Agenda

1. Vegetarian?2. Global Warming Overview3. Class C Footprint4. Simple Things to Do5. Answering Essential Questions6. Do you think Global Warming exists?

Being a Vegetarian…

To produce many of your common goods—computers, sneakers, water bottles, food—we burn fossil fuels.

Fossil fuels are energy sources made from the remains of dead plants and animals. The most commonly used fossil fuels are coal, oil/petroleum, and natural gas.

Burning these fossil fuels to make household products produces CO2 and this CO2 is

released into the atmosphere.

CO2

CO2

CO2CO2CO2

CO2

In the atmosphere this CO2 joins the other greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases

include things like methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.

CO2

CO2

CO2CO2CO2

CO2

Nitrous oxidemethane

water vapor

These gases are necessary because they act as a blanket and keep our planet warm.

CO2

CO2CO2

CO2CO2CO2

Nitrous oxidemethane

water vapor

However, when large amounts of CO2 enter the atmosphere it causes this layer to get

thicker.

CO2

CO2CO2

CO2CO2CO2

Nitrous oxidemethane

water vapor

Think back to our car? What happens if the windows get thicker?

As CO2 is added to the greenhouse gas layer, it becomes thicker. As it becomes thicker, it traps in

more of the Sun’s rays. And, just like your car, causes the earth to heat up!

CO2

CO2

CO2CO2CO2

CO2

Nitrous oxidemethanewater vapor

CONCLUSION: As CO2 levels increase, temperature levels increase

CO2

CO2

CO2CO2CO2

CO2

Nitrous oxidemethane

water vapor

CCOMMON PITFALLS

The ozone layer is created by global warming!

NO! It is formed by the release of carbon gases, not by the increase in temperature…

Greenhouse gases are a bad thing…

Only when there are too many!

• What’s our class’s average Carbon Footprint and what does this mean?

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/

• Why does it take so many Earth’s to support our way of life?

• Okay, so how does that play out around the world??

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5LFyHa/www.breathingearth.net/

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What’s being done now to reduce our emissions?

Solar PowerWind Power Fuel-Efficiency

Simple Things To Do

Turn off your computer or the TV when you’re not using it.

Take shorter showers. Heating water uses energy.

Keep rooms cool by closing the blinds, shades, or curtains.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs.

Essential Questions

• Driving it home!• Can you answer all of the essential questions

for today??

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RAFT

• Role: Concerned Citizen• Audience: U.S. Congress• Format: Letter• Topic: Based on what you have learned and the

fact sheet, do you think global warming exists?– If yes, why?– If no, why?– Regardless, EXPLAIN WHY IT IS STILL IMPORTANT TO

REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASE EMISSIONS!

1. What is responsible for trapping some radiation (heat) and keeping it on the Earth, much like the windows on a car trap in heat?a. Gravity c. Global Warmingb. Nitrogen and Oxygen d. Greenhouse gases

2. Which of the following are examples of greenhouse gases?a. Hydrogen c. Carbon Dioxide

b. Oxygen d. nitrogen

2. Which of the following has caused the greatest increase in global warming?a. Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil c. People breathing outb. Increases in nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere d. Turning lights off

3. Which of the following is a likely effect of global warming?a. Glaciers will increase in size c. Ocean levels will riseb. More trees will grow d. Ocean levels will decrease

4. The burning of fossil fuels is causing an increase in the following:a. Atmospheric nitrogen c. Atmospheric oxygen b. Atmospheric carbon dioxide d. Atmospheric phosphate

 5 The graph above shows the change in carbon dioxide concentration in Earth’s atmosphere from 1960 to 1990.

The most likely cause of the overall change in the level of carbon dioxide from 1960 to 1990 is an increase in the:

a. number of violent storms c. number of volcanic eruptions b. use of nuclear power d. use of fossil fuels  

EXIT SLIPEXIT SLIP