Week 13: Climate Background Information

  1. What did you do in lab today?

     In lab today we created a climate statement. You can read it here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CW7h5JoqK_ct1iqfQPGZ_7fKO1qDX4HsEfQ3V-dNP3c/edit?usp=sharing 

2. What was the big question?

    What type of data do we have to have that supports that climate change is happening? What questions come out of this data? What answers did you find?

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?

         We learned that the distance from the Equator is a key factor in determining whether a climate is hot or cold. Ocean currents also affect the temperature of the air that passes over it. Wind and air masses, elevation, relief, and closeness to water also affect why some regions have a hot climate and why some have a cold climate. We also talked about how there is evidence of climate change because of glacier retreat and sea level changes. 

Textbook Chapter 21?

1. What did you learn?

      One thing that I learned is what a greenhouse gas is. A greenhouse gas is a gas that lets sunlight through to reach Earth's surface and trap heat in the atmosphere. They are made of three or more atoms bonded together and have an asymmetrical shape. 

2. What was most helpful?

     The most helpful thing was the section on the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect explains how greenhouse gasses trap heat in Earth's atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is needed in order to regulate Earth's temperature, however, it can go to far when Earth's systems are out of balance. 

3. What do you need more information on?

      What I might need more information on is the albedo effect. I am just curious as to why light surfaces reflect more energy and darker surfaces absorb more energy.  

1. What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have?

    I don't have any!