What do you know about climate? What do you want to know to
understand climate?
Slide 2
Definition Climate vs. Weather Basic Components Temperature
Precipitation Advanced Type/timing of precipitation # of days of
sunshine Wind speed and direction # of days above freezing Weather
extremes
Slide 3
Slide 4
1. Direct Evidence: - Examples 2. Indirect Evidence: - Examples
3. Paleoclimate - Human records How do we know what climate was
like?
Slide 5
History of Earths Climate Oceans Climate vs. Weather
Type/timing of precipitation # of days of sunshine Wind speed and
direction # of days above freezing Weather extremes
Slide 6
Uniformitarianism
Slide 7
Do you think that the Earths climate changes? How often? What
do you think could cause it to change?
Slide 8
Lets Check out the Data...
http://climate.nasa.gov/keyIndicators/
Slide 9
Influencesthere are many interacting factors! Latitude
Prevailing winds Elevation Nearby water Ocean currents Topography
Vegetation
Slide 10
Orographic effect Rainshadow effect Lake effect
Slide 11
1.What is Carbon? 2. What is one place that carbon might come
from?
Slide 12
The Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is the way gases in
Earths atmosphere trap heat from the sun. CO 2, Methane, N 2 O
(nitrous oxide), H 2 O vapor
Slide 13
The Greenhouse Effect
Slide 14
This is good and it can also be bad. It keeps Earths
temperatures within a range that can support life. By increasing
the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the greenhouse
effect becomes more dramatic. This leads to global warming.
Slide 15
Biogeochemical cycle Carbon moves throughout all different
parts of Earth Sinks vs. Sources Major Reservoirs Atmosphere
Terrestrial life Ocean Rocks Earths interior
Slide 16
Atmosphere
Slide 17
If atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to increase, will
plants take in more carbon dioxide and grow faster? Describe one
path that carbon might take through the carbon cycle. Start and end
in the atmosphere and include at least 5 steps.
Slide 18
Seasons Rotation vs. revolution Earths tilt Tilted towards or
away at different times of year Summer Farthest from the sun in
orbit Tilted towards sun Most intense sun Different in N. and S.
Hemispheres
Slide 19
Natural Causes of Climate Change Changes in Earths orbit
Changes in the Suns energy Photosynthesis Volcanic eruptions
Slide 20
The other natural cause Milankovitch cycles long term
variations in the orbit of the Earth natural cause of climate
change periods of thousands of years Based on 3 movements 1.
Eccentricity 2. Obliquity 3. Precession
Slide 21
Microclimates Affected by natural and man-made factors Types:
Coastal-- Mountain Forest-- Urban Urban Heat Islands
Slide 22
What is Albedo? The ability of a surface to reflect thermal
energy from the sun.
Slide 23
`
Slide 24
Ice/snow: 90% + albedo Land: around 40% albedo Water: up to 10%
albedo Average ?
Slide 25
Global Climate Change
Slide 26
One View Point Many scientists believe that humans are
contributing to global warming by increasing the amount of CO 2 in
the atmosphere.
Slide 27
Causes of Global Climate Change.. Increase in CO 2 (carbon
dioxide), CH 4 (methane), O 3 (ozone) (from burning of fossil
fuels, release of ChloroFluoroCarbons) Increase in the Greenhouse
Effect (Earths natural heating process - gases in atmosphere trap
heat (like a car window)
Slide 28
Slide 29
An Opposing View Point Other scientists believe that the Earth
is already in a warming trend and that humans are not contributing.
Global warming is a naturally occurring cycle.
Slide 30
Lets Check out the Data...
Slide 31
Slide 32
Global Warming is Happening!! Regardless of the cause global
warming is happening. It could have massive effects on the lives of
humans all over the globe!
Slide 33
Effects of Global Climate Change.. Raising sea levels Flooding
Glacier retreat, Arctic shrinkage Altered patterns of agriculture
Increase extreme weather (ex. hurricanes) Increased evaporation (
greater rainfall and erosion deforestation) Expansion of tropical
diseases (ex. Malaria) Changes in timing of seasonal patterns in
ecosystems Acidification of Oceans Increase respiratory &
cardiovascular diseases
Slide 34
Slide 35
Slide 36
Slide 37
Slide 38
Slide 39
Slide 40
Slide 41
How do you think a greenhouse works?
Slide 42
Youll Need to Show The Other Side How many of you have been in
a discussion with someone and you remember saying, Yeah, thats
true, but? This is called a counter-argument. Its the other side of
the argument. Youll need to tell your reader what the
counter-argument is and prove why it shouldnt matter.
Slide 43
The Other Side of the Story This is where you should explain
why your opposition believes what they believe. For example: A fast
food company wouldnt agree with the points stated in this essay.
They would have lots of reasons why fast food is good. They may
sayits convenient or Its fine if eaten in moderation. These
arguments just dont hold up when you take all the facts into
consideration! Studies show that even when eaten occasionally, fast
food can raise cholesterol and blood pressure levels (Bell, 2009).
Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
Slide 44
What do you think the Earths climate will be like 50 years from
now? Use evidence to support your claim.
Slide 45
Peer Editing Checklist To get points for peer editing, on a
separate sheet of paper, you must: 1.Write the persons main
idea/thesis. 2.Write what the 2 supporting evidences are. 3.Write
what their counter-evidence topic was. 4.Provide 2 constructive
suggestions (how can the person make their paper better).
5.Describe 2 parts of their paper that you liked or that were very
effective.