Envi 11: Environmental Science

Lesson 5.1: The Climate System

Climate
Climate is defined as the average weather condition of the atmosphere over a long time in a
particular place. Throughout the history of humankind, climate played an important role in where
people have chosen a place they want to settle.
Weather
Weather refers to the day to day atmospheric condition of a particular place and time. Weather
can be pleasant or destructive. Intense weather can destroy houses, properties, vehicles, and
agricultural activities and even result in death.
When we talk about the climate system, the sun's energy is known to be the main driver. As the
sun emits energy and penetrates the atmosphere, it is absorbed, or the clouds are reflecting
some. As the energy enters the earth, it brings in heat as well. A natural process such as water
evaporation, air currents rising, and radiation in the earth's surface removes or loses heat. Some
of the heat that enters the atmosphere goes out through the atmosphere back to space, but some
heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane. In this
way, the atmosphere will be able to re-emit back the heat. Eventually, all heat will always go back
at the space, but not before it raised the Earth's surface enough to support living organisms on
earth. Without the aid of greenhouse gasses absorbing and re-emitting heat, life would not be
possible on earth.

If the climate system remains still, the climate would not be altered around the globe. Since the
earth is not flat and tilted, the planet's exposure to the sun changes at different latitudes and
seasons. Generally, there is more heat in the middle portion of the earth (equator) than the Polar
Regions. About inequality, the movement or circulation of heat moves from the equator to the
poles through the atmosphere and oceans. As observed in tropical countries, arising from
thunder, clouds are apparent. These warm forces the air to rise and drift to the poles at high
levels. Air that is more cooling flows in the direction opposite the surface of the earth, which will
set up cells. The same cells are developing in other areas as it goes up towards the Polar Regions.
Furthermore, the boundaries between cells contain two different air, which is either rising or
sinking towards the earth. Note that if the air is sinking, high pressure is expected with beautiful
and glorious weather, while rising air has low pressure with precipitation.

The changing temperature of the sea and salinity or saltiness of the seawater is responsible for
developing currents in the ocean. For instance, the strongest current in the world is located at the
Gulf Stream. In the north Atlantic, the surface water there is cooled by the winds of the arctic.
Those water characterized by being cold, dense and salty, sinks and moves toward deep within
the central portion of the ocean. In exchange, the water is moved by the Gulf Stream towards the
northeastward, specifically at the shallow portion, to replace it. This movement carries warmth to
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Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. ITEEM 20-001
 Envi 11: Environmental Science

the northwestern of Europe, creating a milder climate distinct to other places with similar latitudes.
It is because of these interactions of the sun's energy and the ability of the atmosphere and
oceans to travel heat across the globe – creates various climates in different parts of the planet
and eventually alters daily weather. Thus, an increasing temperature that can lead to warming
has the potential to create an imbalance of the climate system and affect our climate.

Climate Change Mechanisms

First Method
The first method in changing the global average temperature of the earth is through the alteration
of solar energy’s output. The sun and earth are undergoing cycles that influence the amount of
solar energy that the planet receives.
Second Method
The second method in changing the global average earth's temperature is the alteration of the
earth's brightness or albedo effect. Albedo refers to the percent of reflected sunlight. The albedo
effect of the earth is responsible for the amount of sunlight re-radiated outside the atmosphere
instead of being absorbed in the surface. The alteration of the reflectivity of sunlight or albedo
effect can influence the rising of global temperature or cooling.
Third Method

The third method in changing the earth’s average temperature is the alteration of the global
atmospheric composition. The composition of the atmosphere affects the greenhouse effect. The
greenhouse effect refers to the process by which infrared radiation is absorbed and re-radiated
back to the earth’s surface by greenhouse gases instead of going outside the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases are efficient in absorbing and keeping heat; that is why it can contribute to the
rising of the earth’s surface temperature.

Page 2 of 97
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-02
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No. ITEEM 20-001