Essential idea: Essential idea: Concentrations

4.4 Climate change of gases in the atmosphere affect climates

experienced at the Earth’s surface.

The greenhouse effect is accepted scientific theory. There are certain gasses in the atmosphere cause
the sun's heat to be trapped and allow the surface of the planet to warm. Without it the surface of the
planet would be too cold for life to exist. To explain the images are quotes from NASA:
"Left: 1880-1889. Right: 2000-2009. These maps compare temperatures in each region of the world to
what they were from 1951 to 1980 ... Two-thirds of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of
roughly 0.15 to 0.20 °C per decade”. These changes in temperature correlate with changes in CO2 levels.
CO2 is now at a record high of 400 ppm.

By Chris Paine
https://bioknowledgy.weebly.com/
http://climate.nasa.gov/images/ImageLarge-61.jpg
Understandings, Applications and Skills
Statement Guidance
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most
significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides The harmful consequences of ozone depletion do
have less impact. not need to be discussed and it should be made
clear that ozone depletion is not the cause of the
enhanced greenhouse effect.
4.4.U3 The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour
long wave radiation as well as on its concentration in should be included in discussions.
the atmosphere.
4.4.U4 The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation
(heat).
4.4.U5 Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse
gases that retain the heat in the atmosphere.
4.4.U6 Global temperatures and climate patterns are
influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.
4.4.U7 There is a correlation between rising atmospheric
concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the
industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global
temperatures.
4.4.U8 Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are
largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized
organic matter.
4.4.A1 Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of
dissolved carbon dioxide.
4.4.A2 Correlations between global temperatures and carbon
dioxide concentrations on Earth.
4.4.A3 Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing
climate change.
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

The Earth is kept much by gases in the atmosphere that retain heat.
These gases are referred to as greenhouses gases.

The greenhouse gases that have the

largest warming effect on the Earth are:
• carbon dioxide (below)
• water vapour (e.g. clouds)
Other gases including methane and
nitrogen oxides have less impact.

nitrogen oxides are released naturally

by bacteria in some habitats and also
by agriculture and vehicle exhausts.

Greenhouse gases together make up

less than 1% of the atmosphere.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/04/climate_change/html/greenhouse.stm
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

The Earth is kept much by gases in the atmosphere that retain heat.
These gases are referred to as greenhouses gases.

Q – why is the surface of the Earth warmer at

night if there is cloud cover?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

The Earth is kept much by gases in the atmosphere that retain heat.
These gases are referred to as greenhouses gases.

Q – why is the surface of the Earth warmer at

night if there is cloud cover?
The water droplets in clouds retain
heat during the day and at night re-
radiate the heat back to the surface

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

The Earth is kept much by gases in the atmosphere that retain heat.
These gases are referred to as greenhouses gases.

Q – why is the surface of the Earth warmer at

night if there is cloud cover?
The water droplets in clouds retain
heat during the day and at night re-
radiate the heat back to the surface

Q – why is the surface of the Earth cooler

when there is more cloud coverage.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U1 Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4.U2 Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

The Earth is kept much by gases in the atmosphere that retain heat.
These gases are referred to as greenhouses gases.

Q – why is the surface of the Earth warmer at

night if there is cloud cover?
The water droplets in clouds retain
heat during the day and at night re-
radiate the heat back to the surface

Q – why is the surface of the Earth cooler

when there is more cloud coverage.
The water droplets in clouds reflect a range of
different wavelengths of radiation in both
directions (including radiation coming inward that
would have been re-emitted as heat*).

*Although clouds make the surface of the Earth cooler in the short term.
They do not stop the greenhouse effect, it is just delayed or slowed down.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U3 The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its
concentration in the atmosphere.

impact of a greenhouse gas

Ability to absorb long- abundance in the

wave radiation atmosphere
(especially infrared/heat)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U3 The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its
concentration in the atmosphere.

impact of a greenhouse gas

Ability to absorb long- abundance in the

wave radiation atmosphere
(especially infrared/heat)

rate of release persistence

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U3 The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its
concentration in the atmosphere.

impact of a greenhouse gas

Ability to absorb long- abundance in the

wave radiation atmosphere
(especially infrared/heat) CO2 is very abundant making
up 400 ppm by volume of the
Methane has 33 times the effect atmosphere (0.04%)
of CO2 (but is not very abundant)

rate of release persistence

Water vapour enters the atmosphere

very rapidly, but only remains for days
whereas CO2 persists for years.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GoldenMedows.jpg
4.4.U4 The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
4.4.U5 Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the
atmosphere.

