This document provides information on topics related to the atmosphere and climate change, including: - The composition of the atmosphere and its layers. - The electromagnetic spectrum and visible light spectrum. - Energy, heat transfer, and the greenhouse effect. - How changes in Earth's energy balance can influence climate through increases in greenhouse gases and global warming.

1. TOPIC REVIEW
PORTFOLIO BACKGROUND RESEARCH

2. Atmosphere
 What is the atmosphere?
A: An envelope of gasses that surrounds earth and makes it livable.
 What is the atmosphere made up of? What gases are in the
atmosphere?
A: The main gases that make up the atmosphere depend on the
layer. The troposphere (where we are) is mostly made up of nitrogen
(78%) and oxygen (21%), the remaining amount is trace gases.
 What are the layers of the atmosphere?
A: The earth’s atmosphere is broken up into 5 main layers that are
separated by temperature. They are the troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
 Focus Question: How is energy transferred in the
atmosphere?

5. Electromagnetic Spectrum
 What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
A: The range of wavelengths or frequencies of the electromagnetic
radiation on earth. Some are visible but most are not.
 What is a wavelength?
A: The distance from the peaks of two waves.
 What is the visual spectrum?
A: The spectrum of light that we can see. The color depends on its
wavelength and frequency. The colors are ROYGBIV (Red, Orange,
Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet)
 How do we see color?
The color that we see reflects back to our eyes, all of the other
colors are absorbed.

6. Electromagnetic Spectrum
 What colors are there in white light?
A: Black and white are a bit different from other colors. White
is a combination of all colors, so when we see white, the object
is reflecting all the colors of light the same. Black is the
opposite. When we see a black object that means almost all
the colors of light are being absorbed.
 Focus Question: How does the color of light affect its
energy?

7. Low Frequency
Long Wavelength
High Frequency
Short Wavelength

10. Energy What is energy?
A: What makes things move or change.
 How are heat and temperature different?
A: Heat – When molecules absorb/take in energy, how much energy it has in it.
Temperature – How fast the molecules are moving. The faster they move, the
more temperature.
 What is an insulator?
A: The atoms are not easily freed and are stable, preventing or blocking the
flow of electricity and energy. Stop the energy from moving easily. Examples:
plastic, rubber, Styrofoam and porcelain.
 What is a conductor?
A: Conductors are made of materials that electricity or energy can flow through
easily. Materials are the opposite of insulators. Examples: metals, water,
people, glass and trees
 Focus Question: How do heat and temperature affect energy?

11. Heat vs Temperature

12. Energy Transfer
 How is heat transferred to earth from the Sun?
A: Heat is transferred to earth through electromagnetic radiation.
 What is insolation?
A: INcoming SOLar radiATION - sun’s energy comes in to earth as
radiation.
 What are the 3 main types of heat transfer?
A: Radiation, conduction and convection

13. Energy Transfer
 What is radiation?
Energy that travels as waves or rays through space between objects and
materials. Radiation energy can be invisible. Examples: heater, Sun, lights
 What is conduction?
Energy is transferred from one object to another. It moves from more energy to
less energy.
 What is convection?
Movement of energy in a circular pattern (up and down). Heat makes air/water
go up because it is less dense and cool makes things move down because it is
less dense. Examples: heaters and water
 Focus Question: How does the flow of energy affect the land and
oceans on earth?

14. Heat Transfer

15. Convection in Air

17. Energy Balance
 What happens to incoming radiation?
A: Radiation from the Sun can be absorbed (taken in) or reflected (sent back out
into space).
 What does absorption mean?
A: Taking in or soaking up the energy/heat
 What does reflection mean?
A: Going back out into space. The sending back by a surface of light, heat, or
sound without absorbing it.
 What is energy balance?
A: The energy that comes in to earth should be the same that goes out, this is
called energy balance. It helps the earth to not be too cold or too hot.
 Focus Question: How is climate influenced by changes in Earth's
energy balance?

18. Energy Balance
Incoming Radiation - comes in from the sun
Solar Radiation – 99.978%
Geothermal Energy – 0.013%
Tidal Energy – 0.002%
Outgoing Energy - Sent back to space
Reflected back to Space – (albedo effect) 30%
- 20% reflected from clouds
- 6% reflected from the atmosphere
- 4% reflected from the ground (including land, water and ice)
Absorbed by Earth – 70%
- 51% absorbed by land and water
- 19% absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds
99.978 + 0.013 + 0.002 = 100%

20. Greenhouse Effect
 What is a greenhouse?
A: A place that is made of glass that keeps heat inside; there are only windows. They are used to
grow plants all year round.
 What is the greenhouse effect?
A: The earth is like a giant greenhouse. The gases that surround earth are just like the glass on the
greenhouse. These gases keep the earth warm by keeping the sun’s energy inside. This type of
warming of earth is called the greenhouse effect.
 What are the greenhouse gases?
A: The main greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
 Where do greenhouse gases come from?
A: These human activities contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases:
 Burning of…
fossil fuels (petroleum, oil and coal)
gasoline to drive cars and trucks
oil, coal or wood to produce electricity for heating, cooling or other purposes
forests to clear land

22. Ultraviolet (UV)
Sun rays
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Sources of extra
greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere
Sun’s Radiation
comes in as UV
Sun’s Radiation
Goes out as
infrared

24. Global Warming
 What is global warming?
A: Global warming means that the average temperature of earth is raising either naturally or
through an increase in greenhouse gases.
 What are the effects of global warming?
- More rain and floods in some places or droughts in others
- More frequent hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms
- Ice in glaciers are melting
- Sea levels are rising
- New coastlines on maps
 How can we help reduce global warming?
- Go by bus
- Ride together in cars
- Walk, don’t drive
- Protect plants and trees
- Recycle, reduce and re-use items

25. Climate Change
 What does climate change mean?
A: The overall average temperature on earth is increasing.
This increase in global temperatures is having many different
effects on earth and climate. Climate is the average weather of
an area over a long period of time. Climate change on earth
refers to changes in climate patterns, including temperature,
precipitation, winds and other factors.