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
• Atmosphere


  • A protective layer of gases surrounding the Earth
  • Keeps the Earth at a stable temperature
• Earth has no atmosphere


  Varies between +100°C and -200°C
• How the atmosphere regulates temperature

  1. Sun's heat energy hits Earth's surface

  2. Some absorbed, some re-emitted

  3. Absorbed by gas particles in atmosphere

  4. Re-emitted in random directions

  5. Repeated absorption and re-emission keeps heat close to Earth
• Greenhouse gases


  Gases like carbon dioxide and methane that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, causing the greenhouse effect
• Greenhouse effect is essential for life but also causes global warming
• Earth's greenhouse effect has grown and shrunk over 4.5 billion years
• Humans releasing more carbon dioxide and methane is causing the greenhouse effect to strengthen
• Stronger greenhouse effect


  Global warming occurs
• Global warming has caused almost 1°C of warming in the past 100 years
• Climate change


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


  Increases frequency and severity of extreme weather events like droughts, hurricanes, and floods
• Global warming


  Causes sea levels to rise due to ice melt and thermal expansion of oceans
• Climate change


  Causes species to migrate or go extinct as their environments change
• Biodiversity is likely to fall dramatically in the next few decades due to climate change