Weather vs. Climate and Earth's Seasons

Weather vs. Climate

• Weather is the short-term atmospheric conditions of a specific location
• Climate is the long-term average weather patterns of a region
• A climatograph is a graph used to measure precipitation and temperature over a long period, typically several years, to understand a region's climate

Earth's Tilt and Seasons

• The Earth's tilt causes the Northern hemisphere to be tilted toward the sun in the summer, resulting in more concentrated sunlight and warmer temperatures
• The Earth's tilt causes the Northern hemisphere to be tilted away from the sun in the winter, resulting in less concentrated sunlight and colder temperatures

The Greenhouse Effect

• The natural greenhouse effect is the process where greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation, warming the Earth's surface
• Greenhouse gases include Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• CO2 is released from burning fossil fuels, CH4 from livestock, and N2O from fertilizers
• The enhanced greenhouse effect, also known as the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, is caused by human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Carbon Sink vs. Carbon Source

• Carbon sources release more carbon than they absorb, such as fossil fuels and trees
• Carbon sinks absorb more carbon than they release, such as oceans and forests

Climate Change vs. Global Warming

• Global warming refers specifically to the increase in Earth's average temperature over time
• Climate change is a broader term encompassing changes in weather patterns, precipitation, and other climatic variables

Indicators of Climate Change

• Rising sea levels
• Melting glaciers and ice caps
• Increases in average global temperatures

Impacts of Climate Change

• Extreme weather events: Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes
• Forests: Drier climates leading to increased wildfires
• Human Health: Decreased air quality leading to increased respiratory illnesses

Albedo

• Albedo is the reflectivity of a surface
• Surfaces with high albedo, like snow and ice, reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat
• Surfaces with low albedo, like asphalt and dark soil, absorb more sunlight and reflect less heat

Positive Feedback Loop

• Melting ice caps contribute to a positive feedback loop because ice has a high albedo
• As ice melts, the Earth's surface absorbs more heat, leading to further ice melt and a warming cycle

Past Climate

• Scientists use various pieces of evidence to assess past climates, including
  • Changes in temperature records
  • Changes in ice cores
  • Changes in sea levels

Mitigation vs. Adaptation

• Mitigation refers to actions that reduce the causes of climate change, such as planting trees to remove CO2 from the atmosphere
• Adaptation refers to actions taken to adjust to the impacts of climate change, such as using air conditioning to cope with rising temperatures

Carbon Offsets

• Carbon offsets are investments made to reduce carbon emissions elsewhere to compensate for emissions created by individual activities
• The cap-and-trade system is one example of a carbon offset program where companies can purchase or sell carbon credits to meet emissions targets

Government, Industry, and Business Action

• Governments can implement policies such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems to reduce emissions
• Industries can invest in renewable energy sources and develop more efficient technologies
• Businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability practices.