What do you know about climate? What do you want to know to understand climate?

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

1. Direct Evidence: - Examples 2. Indirect Evidence: - Examples 3. Paleoclimate - Human records How do we know what climate was like?

History of Earth’s Climate Oceans – Climate vs. Weather – Type/timing of precipitation – # of days of sunshine – Wind speed and direction – # of days above freezing – Weather extremes

Uniformitarianism

Do you think that the Earth’s climate changes? How often? What do you think could cause it to change?

Let’s Check out the Data...

Influences…there are many interacting factors! Latitude Prevailing winds Elevation Nearby water Ocean currents Topography Vegetation

Orographic effect Rainshadow effect Lake effect

1.What is Carbon? 2. What is one place that carbon might come from?

The Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is the way gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun. CO 2, Methane, N 2 O (nitrous oxide), H 2 O vapor

The Greenhouse Effect

This is good and it can also be bad. It keeps Earth’s 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.

Biogeochemical cycle Carbon moves throughout all different parts of Earth Sinks vs. Sources Major Reservoirs Atmosphere Terrestrial life Ocean Rocks Earth’s interior

Atmosphere

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.

Seasons Rotation vs. revolution Earth’s 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

Natural Causes of Climate Change Changes in Earth’s orbit Changes in the Sun’s energy Photosynthesis Volcanic eruptions

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

Microclimates Affected by natural and man-made factors Types: – Coastal-- Mountain – Forest-- Urban Urban Heat Islands

What is Albedo? The ability of a surface to reflect thermal energy from the sun.

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Ice/snow: 90% + albedo Land: around 40% albedo Water: up to 10% albedo Average ?

Global Climate Change

One View Point Many scientists believe that humans are contributing to global warming by increasing the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere.

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 (Earth’s natural heating process - gases in atmosphere trap heat (like a car window)

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.

Let’s Check out the Data...

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!

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

How do you think a greenhouse works?

You’ll Need to Show “The Other Side…” How many of you have been in a discussion with someone and you remember saying, “Yeah, that’s true, but…”? This is called a counter-argument. It’s the “other side” of the argument. You’ll need to tell your reader what the counter-argument is and prove why it shouldn’t matter.

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 wouldn’t agree with the points stated in this essay. They would have lots of reasons why fast food is good. They may say…“it’s convenient” or “It’s fine if eaten in moderation.” These arguments just don’t 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

What do you think the Earth’s climate will be like 50 years from now? Use evidence to support your claim.

Peer Editing Checklist To get points for peer editing, on a separate sheet of paper, you must: 1.Write the person’s 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.