Global Climate Change Chapter 16 Mr. Martino

Our Dynamic Climate Energy From the Sun ◦ Greenhouse effect  Certain gases in the atmosphere retain some of the Sun’s heat energy  Greenhouse gases  Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrous oxide, and ozone  Essential for the maintenance of Earth’s temp.  Sunlight is converted to heat then retained. ◦ The Effect of Latitude  Latitude – the measurement of a place’s distance from the equator  The farther away a place is from the equator, the colder it will be.  61 0 N = cold; Alaska  10 0 S = warm; Brazil  The Sun’s rays strike the Earth at different angles, at different latitudes.  Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun; summer.

Wind Patterns in the Atmosphere Winds and Heat ◦ Warm air rises, cool air falls  Rise at the equator  Fall at the poles ◦ Prevailing winds – rising of equatorial air and the falling of polar air  Move in huge masses around the earth

Winds and Moisture ◦ Water vapor in the air enters through evaporation from surface water or from plants through transpiration ◦ Warm air carries more water vapor ◦ Winds push clouds over long distances, redistributing the Earth’s water

The Oceans and Climate Ocean Circulation ◦ Currents absorb carbon dioxide and transport heat ◦ Thermohaline Circulation – warmer, less saltier water moves along the surface; colder, saltier water moves along the bottom  Warm water flows from the equator to the poles

El Nino & La Nina ◦ Change of pressure, wind patterns, ocean temperature, and ocean circulation ◦ El Nino – eastern pacific ocean becomes warmer, weakening the equatorial winds; no upwelling occurs along the coast ◦ La Nina – opposite of El Nino

Ocean absorption of carbon dioxide ◦ By absorbing carbon dioxide, ocean temperature decreases ◦ Problem: carbon dioxide is being produced faster than it is being absorbed