Climate

Climate = characteristic weather of a region. Ex. 100 year pattern.

Major Elements:

TemperaturePrecipitation (Moisture)

Greenhouse Effect

Atmosphere holds in heat radiated from Earth.

- keeps Earth warm.

Greenhouse Gas = chemical compound that allows solar radiation in,

but, absorbs outgoing long-wave radiation (infrared/heat).

“Greenhouse effect” Increasing greenhouse gases trap more heat

Greenhouse Gases

1. Water vapor - most abundant (largest amount).

2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) - natural (plants) and man-made (oil and gas).

3. Methane (best absorber), CFCs (aerosol sprays…stay 100 years in atmosphere).

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Burning fossil fuels (oil, gas) puts CO2 into atmosphere.

When CO2 levels increase, temperatures increase.

How do we know?

Ice cores from Antarctica… 450,000 year record.

Natural CO2 Range

Nail in the Coffin

Computer models

Aspen, CO Forecast:

Partly cloudy todayHigh : 28°FLow: 13°F

Increasing clouds over night. Colder tomorrow.

Why Should We Care?

Problems

Climate change = warmer, drier, wetter, more extreme weather.

3 to 7 feet rise in sea levels by end of century.

Arctic temperature rising faster than others.

Glacier melting = too much fresh water.