Essential Idea:  Concentrations of gases in the atmosphere affect climates experienced at the Earth’s surface.

• Outline answer to each objective statement for topic 4.4 (coming soon)
• Quizlet study set for this topic

At SHS, Topic 4.4 is taught in the following class unit(s):​​​​

• Climate Change

4.4.U1  Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the most significant greenhouse gases.​

• State the sources of CO2 and water vapor in the atmosphere.
• Outline the mechanism by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

4.4.U2  Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.

• State the sources of methane and NO gases in the atmosphere.

4.4.U3  The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere.

• State two factors that determine the warming impact of a greenhouse gas.
• State two variables that determine the concentration of a gas in the atmosphere.
• Compare the impact of atmospheric methane to CO2.
• State how long water, methane and CO2 remain in the atmosphere, on average. ​

4.4.U4  The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).

• State that the Earth absorbs short-wave energy from the sun and re-emits longer wavelengths.
• ​Compare wavelengths of UV, visible and infrared radiation.

4.4.U5  Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the atmosphere.​

• Explain the greenhouse effect, with reference to short wave radiation from the sun, long wave radiation from the Earth and the effects of ozone and greenhouse gases.
• Explain why water vapor, CO2, methane and NO are greenhouse gases.

4.4.U6  Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.​​

• Explain why atmospheric CO2 concentration would logically impact global temperatures.
• Outline the effect of global temperature on climate, specifically location and frequency of of rain and frequency of severe storms.

4.4.U7  There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.

• State the atmospheric CO2 concentration prior to the industrial revolution.
• Outline the impact of the industrial revolution on atmospheric CO2 concentration.
• ​Describe the correlation between atmospheric CO2 concentrations since the industrial revolution and global temperatures.

4.4.U8  Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized organic matter.

• Explain why industrial revolution would increase atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

4.4.A1  Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.​

• Explain how historical temperature data has been collected.
• Using ice core data, outline the correlation between atmospheric CO2 concentration and global temperatures.

4.4.A2  Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.​

• Outline three reasons why there is vigorous debate around the claim that human activities are causing climate change.

4.4.A3  Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

• Outline the effect of atmospheric CO2 concentration on ocean pH.
• Describe the impact of lower ocean pH on animals that make skeletons from calcium carbonate.​

4.4.NOS  Assessing claims- Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change

• Outline ways by which claims can be evaluated for truth.