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Global Climate Change
Based upon the work of Leigh A Grass
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What is Global Warming
Greenhouse effect interactivity
The Evidence
The Effects
How can you help?
Global Warming Quiz
In the Classroom
What is Global Warming?
• Global warming or climate change is the gradual
increase of the average temperature of the Earth
• The average temperature of the Earth's surface is
around 59˚F or 13 ˚C.
Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere hold in heat
• Without these gases, the Earth’s avg. surface
temperature would drop to around 0 ˚F.
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The Atmosphere
• The Earth is surrounded by a thin layer of gases
• Oxygen
• Water Vapor
• Carbon Dioxide
• Nitrous Oxide
• Methane
• Ozone
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Greenhouse gases
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Atmosphere
• Supplies gases required for life
• Oxygen (for most heterotrophs)
• Carbon dioxide (for photosynthetic autotrophs)
• Nitrogen (converted to usable form by soil bacteria & symbiotic
bacteria)
• Offers protection from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation
(upper atmospheric ozone)
• Helps control Earth’s temperature by trapping solar
energy next to the surface (greenhouse effect)
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Click below to watch an interactivity on the
Greenhouse Effect
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The
Evidence
Before and
after pictures
of Montana’s
disappearing
glaciers
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Watch other glaciers disappear in before and
after pictures…
Click here.
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The Effects
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Water levels will rise in oceans
The timing of the seasons will change
Increased spread of disease
Stronger hurricanes and storms
Animals change behavior
Increased acidification of oceans as CO2 moves
from atmosphere to hydrosphere
• More plant and animal species will become extinct
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How can you help?
• Use compact fluorescent lighting in your home
• Keep your thermostat down in the winter and
up in the summer. Wear clothing for the season!
• Drive a high mileage or hybrid car
• Lobby hard for alternative energy sources for
electricity and heat.
• Help to preserve habitat of endangered
species.
• Green roofs
Green roof
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Endangered
species
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species List
• Center for Biological Diversity
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Global Warming Blues
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Is Global warming a farce?
Visit these websites to learn more!
Global Warming Swindle
Global Warming Facts
Global Warming
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Global Warming Quiz!
1. What is the most common greenhouse gas
emitted from human activities?
Nitrous oxide
Methane
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen
2. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
are always bad for humans and the
environment.
True
False
3. Click on the area where the infrared rays are.
4. In which of the following ways do people
increase the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere.
Cutting down trees
Driving gasoline-powered vehicles
Burning coal to generate electricity
All of the above
5. Greenhouse gases cause global warming by:
Absorbing and reradiating heat from infrared rays
Causing the atmosphere to catch fire
Absorbing the water in the atmosphere
Reflecting solar rays
Are you contributing to the climate
change?
• Check your electric bills for the past year. For
each kWh allow 0.8kg of carbon dioxide.
• If you flew on a commercial plane in the last
year, add 0.35 kg for each kilometer flown for
each person who flew with you.
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Water Vapor
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The most abundant greenhouse gas in the
atmosphere
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Enters atmosphere by
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Evaporation from water sources
Evapotranspiration of plants
Burning fossil fuels
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Carbon Dioxide- CO2
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Accounts for 80% of anthropogenic greenhouse
gas emissions
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Enters atmosphere by
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Carbon cycle
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
Cement production
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Methane-CH4
• A gas that is emitted from the following sources:
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Volcanic activity
More information on
Natural gas fields
Methane
Solid waste landfills
Byproduct of biomass
One of the ingredients found in a burp!
Read this article:
Cows that burp less aid climate fight!
Methane
• The early atmosphere of the Earth
had 1000x more methane that what is
has now and therefore, no life existed
on the planet.
• Oxygen was not produced until
photosynthetic bacteria evolved at a
later time.
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Nitrous Oxide- N2O
• A gas that is emitted from the following sources:
– Burning fossil fuels
– Use of fertilizers
– Burning biomass
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– Can be used as a mild anesthetic for minor
surgeries
Also known as laughing gas!!
Oxygen - O2
• A gas that is emitted from the following sources:
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– Photosynthetic Organisms
– NOT a greenhouse gas
– Important to most living things for cellular
respiration
– Created billions of years ago by photosynthetice
bacteria and algae
Can’t Burn Without It!!!!