1. Energy From the Sun

2. Questions What is the ultimate dource of energy for our planet?
How does that energy get to Earth?
How does that energy move around on Earth?

3. Convection
Convection is the mechanism of heat transfer in which highly energetic molecules move from one place to another.
Ex. Water at the bottom of the
skillet receives thermal energy by
conduction. The water expands as
it warms, becoming less dense.
The less dense water rises and
denser, cooler water moves down
to take its place. This movement
creates convection currents

8. Conduction
Conduction is the mechanism of heat transfer in which highly energetic atoms or molecules collide with less energetic atoms or molecules, giving them some energy.
Ex. The atoms of a stove-top
element moving very rapidly
and colliding with the atoms of
a skillet, giving thermal energy to
the skillet

10. Radiation
Radiation is the mechanism of heat transfer in which atoms or molecules emit electromagnetic waves. These waves carry energy through space and deposit it only when they interact with some other form of matter.
Ex. If you hold your hand over the element of the stove you can feel the radiant energy from the element. The energy is converted to thermal energy when it interacts with the hand

11. Solar Radiation
Radiant energy takes the form of electromagnetic rays. These rays can have a wide variety of wavelengths, but the electromagnetic waves that carry radiant energy from the Sun to the Earth contain a very narrow range of wavelengths. The ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth takes the form of visible light

12. Solar Radiation Cont’d
Because space contains very little matter, the solar energy that arrives at Earth’s outer atmosphere is essentially the same as it was when it left the Sun.
The amount of energy that reaches the Earth’s outer atmosphere is described as the Earth’s solar constant.
The solar constant is the amount of radiant energy that hits 1 m2 of the Earth’s outer atmosphere (at a perpendicular angle) every second.

18. The Greenhouse Effect
The Greenhouse effect is the natural process by which the Earth’s Atmosphere traps heat for a period of time, allowing it to stay at a relatively constant temperature worldwide (15 C)

23. Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere which store thermal energy for a period of time causing the greenhouse effect.
The most common greenhouse gases are:
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapour
Nitrous oxide
ozone

25. The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
This is an unnatural, human influenced phenomena whereby human activities cause an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere
This causes the atmosphere to hold in more thermal energy than it otherwise would
This leads to an increase in the temperature within our atmosphere = GLOBAL WARMING AND SUBSEQUENT CLIMATE CHANGE

28. Human Activities Leading to the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
The major human contribution to global warming is carbon dioxide emmissions
Anytime we burn a fossil fuel to release energy we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Fossil fuels are fuels humans combust to generate energy which contain carbon
Common fossil fuels
Gasoline
Oil
Coal
Natural gas

35. Other Human Activities
Humans also cut down large areas of forests which would naturally take carbon out of the atmosphere

37. Global Warming
Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere due to the enhanced greenhouse effect
Minor changes in temperature can have dramatic implications for our planet

38. Effects of global warming
Climate change
Melting of polar ice caps
Glacial retreat
Sea level rise
Species extinction
Changing of agricultural patterns
Tropical disease
Seasonal pattern changes
Drought
Increased severe weather events
Human displacement
Habitat loss
Economic disaster

44. Manitoba Example

47. Myths

48. Solutions We’ve all heard of ways to stop global warming
It comes down to reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere
Humans will always require energy, so we must find “greener” technologies (technology’s which generate energy without emmiting carbon) and be smarter about how we use energy