Structure of the atmosphere Heat-trapping gases The greenhouse effect.
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Transcript of Structure of the atmosphere Heat-trapping gases The greenhouse effect.
Climate Change It’s all about carbon
What I need to know to understand climate
Structure of the atmosphere Heat-trapping gases The greenhouse effect
Structure of the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere is 372 miles thick (small compared to the size of the earth)
Divided into four layers based on temperature (troposphere, tropopause, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere,)
Weather happens in troposphere = layer closest to the earth
Troposphere is the densest layer, holds 80% of water vapor
http://eo.ucar.edu/staff/rrussell/atmosphere/images/mesosphere_diagram_big.jpg
OZONE
HIPPO
The atmosphere
Atmosphere = the thin layer of gases that surrounds Earth › Absorbs radiation and moderates climate› Transports and recycles water and nutrients› 78% nitrogen gas, 21% oxygen gas, 1% other
gases› Its four layers differ in temperature, density and
composition
Minute concentrations of permanent (remain at stable concentrations) and variable gases (varying concentrations)
Human activity is changing the amounts of some gases
The atmosphere’s composition
What is a greenhouse gas?
Turn to a partner and make a list of greenhouse gases
Greenhouse Gases = Heat trapping Gases
CO2 GAS carbon dioxide H2O VAPOR water vapor
(humidity) CH4 GAS methane
Heat trapping Gases (are they all the same?)
Gas Global Warming Factor
Concentration parts (ppb*)
Carbon Dioxide CO2
1 379,000
Methane CH4
21 1,760
Nitrous Oxide N2O
310 320
Chlorofluorocarbons CFCs
5,000 to 14,000 Less than 1
Ppb = parts per billion
Water vapor (H2O) is a very powerful heat trapping gas
The Greenhouse Effect - Atmosphere
http://www.sciencebuzz.org/sites/all/files_static/global_warming/greenhouse_effect.gif
http://www.ecoslopes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/greenhouse-effect-solutions-300x225.jpg
The atmosphere = without it, the Earth’s temperature would be much colder
Earth’s atmosphere, clouds, land, ice, and water absorb 70% of incoming solar radiation
WHAT IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT?
SUN- Energy BudgetW/m2
Turn to your neighbor and spend 2 minutes explaining what you see.
It’s all about carbon
npr video clip on carbon
Over the past 425,000 years, cool periods have coincided with times when the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was lower. When there is less CO2 in the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect is reduced and the world cools.The blue and red line indicates the variation in average global temperature compared with the 1961–1990 average. The green line shows the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. (Pay close attention to the right-hand edge of the graph.)This graph shows four eras when the world was cooler than it is today. These are separated by brief warm periods, like the one we are now in.
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The carbon cycle
How much is going into the atmosphere?arbon cycle
Living sources and sinks of CO2
During respiration, energy stored in a glucose is used to perform cellular activities.
sugar + oxygen CO2 + water + energy (to do work)
During photosynthesis, energy from the sun converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose, an energy source. Oxygen is a byproduct of this process.
water + CO2 + solar energy sugar + oxygen
Modeling the carbon cycle
Student representsBall of yarn
represents
Sources and sinksCarbon
RULESNo one can get the ball twice
until everyone has had it at least once.
Tracking carbonWhere it started
Where it went
How it got there
CO2 Emissions by country
CO2 Emissions by Activity
Journal Prompt
Write a short story from the perspective of a carbon atom as it travels through the carbon cycle. List the places you travel and how you move from place to place until you return to where you started.