Climate

Climate Weather: day-to-day conditions at a particular time and place Climate: average, year after year, conditions of temp. & precipitation in a particular region

Green House Effect CO2, methane, water vapor, and other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth’s temperature range

Three Climate Zones due to latitude and angle of heating Polar Zones - cold areas, very low angles of sunlight Temperate Zone - affected by hot to cold Tropical Zone - receives nearly direct sunlight year-round, warm climate

Climate Change Unequal heating of the Earth’s surface drives wind and ocean currents, which transport heat throughout the biosphere

Climate Change Future: Since your Grandparents, the human population has risen from 2.5 billion to more than 6.1 billion. Researchers study human activity and its effect on the atmosphere by studying the ozone layer and global climate systems.

Ozone Layer O3, filters UV radiation in the atmosphere UV - cancer, damage your eyes, decrease your resistance to disease 1970 - evidence ozone hole was in trouble hole of the Arctic Ban on CFC – chlorofluorocarbons aerosol propellants, refrigerator coolants, plastic foams, and air conditioners ozone holes should disappear in 50 years

Ozone Hole

Global Climate Change Global Warming - increase in avg. temperature of the biosphere Since 19th century, avg. atmospheric temperature has risen 0.6ºC Since 1980 - temp. has risen 0.2 -0.3ºC In part, global climate change is due to human activity i.e. addition of CO2 to the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels and cutting and burning forests

Effects Global Temperatures will rise 1-2ºC by 2050 Sea Levels may rise - flood coastal areas Droughts in North America during summer growing season

Effects New organisms may be able to live in places they once could not where as others may be threatened or extinct in areas they once thrived Storms to increase in strength and cause shifts in wind patterns that will affect local temp and rainfall