1. Earth’s dynamic climate
Unit 4

2. What is climate?
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3. Learning goals We are learning that weather is different from climate.
We are learning that climate has changed throughout Earth’s past.
We are learning that climate is currently changing around the world.

4. What is climate and how has it changed during earth’s history?
What do the headlines on the left have to do with climate change?

5. Climate or weather?
Which of the headlines refer to weather and which refer to climate?

6. weather The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds Earth.
Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere for a specific place at a specific time.
current temperature
wind speed
humidity, cloud cover
precipitation

7. climate
A region’s climate is the pattern of weather conditions over a long period of time.
usually over 30 year period
average precipitation
average temperature

8. Global warming
Global warming refers to an average increase in one part of weather (air temperature) as it affects the whole planet.

9. Climate change
refers to changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, or the frequency and severity of storms.

10. Climate change Warm Periods Cold Periods (Age of the Dinosaurs)
Earth’s climate has been different in the past.
Changes can occur over millions of years or over thousands or hundreds of years.
These changes can be very dramatic or relatively minor.
Warm Periods
(Age of the Dinosaurs)
Cold Periods
(Ice Ages)

11. Climate change

12. Climate change

13. Climate is currently changing
Scientists are concerned about current warming because it is occurring very quickly.
scientists have concluded that Earth’s climate is being affected by human activities.

14. How?

15. How?

16. How?

17. Global effects

18. Learning goals We are learning that weather is different from climate.
We are learning that climate has changed throughout Earth’s past.
We are learning that climate is currently changing around the world.

19. Please complete
P321 #1,4
P329 #2-5