Air, Weather, & Climate: 15
15.1 The atmosphere is a complex system
I.
Describe the structure & composition of the atmosphere
II.
Compare and contrast the troposphere and stratosphere
III.
Construct a graphic representation that shows the proportion of incoming solar radiation that is absorbed,
reflected, and scattered as it interacts with the atmosphere and surface of the Earth.
IV.
Make a claim, using representations, and models of incoming solar radiation (insolation) and the
greenhouse effect, how changes in the atmosphere (i.e., atmospheric composition, cloud coverage) and in
Earth’s surface (i.e., glacial coverage) will affect the energy budget.
V.
Identify greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone,) and their natural and
anthropogenic sources.
VI.
Interpret long-term annual flux of the Keelings Curve.
VII.
Explain, based on the mechanisms (short-wave & long wave radiation, GHG, albedo) involved in the
“greenhouse effect,” how the atmosphere is warmed.
Essential Knowledge
The atmosphere, in comparison to the size of Earth, is a relatively thin layer of air that surrounds the planet
and is divided into layers that are defined by temperature profiles.
The atmosphere is made up mostly of gaseous nitrogen and oxygen, along with trace amounts of gases
(including water vapor and carbon dioxide [CO2]), suspended liquids and solids.
The composition of the atmosphere is affected by geologic processes and, increasingly, by life on Earth.
Some incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, some is
scattered within the atmosphere, and some is transmitted through the atmosphere to the land and water on
Earth’s surface. Consequently, the atmosphere moderates surface temperatures and reduces the amount of
ultraviolet radiation.
Greenhouse gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane, allow short-wave insolation to pass
through the atmosphere, but trap most infrared (long-wave) radiation from the warmed surface of Earth.
The atmosphere is an interconnected circulation system that has global patterns of winds due to Earth’s
rotation, land topography and unequal distribution of thermal energy on Earth’s surface.
15.2 Weather Events Follow General Patterns
I.
Illustrate how seasonal changes occur.
II.
Describe how the earth’s rotation and uneven heating create general weather patterns.
III.
Explain why Earth’s surface heats unevenly at different locations due to variables such as albedo, latitude
and surface cover.
IV.
Describe how climate is affected by global circulation patterns.
V.
Describe how surface ocean currents can be driven by global circulation patterns.
VI.
Contrast the Coriolis effect on global circulation patterns in the northern and southern hemispheres.
15.3 Natural Climate Variability
I.
Explain climatic conditions in different locations, in terms of latitude, elevation, local topography and
distance form large bodies of water. Give examples of locations where climate is further influenced by rain
shadow, ocean currents, and lake effects.
II.
Interpret visual representations of global patterns of ocean currents.
III.
Evaluate which factors affect global patterns of ocean currents.
IV.
Describe, in terms of convection, how the temperature and density of ocean water influence oceans’
circulation.
V.
Determine which data should be considered evidence of climate change in both the geologic and historic
past.
VI.
Analyze tree ring data to find changes in annual rainfall in a particular location.
VII.
Infer, based on ice core and the glacial record, climatic conditions that have existed in the past.
VIII.
Infer, based the fossil records, climatic conditions that have existed in the past.
Essential Knowledge
Climate zones on Earth are primarily dictated by global wind circulation, ocean currents and temperature,
the amount of insolation, latitude, and the local topographic features of a location.
Earth’s climate has changed in the past, is currently changing, and is expected to change in the future.
Many types of physical, chemical and biological data provide evidence of past changes in Earth’s climate —
e.g., ice cores, glacial deposits, tree rings and the rock record (including lithology and fossil assemblages).
At times, climate changes have been slow, spanning centuries and millennia; these changes have been
influenced by changes in Earth’s orbital motions or by the movement of crustal plates (e.g., Milankovitch
cycles).
At other times, climate changes have been abrupt; these changes have been caused by sudden events such
as volcanic eruptions, collisions with bolides, or shifts in ocean currents.
Changes in Earth’s climate have influenced human history in profound ways by playing an integral role in
whether societies thrive or fail. However, the current consensus of scientific opinion is that human activities
now have a profound influence on Earth’s climate.
The ocean is an interconnected system that has global patterns of currents that are affected by prevailing
winds, temperature, density of ocean water, and the shapes of ocean basins and adjacent land masses.
Oceans act as major reservoirs of Earth’s water, thermal energy and other materials such as carbon dioxide.
Water, because of its high specific heat, can store large amounts of thermal energy. As a result, oceans are
major influences on Earth’s climate and water cycle.
15.4 How Do We Know Recent Climate Change Is Human Caused?
I.
Give examples of how human activity (e.g., heat islands, deforestation, burning of fossil fuels) has induced
climate changes. Include descriptions of cause & effect interactions.
II.
Construct a graphical representation of the global carbon cycle (or the cycle of some other element or
molecule), and use this representation to predict the effects of some environmental change (e.g., evolution
of life, tectonic change, human activity) on carbon cycling (or the cycling of some other element or
molecule
III.
Explain, in relation to landform types, climate zones and ecosystem functioning, the global patterns of
carbon distribution. Explanation should include the distinction between organic(C H O , CH ) and inorganic
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(CO ) carbon sources and sinks.
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IV.
Calculate, given appropriate data, estimates of the carbon footprint of some human activity or group.
Essential Knowledge

The major carbon compounds and their reservoirs are inorganic carbonates (CaCO3) found in rocks and
dissolved in water, hydrocarbons found in fossil fuels, organic matter stored in soils and sediments, and
organic compounds found in living organisms (biomass) as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane
(CH4) gases.

Various compounds of carbon can be released through volcanism, dissolution and the use of fossil fuels.

The cycling of carbon on short time scales is dominated by the exchange of carbon between the
atmosphere and terrestrial or ocean systems through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration and
combustion. Throughout geologic time, large amounts of carbon dioxide are sequestered in limestone.

The carbon cycle is intimately related to climate change through the processes that capture and release
carbon dioxide and methane gases into the atmosphere. It is also related to the cycling of other important
elements for living organisms, including nitrogen and phosphorus.

A carbon footprint is the sum of all greenhouse gases that are produced due to human activities that have
a negative impact on the environment. A carbon footprint is usually measured in carbon dioxide per unit of
time (e.g., CO2/year).
15.5 What Are The Effects of Climate Change, and Should We Care?
All human activities, including use of resources, have environmental consequences that occur over a range of
spatial and temporal scales. Because of the complexity of Earth’s systems and because of the occurrence of
unintended consequences, a systems
framework is commonly used to understand important environmental issues such as pollution, climate change or
ecosystem disruption. A systems analysis guides scientific investigations, decision making and the identification
of potential solutions to environmental issues.
I.
Explain the possible effects of global climate change.
II.
Why should we do something?
15.6 Envisioning Solutions
I.
Identify and evaluate solutions to global climate change
VOCABULARY
Aerosols
High & low pressure
Pacific Decadal Oscillation
Albedo
Hydrosphere
Positive feedback loop
Anthropogenic
Infrared radiation
Radiative forcing
Atmosphere
Insolation
Rain shadow
Biosphere
Intergovernmental Panel on
Sea ice
Carbon sequestration
Climate Change
Seasonal oscillations
Climate
IPCC
Solar Radiation
Climate zones
Isotopes
Stratosphere
Coalesce
Jet streams
Svante Arrhenius
Condensation nuclei
Keelings Curve
Thermohaline
Convection cells
Latent heat
Topographic
Coriolis effect
Latitude
Troposphere
El-Nino/La-Nina
Lithosphere
Ultra violet radiation
ENSO
Longitude
Upwelling
Great Ocean Conveyer Belt
Meteorology
Urban heat islands
Greenhouse effect
Milankovitch cycles
Weather
Greenhouse gases
Monsoons
Hadley Cell
Ozone