2. What do you know about climate? What do you want to know to understand climate?

3. Know Average weather over a long period of time Different in certain areas Can change Greenhouse gases? Variable Cold/hot/wet/dry Varies between places Warmer at equator, colder at poles

4. Need to Know Number of types What causes differences What is climate change How fast can it change Why isn’t it the same everywhere What affects it Does global warming affect climate change How do different places have different climates CO? NY v CA (both on coasts, but very different) How do we/can we affect climate Does pollution have anything to do with it The science behind it How it develops Can there be a huge climate shift Why doesn’t it change fast like weather How often does it change How do you determine climate over oceans How do we figure out past climates What does it do for use Why does it change in one spot Does Earth’s rotation around sun affect it Is it affected by global warming How is it measured How do you decide CO’s climate How does it change Can it change quickly Does it change and why How is it recorded When have there been major climate changes in history Is there another ice age coming soon How does altitude fit into climate

5. Definition – Climate vs. Weather Basic Components – Temperature – Precipitation Advanced – Type/timing of precipitation – # of days of sunshine – Wind speed and direction – # of days above freezing – Weather extremes

6. 1. Direct Evidence: - Examples 2. Indirect Evidence: - Examples 3. Paleoclimate - Human records How do we know what climate was like?

7. CLIMATE CLUES….OCEANS Sediment What is it made of? Varying oxygen-18 levels High = _____ Low = _____

8. CLIMATE CLUES…OCEANS Coral Use sun to grow Each year = ring of growth Growth affected by Water temperature Cloudiness/depth of water Chemical composition of water Disease and algae blooms

9. Climate Clues…Rocks Uniformitarianism “The present is the key to the past” Processes now have not changed from those in the past Evidence Rock marks Soil types Sediment

10. CLIMATE CLUES…ICE What did the cores tell you about climate? How do they reveal climate? Trapped bubbles Layers Provide evidence of: Volcanic activity Temperature and precipitation Atmospheric composition 110,000 years

11. Climate Clues…Plants What conclusions could you draw about climate from the tree rings? Tree rings – Each year = ring of growthyear – Directly impacted by moisture available Thick ring = _______ Thin ring = _______ – Scars – 10,000 years Fossils Pollen

12. Warm-up What is the principle of uniformitarianism? An ice core sample was taken and there is a layer of ash, a thin layer of ice and many bubbles. What conclusions can you draw from the sample or what can you learn? EXPLAIN!! How do tree rings and corals show climate change?

13. Observe the graph below showing average global temperatures over the past 450,000 years. What conclusions can you make from the data shown?

14. Climate Clues…Conclusions Major climate conclusions: 1.Earth’s climate has changed many times (and still does!) – Periods where Earth was much warmer – Periods where Earth was mostly covered in ice

16. How would you describe Denver’s climate? What do you think affects Denver’s climate?

17. Climate Analysis Lab What do you think are factors that affect climate?

18. Factors Affecting Climate Latitude – Amount of sunlight received affects climate – Examples Elevation – Increasing = ________ – Ecosystem impacts – Examples

19. Nearby Water – Moderator Summers cooler, winters warmer – Lake Effect Cold air moves over warm water Increased precipitation Thundersnow! 100 mile span – Examples

20. Factors Impacting Climate Topography – Orographic Effect Where? Formation Wet – Rain shadow Opposite side from Orographic effect Dry

22. 1. Describe what is going on with the climate in the picture. Make sure to explain your ideas!! 2. Where is carbon found on Earth? List at least 2 places. End

23. Biogeochemical cycle Why is C important? -- List 4 reasons Where is the C stored? Organisms* Soil & Rocks Ocean Where does it come from? DecayRespiration FireEmissions ErosionVolcanoes Global Carbon Budget Sinks vs. Sources

24. Atmosphere

25. If atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to increase, will plants take in more carbon dioxide and grow faster? Describe one path that carbon might take through the carbon cycle. Start and end in the atmosphere and include at least 5 steps.

26. The Greenhouse Effect Naturally occurring – Gases in atmosphere trap heat Like greenhouses, NOT caused by them – Levels vary historically Heat trapping gases: – Water Vapor – Carbon Dioxide – Methane – Nitrous Oxide – Chlorofluorocarbons

27. Greenhouse Process 1.Earth gets energy from Sun’s radiation 2.Earth absorbs energy and heats up 3.Earth reradiates heat 4.Gases in atm absorb energy and heat up.

28. The Greenhouse Effect What do you think are pros of the Greenhouse Effect? What do you think are cons of the Greenhouse Effect?

29. Milankovitch Cycles - Long term changes in the orbit of the Earth - Cycle over tens of thousands of years - Naturally causes alternating warm/cold periods Based on 3 movements:

30. 1. Eccentricity - Path of Earth’s orbit - Circular  Elliptical - Affects distance from sun - ~100,000 year cycle

31. 2. Axial Tilt (Obliquity) - Angle of Earth’s tilt - 22.1˚ - 24.5˚ - Affects severity of seasons - ~41,000 year cycle

32. 3. Precession - Earth’s axis wobble - Caused by tidal forces - Affects timing of seasons - ~26,000 year cycle

33. - Evidence in paleoclimate records - Current movement - Predictions for future Where are we at today?

34. Solar Activity Sunspot Cycles – 11 years – ↑ energy = _____T Luminosity – Sun’s energy output – Increasing over time – Effect on Earth’s temp

35. Seasons Rotation vs. revolution Depends on Earth’s tilt – Tilted towards or away at different times of year Northern Hemisphere May, June, July Farthest from the sun in orbit Tilted towards sun Most intense sun Opposite in Nov, Dec, Jan Opposite in S. Hemisphere