glacier melt, which in turn causes sea levels to rise. There has been an increase in forest fires, stronger hurricanes, and more severe droughts.