DID YOU KNOW??Earth has warmed 2°F over the last 50 years. Sea levels have risen

2.5 inches.

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®

Vol. 26, No. 01

Climate Change

levels of the atmosphere

atmosphere

ozone layer

Earth

Level C

What Decides The Climate?Weather (weath-er) and climate (cli-mate)

are not the same. Climate is the average weather over a long time. Earth’s water, land and atmosphere (at-mo-sphere) make up the climate system. The climate system decides what the climate will be. Earth gets its energy from the Sun. The atmosphere circles Earth and protects it from getting too hot or too cold.

Gases like carbon dioxide (car-bon di-ox-ide) can get trapped in the atmosphere. When this happens, the climate can get much hotter. It can feel like being inside of a greenhouse. It is called the “greenhouse effect.”

Do Our Actions Affect The Climate?When too many gases fill the atmosphere

over a long time, it can cause “global warming” (glo-bal warm-ing). Scientists have studied global warming over the last 50 years. Most scientists agree that global warming is caused by humans. Too many gases get into the atmosphere when people use too much energy. This can be from electricity, transportation or industry (in-dus-try).

Science says…Earth is in

energy balance when it gives off the

same amount of energy as it

absorbs (ab-sorbs).

DID YOU KNOW??The atmosphere is the protective shield around the planet and is made up of gases.

trapped heat and carbon dioxide

energy from

the Sun

SCIENCE

Step 1: Label the jars “1” and “2.”Step 2: Tape a thermometer on the upper

inside wall of each jar. (Face the thermometers toward the inside of the jars.)

Step 3: Place the dirt into jar 1 and close the lid.

Step 4: Place the sand into jar 2 and close the lid.Step 5: Trial 1 – Read the temperatures

inside each jar and fill in the chart for Fahrenheit (°F) and Celsius (°C).

Step 6: Place the jars in the sunny window. Wait 30 minutes.Step 7: Trial 2 – Read the temperatures inside each jar and

fill in the chart for Fahrenheit and Celsius.Which jar got hotter? Why do you think this happened?

Trial 1 Jar 1

Trial 1 Jar 2

Trial 2 Jar 1

Trial 2 Jar 2

°F

°C

Climate system is to as

clouds and water are to rain.

Carbon dioxide is to as

rain is to a rising river.

Greenhouse effect is to as

a rising river is to a flood.

BONUS: Earth’s

is to human health as shoelaces are to shoes. (See page 1.)

SCIENCE WEEKLY, Level C (ISSN 8756-1778), September 1, 2009 is published fifteen times per year: twice per month in September, October, November, January, February, March and April; and once in December. Copyright © 2009 (Level C) CAM Publishing Group., Inc., 2141 Industrial Pkwy., Suite 201-B, Silver Spring, MD 20904-7824 U.S.A. (301) 680-8804 (800) 4-WEEKLY. Classroom subscription rate: (minimum 20 subscriptions to same address): $4.95 per student, per school year. Individual rate for orders less than 20 subscriptions: $19.95 per student, per year , payable in advance. Periodical postage paid at Silver Spring, Maryland and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Science Weekly, Level C, P.O. Box 70638, Chevy Chase, MD 20813-0638. Visit our web site at www.scienceweekly.com.C-2

VocabularyChoose the best word or phrase. Fill in the blank.

Weekly LabAdult Supervision Recommended

global warming climate

greenhouse effect

You need: two 12-oz mason jars with lids; two small thermometers to fit in the jars, scotch tape, 1 cup dirt, 1 cup sand, sunny window or heat lamp, pencil, science journal

Main Question: Will two different systems trap heat the same way?

1

2 4

5

6

3

7

2 jars with lids

thermometertape

dirt sand

sunnywindow wait 30

minutes

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Math

DISTINGUISHEDACHIEVEMENT

AWARD WINNER

Published by CAM Publishing Group, Inc., Silver Spring, MD • Publisher, DR. CLAUDE MAYBERRY, JR. • Senior Editor, DR. LAURA GEHL • Writer, MONICA BAKER • Artist, LINDA KING • Graphic Design and Production, LINDA KING • Materials in this issue may not be r eproduced in whole or in par t in any form without special permission from the publisher.

What happened to the temperature in each jar when exposed to heat? Which climate system appeared to absorb more heat? Fill in the temperatures from your data chart. Solve the math sentences.

Trial 2 Jar 1

Trial 1 Jar 1

DifferenceJar 1 (°F)

– =°F

Trial 2 Jar 1

Trial 1 Jar 1

DifferenceJar 1 (°C)

– =°C

Trial 2 Hotter

Jar

Trial 2 Cooler

Jar

DifferenceBetween Jars (°F)

– =°F

°F

Trial 2 Jar 2

Trial 1 Jar 2

DifferenceJar 2 (°F)

– =

°C

Trial 2 Jar 2

Trial 1 Jar 2

DifferenceJar 2 (°C)

– =

Trial 2 Hotter

Jar

Trial 2 Cooler

Jar

DifferenceBetween Jars (°C)

– =°C

Writing in ScienceLook at your WEEKLY LAB results. Did the temperatures increase in both jars? Which jar increased more? Do you think it would be healthier to live surrounded by sand or dirt? Think carefully. Write three sentences and use descriptive words.

The climate system that absorbed more heat was the one with dirt sand.

DID YOU KNOW??Since the beginning of the industrial revolution (about 1750), humans have increased their energy use and have intensified the greenhouse gas effect.

“I want to makecookies. How do I know how much flour to add?”

“You need to measure!”

“We’ll learn all about

measurement in our next issue.”

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ChallengeWrite a letter to a friend and ask him or her to be your “green pal!” When people use too much energy it increases global warming. What are some ways you can help each other be more careful about energy use? Write about some ways you can REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.

PuzzleYou Know What To Do! – REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE!

Cut out the shapes and paste them together on a separate sheet of paper to make a happier, healthier planet Earth.

Science says…Energy use gives off carbon dioxide. The amount given off by something is called

its “carbon footprint.” Some things make a bigger carbon

footprint than others.

Green Pals

ReduceTurn off lights and electronics.

Walk or ride your bike.

Take shorter showers.

Avoid plastic wrap and packaging.

Reuse Use refillable water bottles.

Wash and reuse aluminum foil.

Use cloth, not paper towels.

Pack a lunch box.

RecycleAlways recycle paper, plastic,

glass and aluminum.

Pour your leftover water into the dog’s bowl, and then on a plant!

Use both sides of a piece of paper.

SCIENCE