global warming & climate change

• Global warming


  The increase in the Earth's average surface temperature due to the greenhouse effect
• Climate change


  The long-term changes in weather patterns and average temperatures across the world
• The Earth's atmosphere is a protective layer of gases that acts like an insulating blanket, keeping the Earth at a stable temperature
• The Moon has no atmosphere, so it experiences extreme temperature variations between its sunny and dark sides
• How the atmosphere regulates the Earth's temperature


  1. Sun's heat energy passes through the atmosphere and hits the Earth's surface

  2. Some energy is absorbed and heats the ground, most is re-emitted or reflected back into the atmosphere

  3. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit the energy, keeping it close to Earth

  4. This process of absorption and re-emission happens repeatedly, trapping heat near the Earth's surface
• Greenhouse gases


  Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, causing the greenhouse effect
• The strength of the greenhouse effect has varied over Earth's history, and is now increasing due to human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases
• Increased greenhouse gases


  Stronger greenhouse effect
• Stronger greenhouse effect


  Global warming
• In the past 100 years, the Earth has warmed by almost 1 degree Celsius
• Climate change


  The effects of global warming on long-term weather patterns and the environment
• Global warming


  More frequent and severe droughts, hurricanes, and floods (climate change)
• Global warming


  Sea level rise due to melting ice and thermal expansion of oceans
• Climate change


  Shifts in species' ranges and declines in biodiversity as organisms struggle to adapt to new conditions