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Global Climate Change
Chapter 16
Mr. Martino
Our Dynamic Climate

Energy From the Sun
◦ Greenhouse effect
 Certain gases in the
atmosphere retain some
of the Sun’s heat energy
 Greenhouse gases
 Water vapor, carbon
dioxide, ozone, nitrous
oxide, and ozone
 Essential for the
maintenance of Earth’s
temp.
 Sunlight is converted to
heat then retained.
◦ The Effect of Latitude
 Latitude – the
measurement of a place’s
distance from the
equator
 The farther away a place
is from the equator, the
colder it will be.
 610N = cold; Alaska
 100S = warm; Brazil
 The Sun’s rays strike the
Earth at different angles,
at different latitudes.
 Northern Hemisphere
tilts toward the Sun;
summer.
Wind Patterns in the Atmosphere

Winds and Heat
◦ Warm air rises, cool
air falls
 Rise at the equator
 Fall at the poles
◦ Prevailing winds –
rising of equatorial air
and the falling of polar
air
 Move in huge masses
around the earth

Winds and Moisture
◦ Water vapor in the air
enters through
evaporation from
surface water or from
plants through
transpiration
◦ Warm air carries
more water vapor
◦ Winds push clouds
over long distances,
redistributing the
Earth’s water
The Oceans and Climate

Ocean Circulation
◦ Currents absorb
carbon dioxide and
transport heat
◦ Thermohaline
Circulation – warmer,
less saltier water
moves along the
surface; colder, saltier
water moves along the
bottom
 Warm water flows from
the equator to the poles

El Nino & La Nina
◦ Change of pressure,
wind patterns, ocean
temperature, and
ocean circulation
◦ El Nino – eastern
pacific ocean becomes
warmer, weakening the
equatorial winds; no
upwelling occurs along
the coast
◦ La Nina – opposite of
El Nino

Ocean absorption of
carbon dioxide
◦ By absorbing carbon
dioxide, ocean
temperature
decreases
◦ Problem: carbon
dioxide is being
produced faster than it
is being absorbed