Global Warming Causes and Mechanics

What is Global Warming? “The recent increase in the world's temperature that is believed to be caused by the increase of certain gases in the atmosphere” (Merriam-Webster) “Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere.” (web.mit.edu)

Greenhouse Effect  Greenhouse gases absorb the infer-red radiation reflected off of the Earth’s surface locking that heat within the atmosphere thereby increasing the temperature of the world  Biomassenergycentre.org.uk  Keeps the world warm normally  “human activities, mainly related to burning of fossil fuels, have released extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere” along with other greenhouse gases  Packet  The extra greenhouse gases are increasing the greenhouse effect and causing the temperature of the world to increase

Effects of to Many Greenhouse Gases  Climate change  More severe and random weather  Mean sea levels rising  Increasing at average rate of 3.2 ± 0.4 mm/yr  University of Colorado Sea Level Research Group  Melting ice caps  Water expanding as it gets warmer  It is difficult to make precise predictions for why mean sea levels are rising because of factors like abnormal water expansion

Calculating the Change in Sea Level

Evidence of Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect

Global warming getting worse  Cars  Global warming is also making itself worse  Higher temperatures reduce snow and ice cover which increase the amount of exposed surface that can reflect infer-red radiation into the atmosphere  The higher temperatures reduce the ability of greenhouse gases to dissolve in the ocean thereby increasing their concentration in the atmosphere  Deforestation  The less trees, the less photosynthesis turning CO 2 into oxygen

Answer to Notes 1. What is global warming? (can choose either definition)  “The recent increase in the world's temperature that is believed to be caused by the increase of certain gases in the atmosphere” or  “Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average temperature of the lower atmosphere.” 2. What kind of radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases?  Infer-red radiation 3. Where does this radiation come from?  When the Earth his heated by the sun, it releases this radiation. 4. Is the greenhouse effect normally bad?  It is what keeps the Earth warm If not, what has made it harmful?  The increase of greenhouse gases from human activities mainly related to burning fossil fuels

Answers continued

Answers Continued 7. What is some evidence of global warming? 8. What is causing global warming to get worse and why?  Cars  Global warming  Higher temperatures reduce snow and ice cover which increase the amount of exposed surface that can reflect inter-red radiation into the atmosphere  The higher temperatures reduce the ability of greenhouse gases to dissolve in the ocean thereby increasing their concentration in the atmosphere  Deforestation  The less trees, the less photosynthesis turning carbon dioxide into oxygen

The End

Bibliography  "CU Sea Level Research Group." CU Sea Level Research Group. University of Colorado, 04 Nov Web. 05 Nov  Kennedy, Caitlyn. "Why Did Earth's Surface Temperature Stop Rising in the past Decade? | NOAA Climate.gov." Why Did Earth's Surface Temperature Stop Rising in the past Decade? | NOAA Climate.gov. NOAA, 8 Nov Web. 05 Nov  Shaftel, Holly. "Home." Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. NASA, n.d. Web. 02 Nov