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Instructor’s Manual
Geology and the Environment, 7e
Chapter 2
The Earth System and Climate Change
Chapter 2
THE EARTH SYSTEM AND CLIMATE CHANGE
SUMMARIES AND LECTURE SUGGESTIONS
Climatic Controls
An understanding of climatic change requires an understanding of some basics about today’s
climate:
 Wind occurs as the result of unequal heating and cooling of the Earth’s surface by the
Sun. In a regional sense, this has to do with the angle at which the Sun’s rays enter
the atmosphere. Heating is most efficient, for example, at the equator.
 Regional wind patterns are curved because of the Earth’s rotation (Coriolis Effect).
 Belts of upwelling warm air (lows) and down-welling cool air (highs) circle the Earth
in a mirror-image pattern north and south of the equator. These include the equatorial
low and the subtropical highs where deserts are concentrated, and polar highs that are
also arid regions.
Heating of the Earth
Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun heats the Earth’s surface. Infrared radiation is then
reradiated from the surface, and this in turn heats atmospheric gases. Certain gases, mainly
water vapor, CO2 and CH4, increase the absorption of reradiated heat in what is called the
greenhouse effect.
Oceanic Circulation
The major shallow ocean currents of the world occur in clockwise flow patterns in the
northern hemisphere and the reverse in the southern hemisphere. These patterns are
influenced by prevailing winds and generally involve flow of warm water toward the poles
and cool water toward the equator. These currents affect coastal climate and can produce
upwelling of deep water, which is beneficial to biological activity. Deep-water currents in
general are cold currents driven by density differences involving low temperature and high
salinity.
Ice-Age Climate
The most recent ice age contained five glacial periods interspersed with interglacial periods
over the past 500,000 years. Oxygen isotope data from ice cores in Greenland and Antarctica
indicate that the ice ages built up slowly but ended rather abruptly.
Human Contributions to Earth’s Climate
The rate of carbon loading from human activity far exceeds that of natural processes. These
anthropogenic greenhouse gases have contributed to the observed increase in atmospheric and
ocean temperatures. We may be sending the planet into a new and much warmer selfsustaining climate regime.
Exploring the Case Study
The case study looks at measuring temperatures in the atmosphere and the ocean. The Argo
float data is available at the Global Argo Data Repository
(http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/argo/index.htm). You can look at the actual data or have your
students do an assignment based on the data. The case study also states “A net warming of
0.1°C–0.2°C has occurred in sea surface temperature over the past half-century. Given the
enormous size of the World Ocean, this is highly significant.” You can have the students
calculate how much heat (in calories or joules) is involved in raising 1.3 billion cubic
kilometers (310 million cu mi) a tenth or two-tenths of a degree Celsius.
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Instructor’s Manual
Geology and the Environment, 7e
Chapter 2
The Earth System and Climate Change
LECTURE SUGGESTIONS



Divide the class into groups and have each group describe interactions between two
of the Earth’s sphere (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere)
Tell the class you have been commissioned to produce a Las Vegas style circus show
(or sideshow) about the Earth’s spheres. You need them to come up with an act or
stunt that represents each of the four spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere
and biosphere).
Take a course survey on the students’ belief that global climate change is occurring
and if humans are in-part responsible. Compile the results in a grid (making sure they
understand what each part of the grid means)
Humans are responsible (in part)?
Global Climate Change
is Occurring?
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
RESOURCES
Video
1. The Miracle Planet. PBS/Bill Curtis Productions.
2. Planet Earth #3, “The Climate Puzzle: Ice Age or Global Warming?” 1986 (two 30minute segments). Part I concentrates on methods of gathering climate data and the
changes that have occurred through the centuries. Part II considers the scenario of major
global warming by 2020 due to increased CO2 and methane. Annenberg:
http://www.learner.org
3. Hot Enough for You? (58 minutes). An award-winning NOVA series production on the
consequences of greenhouse warming to farming, sea-level changes, and possible
widespread extinction. Explores techniques for reversing the warming trend. PBS or
WGBH.
4. The Climate and Man (three 26-minute segments). “The Greenhouse Effect,” “Global
Warming,” and “Danger Ahead: Is There No Way Out?” are three of a set of six
episodes that are relevant to this chapter. Available from Films Media Group:
http://ffh.films.com
5. Assault on the Ozone Layer (18 minutes). Available from Films Media Group:
http://ffh.films.com
6. Drought and Flood (18 minutes). Drought and flood, the predicted effects of global
warming, may appear to be paradoxical, but they are as logical as they are devastating.
Available from Films Media Group: http://ffh.films.com
7. The Habitable Planet #2, “Atmosphere,” 2007 (30 minutes). A systems approach to
environmental issues. Each episode features case studies based on two scientists. This
episode points out that greenhouse warming of the atmosphere is what makes the Earth
habitable. Annenberg: http://www.learner.org
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Instructor’s Manual
Geology and the Environment, 7e
Chapter 2
The Earth System and Climate Change
8. The Habitable Planet #3, “Oceans,” 2007 (30 minutes). A systems approach to
environmental issues. Each episode features case studies based on two scientists. This
episode looks at feedbacks and homeostasis in the oceans. Annenberg:
http://www.learner.org
Web
1. NOAA’s Climate Page for Educators (http://www.education.noaa.gov/Climate/)
2. Evidence of Climate Change from the Weather Underground
(http://www.wunderground.com/climate/evidence.asp)
3. NASA’s Science Visualization Studio Perpetual Ocean Circulation animation
(http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003800/a003827/)
4. Home page of the Greenland Ice Sheet project 2 (http://www.gisp2.sr.unh.edu/)
5. NOAA Sea Surface Temperature Contour Charts
(http://www.ospo.noaa.gov/Products/ocean/sst/contour/index.html)
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