An Illustrated Guide to Climate Pollution

8/12/2019 An Illustrated Guide to Climate Pollution

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An endless sky? Think again.

A pers

of th

back (

time marat

If o

thi

be

of t

The lowest five to ten

miles of the atmosphere

is where weather forms

and planes fly.

1The atmosphere is surprisingly thin. Space

begins about 300 miles from Earths surface,

which is where the blue coating around the

Earth in this picture ends.


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The atmosphere is Earths blanket.

The atmosphere is naturally

filled with gas molecules.

Gases with asymmetrical structures

absorb low-energy heat because

they bend, stretch, or rotate.

These gases trap heat in the Earth

and keep us warm like a blanket.

Without

would be 6

and uGases are mostly

unaffected by

high-energy

sunlight.

N2

O2 H2O

CH4

O3

N2O

These gases include

water vapor (H2O),carbon dioxide (CO

2),

methane (CH4),

ozone (O3), and

nitrous oxide (N2O).

Earth cools off by emitting low-energy heat into space.

2CO2


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Human activitiessuch as burning coal for electricityare increasing the

amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, thickening the Earths blanket.

Some gases, such as CO2, can

remain in the atmosphere for

over a thousand years.

So whats the problem? Too much of a good thing

3

CO2, CH4, and N2O concentrations40%, 150%, and 20% since


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Unnatural warming is changing the climate with

4UNNATURAL OVERDOSE

OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

HUMAN SO

NATURAL WO

CHANGING CLIMATE

CONDITIONS

WARMING PLANET AND

MOIST ATMOSPHERE

Human activities are

emitting large

amounts of

heat-trapping gases

into the atmosphere.

Some gases, such asmethane, break down

to create even more

greenhouse gases.

Snow and ice melting

Sea level rising

Hot days increasing

Flooding intensifying

Powerful,

damaging

storms

Intense, long

droughts

Dryness fuels

wildfires

Death, illness fro

extremes, insect

air quality

Extra heat warms

air and ocean

Warmer air

holds more

moisture

Warmer

ocean

evaporates

more water


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But hasnt the climate changed in the past, befor

5

HIGHER

TEMPERATURE

MORE CO2IN

ATMOSPHERE

aw

armeroceanandmeltingicereleaseCO2intotheatmosph

ere

CO2preventsheatfromescapingtospaceBOTH

natural and humanfactors can trigger

the initiation of a

feedback loop that

increases global

temperatures

volcanic

eruptions

s

ac

na

var

cutting/burning

down forests

electricity

generation

Scientists use instruments

that chemically separate the

kinds of carbon found in fossil

fuels from those in air and water. Scientists can therefore detect

that the increasing CO2today is

from human sources.


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This means we can do something about it!

6To reduce emissions of

heat-trapping gases,individual actions are not

enough. We also need

visionary action from

local, state, and

national governments,

and unprecedented

internationalcooperation.

Climate change is a global

problem becauseemissions come from

all levels and the

pollution can last

for hundreds

of years.

Individuals

Communities

Worldwide

Local, State, National Governments

Many d

techPROBLEM SOLUTION

TECHNOLOGICAL

BEHAVIORAL

ECONO

POLITICAL


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An Illustrated Guide to Climate Pollution

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