Environmental Science
Name: ______________________________
Atmosphere and Climate
Goal: The student will identify one possible explanation for the increase in average global temperatures and
describe what a warmer Earth might be like.
Vocabulary:
1. global warming
2. Kyoto Protocol
Notes: Chapter 7.3…continued: Greenhouse Earth and Global Warming
Global Warming
 The average temperature of Earth’s ___________________ has increase during the 20th century; also known as
___________________________________
 The temperature has been _________________________ at a similar rate as the increase in greenhouse gases,
scientists believe the greenhouse gases have caused the ________________________ in temperature; thousands
of experiments and computer ______________________ support this hypothesis
 Increase in temperatures is predicted to continue throughout the 21st century; does not mean temps are rising at a
__________________________ rate or that they are rising in _______________parts of the world.
 We do, however, experience natural ___________________________ variability, which means that temperatures
change __________________________________ over the centuries; so this change cannot be ruled out.
Modeling Global Warming
 Computer models are used to _________________________ future changes in climate; equations are written by
scientist that represent the atmosphere and oceans, then CO2 levels, prevailing winds and other variables are
entered into it; the resulting _________________________ are used to predict factors like temperature and sea
levels will be affected
 ________________________________ forecasters use similar programs; as you know, programs and models are
not always __________________________(ex: get rained on when it was predicted to be dry)
 Computer models are becoming more ___________________________as more data is available and additional
variables are added
The Consequences of a Warmer Earth
• Earth’s ________________________ has dramatically changed in the past; ice ages came and went
• These ___________________________occur over hundreds or thousands of years
• Scientists don’t know how quickly the Earth will _____________or how severe the effects will be
• In North America, tree swallows, Baltimore orioles and robins are _________________________ about 11 days
earlier than they did 50 years ago; In Britain, at least 200 species of _______________________ are flowering up
to 55 days ____________________________in the year than 40 years ago
• There is _____________________evidence that global warming is the cause but the nesting of birds and
flowering of plants are influenced by ______________________________________
• Scientists cannot _______________________ how quickly Earth will warm or how severe the effects will be;
different computer models give ________________________________ predictions
• However, the possible ___________________________of global warming can create a number of potentially
serious environmental problems (ex: changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels)
Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level
• As polar regions _______________________, icebergs may break and melt in the sea resulting in a rise in the sea
level
• The result of the rise in the sea level will cause coastal areas to become covered with _______________; coastal
wetlands and other low-lying areas will become flooded, people will __________________their homes and
sources of income, beaches will be ____________________, salinity levels of bays and estuaries will increase
and affect marine fisheries, and coastal freshwater aquifers could become too ______________________ to be
used as sources of fresh water.
Global Weather Patterns
• If it ____________________ up significantly, oceans will __________________ more heat energy resulting in an
increase of hurricanes and typhoons
• Scientists are concerned about changes in _______________________ current patterns if there are changes in the
world’s weather; some areas may get more _________________ (flooding) than normal and other areas may get
even __________________ (severe droughts)
Human Health Problems
 Warmer ___________________________ global temperatures pose potential threats to human health
 Greater numbers of ___________________________ related deaths could occur; very young and very old city
dwellers are at the greatest risk during heat waves
 People with ______________________________ to pollen would suffer more as a result of the increase in
growing time for flowering plants
 Warmer and longer summers could allow _____________________________ to establish themselves in areas
which are too ________________ for them now (ex: bring diseases like malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis)
Agriculture
• Agriculture will be greatly affected if there are _____________________ weather changes
• Some of the most _____________________________, productive areas may get hotter and drier resulting in a
shift northward for farming rather than the areas where ________________________________ is prevalent today
• We would see _____________________ crops yields and higher demand for irrigation, further depleting aquifers
Effects on Plants and Animals
 Climate change could alter _______________________ the range of plant species and the composition of plant
communities; trees colonizing cooler areas, forest could ___________________ in the warmer part of their range,
lose of _________________________________
 Could cause a shift in the geographical range of some _______________________ (ex: migrating birds may not
have to go as far south for winter, warm surface water in the ocean might cause a reduction in zooplankton, and
warming in tropical waters may kill the algae that nourish corals, killing the coral reefs)
Recent Findings
 Intergovernmental Plan on Climate Change (IPCC) is a network of about 2,500 of the world’s leading
___________________________________ from 70 countries; they provide future estimates about the state of the
global climate system
 Findings have included: the average global _________________________ temperatures have increases by 0.6
degrees C during the 20th century, snow cover and ice extent have ________________________ and average
global sea level has risen
 They also have reported that atmospheric greenhouse gases have continued to ___________________ as a result
of human activities and predict that human influences will continue to ________________________ the
composition of the Earth’s atmosphere throughout the 21st century
Reducing the Risk
 In 1997, representative from _____________________countries met and set timetables for reducing emissions of
greenhouse gases; this treaty is called the _______________ Protocol (ratified by 55% of the attending nations)
 Kyoto Protocol requires developed countries to _________________________ emissions of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases by an average of 5% below their 1990 levels by 2012; US decided not to ratify the Kyoto
Protocol.
Slowing the Temperature Change
• How can we slow down global warming?
• Use ___________________ fossil fuels will lessen the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
• Preserve Earth’s existing forests and plant more trees; this will help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Limit __________________________________ gas emissions
Lesson Reflection:
Assessment:
1. Explain why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing.
2. Name some of the possible consequences of a warmer Earth.
Active Reading: Global Warming
Lesson Extension (Technology/Application/Connection to Real World):
Finish watching: Six Degrees the Change the World (parts 3 degrees to 6 degrees)