1. Climate Climate = characteristic weather of a region. Ex. 100 year pattern. Major Elements: Temperature Precipitation (Moisture)

2. 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).

3. “Greenhouse effect” Increasing greenhouse gases trap more heat

5. Greenhouse Gases 1.Water vapor - most abundant (largest amount). 2.Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) - natural (plants) and man-made (oil and gas). 3.Methane (best absorber), CFCs (aerosol sprays…stay 100 years in atmosphere).

6. Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Burning fossil fuels (oil, gas) puts CO 2 into atmosphere. When CO 2 levels increase, temperatures increase. How do we know? Ice cores from Antarctica… 450,000 year record.

7. Natural CO 2 Range

8. Nail in the Coffin

11. Computer models

13. Aspen, CO Forecast: Partly cloudy today High : 28°F Low: 13°F Increasing clouds over night. Colder tomorrow.

14. Why Should We Care?

15. 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.