How the greenhouse effect works

Approx. 25% of
solar radiation is
absorbed by the
atmosphere.
1

2
Approx. 75% of solar 4
radiation penetrates the Up to 85%* of re-emitted heat is captured
atmosphere and reaches by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
the Earth’s surface.

3 5
Heat passes back to the surface of
The surface of the Earth absorbs short- the Earth, causing warming
wave solar energy and re-emits at longer
wavelengths (as heat).

*This value, though variable, is known to be

rising; very likely the result of human activities. http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/globalcarboncycle.html
4.4.U4 The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
4.4.U5 Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the
atmosphere.

How the greenhouse effect works

Approx. 25% of
solar radiation is
absorbed by the
atmosphere.
1

2
Approx. 75% of solar 4
radiation penetrates the Up to 85%* of re-emitted heat is captured
atmosphere and reaches by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
the Earth’s surface.

3 5
Heat passes back to the surface of
The surface of the Earth absorbs short- the Earth, causing warming
wave solar energy and re-emits at longer
wavelengths (as heat).

*This value, though variable, is known to be

rising; very likely the result of human activities. http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/globalcarboncycle.html
4.4.U4 The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
4.4.U5 Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the
atmosphere.

How the greenhouse effect works (this diagram quantifies the effect in Watts / m2)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_green_house_effect.svg
4.4.U4 The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
4.4.U5 Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the
atmosphere.

How the greenhouse effect works

Use the
animations/tutorials to
http://www.sumanasinc.com/web
improve your content/animations/content/green
http://www.damocles- understanding and find house.html
eu.org/education/Animation_about_the_greenhouse_eff out more.
ect_182.shtml

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/globalca http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/
rboncycle.html 04/climate_change/html/greenhouse.stm
4.4.U7 There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the
start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.

Evidence for a correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)

and average global temperatures

Key points
• global temperatures
show large variations
(for various reasons)
• (despite this) there is
strong support for
correlation between
atmospheric carbon
dioxide and global
temperatures

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/co2problem.htm
4.4.A2 Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
To deduce historic carbon dioxide concentrations and
temperatures ice cores are drilled in Antarctic ice sheets

Vostock ice core (pictured) drilled at a Russian monitoring

station in East Antarctica is an example of an ice core.

A cylinder of ice was collected by drilling from

to the bottom of the Antarctic ice sheet. The
total length of the core was 2083 meters.

The core shows annual layers, which can be used

to date the air bubbles trapped in the ice.
Analysis of the gas content of the
bubbles gives both the
concentration of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere and the air
temperature (from oxygen isotopes)
at the time ice was formed.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GISP2_1855m_ice_core_layers.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GISP2_team_photo_core37.jpeg
4.4.A2 Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.

Evidence for a correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)

and average global temperatures

Key points
• The correlation is
supported by ice core
data over the last
400,000 years
• Temperature shows
greater variation than
CO2
• Most, but not all rises
and falls in CO2 have
correlated with
temperature rises and
falls
• The same trend has
been found in other ice
cores.

n.b. Vostock is a Russian monitoring station in East Antarctica

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/co2problem.htm
4.4.A2 Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.

Evidence for a correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)

and average global temperatures

Key points
• The correlation is
supported by ice core
data over the last
400,000 years
• Temperature shows
greater variation than
CO2
• Most, but not all rises
and falls in CO2 have
correlated with
temperature rises and
falls
• The same trend has
been found in other ice
cores.

n.b. Vostock is a Russian monitoring station in East Antarctica

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/co2problem.htm
4.4.U8 Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the
combustion of fossilized organic matter.

