Climate+Change+Notes

=Climate Vs. Global Warming= =__What is Global Warming?__=

§ 1) Global warming is a term used to describe a gradual change in the earth’s average ground and atmospheric temperatures across the whole planet.
== §  a) Measurements indicate that the global temperature has increased by about 1degree Fahrenheit  in the past century. == == §   b) Humans beginning to increase the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. == == §  c) Many (scientist) are convinced that human activities are partly responsible for the long-term warming of the past century and that climatic changes caused by greenhouse gas increases will be a continuing part of our future.  == == §   2) Although most scientists believe that a rise in carbon dioxide emissions will lead to further global warming, uncertainties remain about the timing and severity of resulting climatic change. == == §  a) They believe there is enough evidence to warrant a sensible approach toward minimizing the potential consequences of global warming. ==

=What is the Difference between Global Warming and the O-zone Hole?=

It is important to note that global warming is a separate problem from ozone depletion.
== §  a) Ozone depletion refers to the thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which extends roughly between 9-31 miles above the earth’s surface.  == == §   b) A diminished ozone layer allows more harmful radiation to reach the earth’s surface. == == §  c) Global warming, on the other hand, refers to an increase in the earth’s average temperature. == = The Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, and Global Warming =

1) //__The Greenhouse Effect__//:
== §  a) Scientists are certain about the greenhouse effect. They know that greenhouse gases make the earth warmer by trapping heat in the atmosphere. ==

2) //__Climate Change__//:
== §  a) Climate is the long-term average of a region’s weather events lumped together.  == == §    è  For example, it’s possible that a winter day in Buffalo, New York, could be sunny and mild, but the average weather— //__the climate__// —tells us that Buffalo’s winters will mainly be cold and include snow and rain.  == == §   b) Climate change represents a change in these long-term weather patterns. == == §   è  They can become warmer or colder; annual amounts of rainfall or snowfall can increase or decrease. ==

= The Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change, and Global Warming =

 § 3) //__Global Warming__//:
==<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> §  a) Global warming refers to an average increase in the earth’s temperature == ==<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> §   <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings"> è  This in turn could causes changes in climate.  == ==<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> §   b) A warmer earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. == ==<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> §  c) When scientists talk about the issue of climate change, one of their concerns is about rapid global warming caused by human activities. == ==<span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings"> §   ** NOAA/NASA/EPA CLIMATE CHANGE PARTNERSHIP **==