climate climate = characteristic weather of a region. ex. 100 year pattern. major elements:...
TRANSCRIPT
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 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.
Aspen, CO Forecast:
Partly cloudy todayHigh : 28°FLow: 13°F
Increasing clouds over night. Colder tomorrow.
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.