Transcript Climate change lecture

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/cc.html
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Climate is the long-term average of a region's
weather events.
Climate change represents a change in these
long-term weather patterns.
Climate can become warmer or colder.
Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can
increase or decrease.
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Weather changes often
every day, or even every hour.
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The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow
solar radiation into the Earth's atmosphere, but
prevent outgoing radiation from escaping the
Earth's atmosphere.
This process occurs naturally and has kept the
Earth's temperature about 60 degrees Fahrenheit
warmer than it would otherwise be.
Current life on Earth could not exist without the
natural greenhouse effect!
The atmosphere acts like a huge greenhouse, like
your car with the windows up on a sunny day in
the summer.
Solar Radiation
Atmosphere
Solar
radiation
enters the
atmosphere
but doesn’t
leave.
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Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the
atmosphere.
water vapor (H2O)
carbon dioxide (CO2)
methane (CH4)
nitrous oxide (N2O)
halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs)
ozone (O3)
perfluorinated carbons (PFCs)
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
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Burning of fossil fuels
Deforestation
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Watch TV
Air Conditioner
Turn on a Light
Hair Dryer
Ride in a Car
Listen to a Stereo
Wash/Dry Clothes
Dish Washer
Microwave a Meal
ELECTRICITY
To perform many of these
functions, you need to use
electricity.
Electricity comes from
power plants.
Most power plants use coal
and oil to make electricity.
Burning coal and oil
produces greenhouse gases.
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Plant a tree – trees store CO2 that would be in
the atmosphere.
Recycle - less trash to the landfill helps save
natural resources like oil and trees.
Only run your dish washer or washing machine
when it is full.
Turn off the lights!
Unplug electronic devices (cell phone, ipod,
computer, TV) when not in use.
Walk somewhere nearby instead of driving, or
carpool.
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In December 1997, more than 160 nations
met in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate binding
limitations on greenhouse gases for
developed nations.
The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto
Protocol. Nations agreed to limit their
greenhouse gas emissions.
The United States has not signed the Kyoto
Protocol.
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Global warming refers to an average increase
in the Earth's temperature, causing changes
in climate.
A warmer Earth may lead to changes in
rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a
wide range of impacts on all life on Earth.
When scientists talk about climate change,
their concern is about global warming caused
by human activities.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/cc.html
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Do you think we are causing global warming?
What is another question you have about
global warming?