The “Greenhouse Effect

The Earth’s surface receives energy from two sources: the sun & the atmosphere – As a result the Earth’s surface is ~33C

warmer than it would be without an atmosphere

• Greenhouse gases are transparent to shortwave but absorb longwave radiation – Thus the atmosphere stores energy

Fig. 1: Cause for global warming: Carbon dioxide emissions in million tons per year over the last 200 years. (graph taken from http://www.global

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING There are two major effects of global warming: Increase of temperature on the earth by about 3° to 5° C (5.4° to 9° Fahrenheit) by the year 2100. (82 feet) by the year 2100. Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters

WHAT CAN WE DO?

TO SAVE THE PLANET