Week 14: Causes of Climate Change

 

  1. This week in lab, we explored the rising level of carbon dioxide in our environment globally. We looked at statistics and explored an online simulation to better understand and visualize how this is happening. We also learned how sunlight enters Earth’s atmosphere as visible light, warms the surface, and is then re-released as infrared energy. Normally, some of this heat escapes back into space, but increasing amounts of carbon dioxide trap more of the infrared energy, causing Earth to warm. Understanding this greenhouse effect helped me see why carbon dioxide levels matter so much beyond being just a number. Lastly, we looked into the effects of rising carbon dioxide such as higher temperatures, stronger storms, and larger wildfires. Overall, this lab provided important information that helped me better understand the urgency of climate change. 

  2. How are rising carbon dioxide levels negatively impacting our planet?

  3. Discussion Notes:

Dec 4

Exam Topics 

  • 10 space questions, 10 earth questions, 20 climate questions

  • Climate: 

    • Before the flood

    • Weather versus Climate 

    • How will Iowa (Midwest) change

    • Impact of climate change on phenology (natural events)

    • Greenhouse gases and how it works

    • CO2 and plant relationships 

    • Carbon and water cycle

    • Glacier (continental and oceanic) melting impact 

    • Public versus science perception on climate change

    • Albedo effect on ocean currents 

Classrooms 

  • Classrooms are full of CO2

  • This affects students’ ability to think, focus, complete tasks, etc 

  • Provide more fresh air 

Variables that determine climate 

  • Sun: Solar Radiation 

  • Volcanic Activity 

  • Human Impacts 

Sources of Natural Variability 

  • “Solar and volcanic forcings are the two dominant natural contributors to global climate change during the Industrial Era”

  • There has been no significant changes, leaving only human causes 

Albedo Effect 

  • Surface without snow or ice absorbs more heat 

  • Surface with snow and ice reflects more heat 

  • The reflectively of a surface; how much radiation is reflected v absorbded 

  • COLOR has a major influence on albedo 

  • A high albedo means something is more reflective, a low albedo means it is less reflective/will absorb more radiation 

  • Albedo = 1 completely reflects radiation 

  • Albedo = 0 completely absorbed radiation 

Albedo and Continental Glaciers

  • Antarctica now has more than 65,000 ‘meltwater lakes’ as summer ice melts 

  • Since grass leaves release water vapor (or transpire) and the evaporation of that water vapor leads to cooling, grass fields rarely get above 100. Turf fields, in comparison, regularly rise well above 10

  • In Phoenix, the urban heat island effect shows up as hotter temperatures in the city versus outlying, rural areas. Pavement retaining heat during the hot summer days, and releasing it after the sun goes down makes temperatures hotter 


  1. In Chapter 14, I learned more about the causes of climate change. To begin, I learned that some of the gasses in Earth’s atmosphere are greenhouse gasses such as CO2, N2O, CH4, H2O, and O3. These gasses let sunlight through to reach the surface of Earth and then trap its heat in the atmosphere. Furthermore, I learned how some radiation is reflected back into space by the atmosphere and surfaces with a high albedo while other radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases and surfaces with low albedo. I then learned more about the albedo effect and greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect explains how there are too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, from burning fossil fuels, that it is causing our global temperature to increase and many problems. The albedo effect builds on this as it explains how ice is melting and being replaced by land and water, with low albedo, causing them to absorb radiation and further increase Earth’s temperature and melt more ice. These issues are very problematic and harmful to our planet. Lastly, I learned about the carbon cycle and how we can use ice cores to see how much carbon dioxide levels on Earth have grown. As I read this chapter, I was initially confused by how some heat is absorbed while some is reflected. However, the videos and visuals throughout the chapter helped to strengthen my understanding of how this happens. 

  2. I have no questions, concerns, or comments at this time.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sun, Earth, and Moon

 In lab today, we explored the relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. However, we began by going over the course syllabus, schedule, and expectations. Once completed, we collaborated at our tables using an Earth and Moon model, while a Sun model was placed at the front of the classroom, and a light was used to represent the path of orbit. We discussed shadows to determine that in the Northern Hemisphere, your shadow points to the north, while in the Southern Hemisphere, your shadow points to the south. We then modeled the cause of seasons by observing how different locations on Earth tilt towards the Sun during orbit. We also modeled day and night by rotating the Earth and observing when each side is facing the Sun. Lastly, we modeled the phases of the Moon by orbiting the Moon around the Earth and noting which parts of the Moon's surface were lit by the Sun as it orbited. This helped us to discover that during a solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun. This lab was helpful ...
Read more

Week 6: Geologic Time

  This week in lab, we began by reviewing for the exam. We reviewed the life cycle of a star, shadows, meteors compared to meteorites, and the phases of the moon. We then transitioned into learning about Earth science. I found it interesting how Earth science is connected to politics, as Barack Obama won the election by utilizing the coastline. We then created a timeline around the classroom including events such as: human appearance, dinosaurs, first land plants, first land animals, and the creation of the moon. This activity was helpful to visualize when these events occurred and how long our planet has existed before us.This activity was paired with an online Earth simulator, EarthViewer, that allowed us to see more events that have occurred and how our planet has changed. We used this information to correct and build on our timeline. These activities combined were helpful to visualize and correct our preconceptions. Therefore, I would definitely use both in my future classroom....
Read more