climate change

distinct climates and season

distribution of sun rays - Sunlight is more direct at the equator, making it warmer, and more spread out near the poles, making it cooler.

latitude (climate) Closer to the equator = warmer climate; closer to the poles = cooler climate.

earth’s tilt (season) - The Earth's 23.5° tilt causes different amounts of sunlight to hit different areas throughout the year, creating seasons (summer, winter, etc.).

Latitude determines the general climate (tropical, temperate, polar).

The Earth's tilt causes the seasons, as different areas of the Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight during the year.

green house effect

trapping of sun’s energy in atmosphere by green house gases

greenhouse gases….

any gas that absorbs sun’s radiaton

CO2 - natural - ocean/atmosphere exchange, respiration

human - fossil fuels, deforestation

CH4 (methane)

natural - mainly human → landfills, livestocks farming, fossil fuels

fluorinated gases (CFCs) → industrial, human only, things like refrigeration and aerosol sprays.

ozone (O3)

natural - Ozone forms naturally when sunlight reacts with oxygen molecules in the atmosphere

human - fossil fuels

nitrous oxide (N2O)

natural - soils w vegetation (plants, trees, etc.)

human - agricultural, like using fertilizers, release more nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.

main greenhouse gas produced by humans

CO2

human : anthropogenic (caused by humans)

how can conditions be recorded? (how do we know its here)

from oldest recording to more recent recordings

ice cores, fossils, tree rings, coarl reefs

effects of climate change

glaciers melting, water levels changing

drought

flooding

sevre storms

season shift