May 21, 2018 Journal: Why are bacteria important to the nitrogen cycle?

Global Climate System and Climate Change

Weather vs. Climate Weather: day to day change in the atmosphere Climate: the weather of a place averaged over a long period of time https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/arctic-meteorology/climate_vs_weather.html http://tntribune.com/community/global/the-climate-gap/

Solar Radiation The climate system is powered by incoming radiation from the sun Once it enters the atmosphere: Some is absorbed by the Earth’s surface Some is reflected back into space https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-global-climate-system-74649049 https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+radiation&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi17JrtgNvZAhXpuFkKHTQIBAsQ_AUICigB&biw=1148&bih=627#imgrc=WyGkR_LuMNc8XM:

Angle of Solar Radiation The angle of incoming solar radiation influences the climate in that area More direct solar radiation occurs at the equator leading to warmer temperatures http://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/module-3/why-does-temperature-vary/angle-of-the-sun.php http://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/module-3/why-does-temperature-vary/angle-of-the-sun.php

Albedo The amount of solar radiation reflected from the Earth back into space http://arcticstudies.pbworks.com/w/page/13623278/Albedo

Differences in Surface Albedo Earth’s surfaces have different albedos Clouds, snow, and ice have the highest levels of albedo Oceans have the lowest levels of albedo http://www.climatedata.info/forcing/albedo/

Greenhouse Effect Some of the heat that gets reflected off the Earth’s surface gets trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which helps warm the surface of the planet http://www.old-ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-5-ecology-and-evoluti/52-the-greenhouse-effect.html http://www.old-ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-5-ecology-and-evoluti/52-the-greenhouse-effect.html

Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere Water Vapor Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange//kids/basics/today/greenhouse-gases.html https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/06/my_two_favorite_questions_for_global_warmists.html

How does this relate to the carbon cycle?

Effect on the Oceans Oceans absorb solar radiation and excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Help set up current ocean circulation patterns https://ocean-climate.org/?page_id=3829&lang=en https://ocean-climate.org/?page_id=3829&lang=en

Climate Change Changes in the regional or global climate pattern that are greater than normal cyclic changes Caused by human impacts on the planet http://sustyvibes.com/finland-voices-concern-us-russian-climate-change-doubters/