green house gases & climate change

• What are the two terms often heard in discussions about climate issues?

  Global warming and climate change
• What does the atmosphere do for the Earth?

  It acts like an insulating blanket
• How does the sun's heat energy reach the Earth?

  In the form of short wavelength radiation
• What happens to the sun's energy after it hits the Earth's surface?

  Some is absorbed, most is re-emitted
• What form does the re-emitted energy take?

  Longer wavelength radiation
• What happens to energy that is re-emitted by gas particles in the atmosphere?

  It is sent in random directions
• What is the greenhouse effect?

  The warming caused by greenhouse gases
• What are the main greenhouse gases mentioned?

  Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor
• What human activities are increasing carbon dioxide levels?

  Burning fossil fuels and deforestation
• How does deforestation contribute to rising carbon dioxide levels?

  It reduces photosynthesis, removing CO2
• What are the two main reasons for increasing methane levels?

  Farm animals and waste decomposition
• What evidence do we have that the Earth is getting warmer?

  Records going back hundreds of years
• What is climate change?

  Effects of global warming on climate
• What does climate refer to?

  Long-term weather patterns across the planet
• What are some consequences of global warming?

  More common and severe weather events
• What causes sea level rise due to global warming?

  Melting ice and expanding ocean water
• What might happen to coastal towns due to sea level rise?

  Seasonal flooding and submersion
• How does climate change affect wild organisms?

  Species may not survive changing conditions
• What is likely to happen to biodiversity in the coming decades?

  Biodiversity is likely to fall dramatically
• What are the main causes of global warming and climate change?

  • Increased greenhouse gas emissions
  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Deforestation
  • Methane from livestock and waste
• What are the differences between global warming and climate change?

  • Global warming: Increase in Earth's average temperature
  • Climate change: Long-term changes in climate patterns
• What are the potential impacts of climate change on weather events?

  • Increased frequency of droughts
  • More severe hurricanes
  • Higher incidence of floods
• What are the two main reasons for sea level rise due to global warming?

  1. Melting ice caps and glaciers
  2. Thermal expansion of seawater
• What are the potential consequences of climate change on biodiversity?

  • Species unable to adapt or migrate
  • Dramatic decline in biodiversity
  • Changes in species distribution
• how are global warming and climate change different

  global warming refers to overall increase in the earths temperature

  climate change is a consequence of global warming and refers to the effects on the climate
• differences between climate and weather

  weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions

  slim are described the typical weather conditions in an entire region for a very long time
• how green house gases cause global warming

  green house gases allow short wavelength radiation to renter the atmosphere

  which are absorbed by the wart and re-emitted as longer wavelength radiation to

  which is absorbed by greenhouse gases

  increasing temp leading to global warming