Lectures 23 & 24

Climate Change & Global Warming

Today's objectives -

• To learn how greenhouse gases work to warm the planet.
• To learn why people think the Earth is getting warmer.
• To learn why people fear Global Warming.
• To learn what the Kyoto Protocol is and how it might slow Global Warming.

Vocabulary -

Global Warming –
green house gases –
carbon dioxide (CO₂) –
methane –
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) –
carbon sink –
Kyoto Protocol –

Lecture Outline -

Infrared light
Absorption in atmosphere by “greenhouse” gases – produces heat
            CO₂
            methane
            CFC’s
Cloud cover – traps heat in
Global Warming – recent temperature changes
Down sides & Good sides
Kyoto Protocol & Carbon sinks
What we can do to reduce emissions