Climate Change Global Warming Greenhouse Effect Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years Global warming refers to an unequivocal and continuing rise in the average temperature of Earth's climate system The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.

Climate Change in 15 minutes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ktYbVwr90

Ice Core Sampling Ice core records can be used to reconstruct temperature, atmospheric circulation strength, precipitation, ocean volume, atmospheric dust, volcanic eruptions, solar variability, marine biological productivity, sea ice and desert extent, and forest fires.

Ice Core Sampling Comparison between temperature and CO2  records revealed that glacial  periods (colder) coincided with lower CO2 concentrations, while interglacial periods (warmer) with higher CO2  concentrations. The similar temperature and CO2  trends are consistent with the nature of greenhouse gases (GHGs); the higher the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere the  greater the amount of heat that can be “trapped” in the atmosphere. 

Tree Ring Sampling Tree ring patterns provide information about precipitation and other conditions during the time the tree was alive. Scientists can learn even more about precipitation and temperature patterns by studying certain chemicals in the wood. One way scientists are learning about past climate is by studying tree rings. This field of research is known as dendrochronology. Scientists can use tree rings to measure the age of a tree and learn more about the local climatic conditions the tree experienced during its lifetime.

Tree Ring Sampling Tree ring patterns provide information about precipitation and other conditions during the time the tree was alive. Scientists can learn even more about precipitation and temperature patterns by studying certain chemicals in the wood. The oldest trees on Earth, the bristlecone pines of western North America, can live for more than 4,000 years. Dead bristlecone trunks, often well-preserved in the dry terrain upon which bristlecones grow, can be as much as 9,000 years old. The oldest trees on Earth, the bristlecone pines of western North America, can live for more than 4,000 years. Dead bristlecone trunks, often well-preserved in the dry terrain upon which bristlecones grow, can be as much as 9,000 years old.

2 scientists that are making a difference. Gretel Ehrlich James Balog http://100yearsrising.tumblr.com/post/64009800062/more-science-writer-gretel-ehrlich-traveled http://www.chasingice.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhTJm1ZsFpQ

Climate Change Indicators http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/#learnmore