Climate Change

Introduction to Climate Change Weather vs. Climate Climate Zones Sun Power Climate System Components Greenhouse Effect

1a. WEATHER is the atmospheric conditions, including temperature, precipitation, wind, & humidity, in a particular location over a short period of time, such as a day or week.

1b. CLIMATE Is the average of the weather in a region over a long period of time. The climate of a region determines the types of plants & animals that live there.

Weather or Climate? WEATHER = rain CLIMATE = hot & humid summer = windy

“Climate is what you expect, but weather is what you get “Climate is what you expect, but weather is what you get.” – Robert Heinlein

2a. Climate Zones Climate zones are classified based on temperature, precipitation & vegetation.

2b. Ecoregion Ecoregion (Global) = Ecozone (Cdn.) Ecoregions are classified based on landforms, soil, plants, animals, & climate.

Some Factors Affecting Climate Latitude (distance from the equator) Large bodies of water (oceans, lakes) Air / Ocean currents Land formations (mountains, plains) Altitude (height above sea level)

3. Sun Powers Earth’s Climate! Earth receives energy from the Sun. Earth’s warm surface emits energy in the form of infrared radiation. Radiation from sun is absorbed, transmitted, or reflected.

Regions near the equator are usually warmer because they receive more energy from the Sun per area than regions near the North & South Poles.

4. Climate System Components There are 4 main components of Earth’s climate system. They are: Atmosphere (layers of gas) Hydrosphere (ice, water, & vapour) Lithosphere (rocks & land surface) Living things (plants & animals)

4a. Atmosphere Air we breathe is 78% N2 and 21% O2. Ozone O3 layer protects us from harmful UV.

4b. Hydrosphere Water absorbs & stores more thermal energy than land. Regions downwind from water bodies receive more precipitation. 2% Earth’s H2O frozen; ice reflects more energy.

4c. Lithosphere Solid rock & soil absorb higher-energy radiation from the Sun, convert to thermal energy & emit it as lower-energy infrared radiation. Mountains affect climate (diagram). Air is cooler at high altitudes b/c low pressure.

4d. Living Things Plants & animals change the relative amounts of gases like CO2, O2, & methane in the atmosphere via photosynthesis & cellular respiration.

5. Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases = water vapour H2O, carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, ozone O3, & nitrous oxide N2O. Absorb lower-energy infrared radiation.