Some Background Info

Eligio C. Obille Jr.

 On climate

What’s the difference between

weather and climate?

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 On climate
Weather: state of the atmosphere in
a given place over a short period of
time (minutes to months)

Climate: how the atmosphere

behaves over relatively long periods
of time (usually measured over 30
years or so)
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 On climate

What is greenhouse effect?

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 Importance of the Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

h These are the naturally occurring gases such as water

vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane
(CH4) that keep the Earth comfortably warm enough
for plants and animals to live in at an average
temperature of 15oC.

h Produced by natural processes:

water cycle
 growth and death of plants and animals
 decaying of wood and other biodegradable
materials
 volcanic activities
A certain level of
greenhouse gases is
necessary to maintain the
temperatures for life on
earth to exist.

However, human activities

accelerate the natural
process by creating more
greenhouse gases causing
global warming.
 On climate
The illustration shows that
greenhouse gases such as carbon
dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O),
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
methane (CH4) trap heat preventing it
to escape from the Earth.
All gases absorbs heat, some
just absorbs more than others. So
assuming solar radiation is constant,
the average atmospheric temperature
depends on the mixture of gases.
More greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere means that the
equilibrium temperature is higher as
this absorb more heat. This will result
to the increase of global temperature.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 On climate

What’s the difference between

climate change and global
warming ?

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 On climate
Climate change: deviation from
climate normals (mostly, changes in
temperature and precipitation
averages in a given place for a
period of time)

Global warming: rise in the average

temperature of the Earth
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 On climate
References:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA)

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA)

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION