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Miami Group
Miami Group
Background information on climate change
Background information on climate change
Links to external websites are provided for your convenience. The views expressed on these websites do not necessarily reflect those of the Miami Group, Florida Chapter or Sierra Club.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website; however, it is always better to verify information using multiple sources.
Greenhouse effect, global warming, climate, climate change, cause of climate change, impacts of climate change
Florida Next Generation Standards
SC.8.N.1.6 , SC.8.N.4.1, SC.7.E.6.6, SC.8.L.18.3
Greenhouse effect
What is the greenhouse effect?
Here is a visual representation of the greenhouse effect
Does the greenhouse effect exist on other planets?
Greenhouse effect
- check your understanding
The Sun shines on the Earth every day (we experience daytime on the side of the Earth facing the Sun)
Some of the sunlight that shines on the Earth is reflected back into space (by clouds, ice)
The fraction reflected is Earth´s albedo (it varies by location, but the average is about 0.3)
The rest is absorbed by land and water and warms them
Warm land and water emit infrared radiation (heat)
Some of this is directed back toward space
Molecules of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb this infrared radiation
They prevent most of it from escaping into space.
This is referred to as the greenhouse effect
By percentage contribution, the four main greenhouse gases in Earth´s atmosphere are:
- water vapor, 3670%
- carbon dioxide, 926%
- methane, 49%
- ozone, 37%
The greenhouse effect causes the Earth´s average temperature to be 14° C (mild winter day) instead of -18°C (below zero F)
Venus, second planet from the Sun has an atmosphere that is 95% carbon dioxide (compared to 0.04% on Earth).
The greenhouse effect causes its surface temperature to reach 460°C (water boils at 100°C).
So high levels of greenhouse gases can make things too hot
Do we benefit from greenhouse gases in the Earth´s atmosphere? Explain.
How to greenhouse gases affect the surface temperature of the planet Venus?
Global warming
What is global warming?
Is global warming the same as climate change?
Global warming
- check your understanding
Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming - Resources
Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 1800s and its projected continuation.
Since the early 20th century, Earth´s mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980
The twelve years from 2001 to 2012 rank among the warmest since record keeping began 133 years ago.
To the public, global warming and climate change are used interchangeably
Scientists consider these two to be separate.
What is global warming?
How much change in average global temperatures has occurred since 1978?
Which years rank among the warmest on record since record keeping began 133 years ago?
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