4.4
climate change
Essential Idea: Concentrations of gases in the atmosphere affect climates experienced at Earth's surface.
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Nature of Science: Assessing claims: assessments of the claims that human activities are not producing climate change.
UNDERSTANDINGS:
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Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
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Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.
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The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere.
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The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
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Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which retain the heat in the atmosphere.
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Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.
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Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized organic matter.
APPLICATIONS & SKILLS:
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Application: Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.
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Application: Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
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Application: Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.
RESOURCES:
