Download 1 - Intro to climate change

WEATHER vs.
CLIMATE
WEATHER
• The environmental
conditions that
occur at a particular
place at a particular
time.
• These include:
temperature, air
pressure, cloud
cover, and
precipitation.
CLIMATE
• The average weather
conditions that occur in
a region over a long
period of time (minimum
30 years).
• Includes: average
monthly temperatures
and precipitation,
average wind speed
and direction, and a
variety of other data.
WEATHER or CLIMATE?
This is what is expected when you go outside.
The day to day conditions outside.
The average high for February is -2°C
It’s 4°C today.
Today is windy.
The conditions outside averaged over a long period of time.
There is a chance 60% chance of rain tomorrow.
July and August in Toronto are usually hot and humid.
Polar regions are colder than tropical regions.
Over 1 metre of snow fell in Toronto on January 1st 2000.
The average monthly precipitation for Toronto is 58-83 mm.
WHAT IS CLIMATE
CHANGE?
CLIMATE CHANGE
•
•
A change in the weather conditions a region
experiences over a long period of time.
Includes long-term changes in temperature,
precipitation, wind, storms, etc.
CLIMATE IS NOT CONSTANT...
IT IT ALWAYS CHANGING!
• So, if climate change is a
natural process, why are we
so worried?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
•
•
The atmosphere is the layer of GASES above
the Earth's surface held in place by GRAVITY.
The Earth’s atmosphere is 100km thick!
THE ATMOSPHERE REGULATES
TEMPERATURE
• Without an atmosphere, the earth would be
SCORCHING HOT during the day, and
FREEZING COLD at night.
• The earth’s atmosphere acts as a HEAT
SINK.
• This means it can ABSORB and STORE
heat, releasing it as necessary.
• This balances out the temperature during a full
24 hour day.
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
•
•
A process in which
certain gases in the
Earth’s atmosphere
absorb heat from the
sun as well as heat
that is radiated back
from the Earth’s
surface.
This process results in
the warming of the
atmosphere.