1. Clouds and the Greenhouse Effect

2. The global average temperature on Earth is about 15 o C which is 30 o C more than it should be!

3. - 15 o C (5 o F) This is the calculated temperature of the Earth.

4. The actual average temperature is 15 o C ( 60 o F)

5. Let ‘s look at our nearest neighbors in space. Credit: Lunar and Planetary Institute

6. Venus Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org We cannot see the surface of Venus because of the dense clouds in its atmosphere.

7. Venus Artist concept of lightning on Venus. Image credit: ESA

8. Its surface is hotter than the surface of Mercury which is much closer to the sun!

9. Hot Enough to Melt Lead ! Venus’ Desiccated Atmosphere; an Artists’ Conception. (Credit: The New Scientist).

10. Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

11. Surface of Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

12. Mars Image Credit: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

13. Mars’ Temperature Range

14. What’s Wrong? Venus is far too hot Earth is 30 degrees too hot Mars is close to calculated value

15. Why are there differences? Certain gasses in the atmosphere absorb heat energy and reduce the amount that escapes into space

16. Excess Carbon Dioxide

17. This ‘trapping’ of heat from the sun by the atmosphere is known as the ‘Greenhouse Effect’

18. The Greenhouse Effect