GREENHOUSE EFFECT
definition Sun’s rays are trapped by greenhouse gases in troposphere Heat is trapped like a greenhouse
Is this bad? Need greenhouse effect to warm earth But… Too much heat creates global warming
EARTH Without Greenhouse Effect: 32º F With Greenhouse Effect: 57 º F Mars- too little Venus- too much
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect Human contribution to Greenhouse Gases
GHG Greenhouse gas Any gas the traps in heat Examples: Water vapor methane (CH4) CO2 nitrous oxide (Nox)
Greenhouse gas producers
GWP- global warming potential relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. Compared to CO2
Fossil fuels? Coal Oil (petroleum) Natural gas electricity Gasoline plastics Natural gas heating
Why are fossil fuels “bad”? Produce carbon dioxide
Are we warming?
Rising sea level by 2080 (projected)
Earth’s climate has always been changing 7/19/2018
PALEOCLIMATES Ancient climates 7/19/2018
How do we study past climates??? 7/19/2018
Fossils- to tell climate millions of years ago Certain critters only live in WARM climates Trilobites Corals (Petoskey stones) dinosaurs 7/19/2018
Ice cores- to tell climate 100,000+ years ago Ancient air bubbles are trapped in the ice Can analyze ancient air, look at CO2! 18O/16O- seen in actual ice More 18O in ice than 16O= hotter Tells ancient temp. 7/19/2018
7/19/2018
Tree rings- tell climate hundreds of years ago Wider rings represent warm wet climate 7/19/2018
Jan. 10, 2017