 Climate is the long-term average of a region's weather events.  Climate change represents a change in these long-term weather patterns.  Climate can become warmer or colder.  Annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or decrease.

 Weather changes often  every day, or even every hour.

 The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow solar radiation into the Earth's atmosphere, but prevent outgoing radiation from escaping the Earth's atmosphere.  This process occurs naturally and has kept the Earth's temperature about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be.  Current life on Earth could not exist without the natural greenhouse effect!  The atmosphere acts like a huge greenhouse, like your car with the windows up on a sunny day in the summer.

Atmosphere Solar Radiation Solar radiation enters the atmosphere but doesn’t leave.

 Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere.  water vapor (H 2 O)  carbon dioxide (CO 2 )  methane (CH 4 )  nitrous oxide (N 2 O)  halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs)  ozone (O 3 )  perfluorinated carbons (PFCs)  hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

 Burning of fossil fuels  Deforestation

 Watch TV  Air Conditioner  Turn on a Light  Hair Dryer  Ride in a Car  Listen to a Stereo  Wash/Dry Clothes  Dish Washer  Microwave a Meal ELECTRICITY To perform many of these functions, you need to use electricity. Electricity comes from power plants. Most power plants use coal and oil to make electricity. Burning coal and oil produces greenhouse gases.

 Plant a tree – trees store CO 2 that would be in the atmosphere.  Recycle - less trash to the landfill helps save natural resources like oil and trees.  Only run your dish washer or washing machine when it is full.  Turn off the lights!  Unplug electronic devices (cell phone, ipod, computer, TV) when not in use.  Walk somewhere nearby instead of driving, or carpool.

 In December 1997, more than 160 nations met in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gases for developed nations.  The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol. Nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.  The United States has not signed the Kyoto Protocol.

 Global warming refers to an average increase in the Earth's temperature, causing changes in climate.  A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on all life on Earth.  When scientists talk about climate change, their concern is about global warming caused by human activities.

 Do you think we are causing global warming?  What is another question you have about global warming?