The link between human emissions and atmospheric levels of CO2

Key points
• There is a strong correlation
between human emissions
and atmospheric levels of CO2
• As atmospheric CO2 levels
have increased the amount of
CO2 absorbed by carbon
sinks has increased (only
about 40% of emissions have
remained in the atmosphere)

Industrial revolution Large increases in

has started usage of fossil fuels

http://radioviceonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/knorr2009_co2_sequestration.pdf
4.4.U6 Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse
gases.

Global average temperatures are not directly

proportional to greenhouse gas concentrations. Other factors, e.g. sun spot
activity, have an impact global
average temperatures

increases in greenhouse gas concentrations will likely cause:

• higher global average temperatures
• more frequent and intense heat waves
• some areas becoming more prone to droughts
• some areas more prone to intense periods of rainfall and flooding
• tropical storms to be more frequent and more powerful
• Changes to ocean currents, e.g. weakening of the Gulf Stream would
mean colder temperatures in north-west Europe

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hurricane_Elena.jpg
4.4.A1 Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

Ocean acidification – the causes and effects

Research indicates that, by 2100 coral reefs

may erode faster than they can be rebuilt. This
could compromise the viability of these
ecosystems and the (estimated) one million
species that depend on coral reef habitat.
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3
F
http://youtu.be/5cqCvcX7buo

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/anim http://youtu.be/Wo-bHt1bOsw
ations/content/acidification.html
http://youtu.be/GL7qJYKzcsk
4.4.A1 Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

Ocean acidification – the causes and effects

The ocean absorbs about 25% of
the CO2 emitted into the
atmosphere. Therefore as
atmospheric CO2 increases so do
the levels in the ocean.

Since 1800 the pH of seawater* has

fallen by 0.1 pH units. Since the pH
scale is logarithmic, this represents
approx. a 30% increase in acidity.

Estimates of future CO2 levels,

indicate that by 2100 seawater
could be nearly 150% more acidic (a
further decrease of 0.5 pH) to a
level not seen for more than 20
million years.

*seawater refers to the surface of oceans which are affected more than the depths.
http://pmel.noaa.gov/co2/files/hitimeseries2.jpg
4.4.A1 Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

Ocean acidification – the causes and effects

When CO2 dissolves in water it It is not just the creation of carbonic acid that
forms a variety of molecules: affects pH; when bicarbonate and carbonate
• dissolved free CO2 ions are formed H+ ions are released thus
• carbonic acid (H2CO3) decreasing the pH of seawater
• bicarbonate (HCO−3)
• carbonate (CO32−)

Carbonate ions are not very soluble, therefore the concentration in seawater is low.
Dissolved CO2 decreases the carbonate concentration further.

http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/files/oareaction_med.jpg
4.4.A1 Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

Ocean acidification – the causes and effects

At risk Benefit
Marine calcifying species, including oysters, Photosynthetic algae and sea grasses
clams, sea urchins, shallow water corals, deep
sea corals, and calcareous plankton.*
Need to absorb carbonate ions from Low CO2 is a limiting factor for photosynthesis
seawater to make the calcium carbonate in
their skeletons.

The pteropod is a tiny sea creature about the size of a small pea. Pteropods are a major food source for
many animals including North Pacific juvenile salmon. The photos below show what happens to a
pteropod’s shell when placed in sea water with pH and carbonate levels projected for the year 2100.

*Shelled organisms are often keystone species and therefore the entire food web may also be
at risk.
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/What+is+Ocean+Acidification%3F
4.4.A3 Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.

Many claims that human activities are

not causing climate change have been
made in the media, whether it be in
newspapers, on television or on the
internet.
It is important to realise that not all
sources are trustworthy and it is
important to know the motivation of
those publishing claims on either side of
the debate.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Climate

Change Debate

http://youtu.be/cjuGCJJUGsg http://www.skepticalscience.com/
Bibliography / Acknowledgments

Jason de Nys

https://www.slideshare.
net/diverzippy/bioknowl
edgy-44-climate-change