Activity One - Comprehension

Before we begin to study the atmosphere in terms of climate change we need to look at what the atmosphere is made up of. It is important to know the difference between short and long wave radiation, what the ozone layer is and how the albedo effect works. Collect a copy of the Google Doc below and copy it in using the articles in the 'Useful Resources' box.

Useful Resources

Activity Two - Draw

Climate change is at the forefront of many people's daily lives and while we may consider the impact of recycling we might not link this back to the Earth's Energy Budget. If we had an equal about of energy coming into our atmospheric system as that which was leaving then our climate would not change as the energy is balanced. Ultimately the atmosphere is a system and we can draw a systems diagram to show what the Earth's inputs, stores, transfers and outputs are. This diagram will in some ways be similar to that which you drew for a drainage basin. Use the image one and the 'Useful Words' to help you.

Useful Words

Short-wave solar energy                  Long-wave radiant energy                   Clouds (absorb energy)                        Ice       

Dust/Particles (absorb energy)    Vegetation                                                     Winds/air (distribution of energy)                                 

Condensation                                          Oceans (distribution of energy)        Evaporation                                                 Precipitation           

Reflected scattered energy            Reflected radiated energy                     Ablation  

Useful Resources

Activity Three - Explain

When discussing climate change the greenhouse effect is at the core of it. What we now need to do is differentiated the difference between the 'natural' greenhouse effect and the 'enhanced' greenhouse effect.

• • 1. Explain the difference between the natural and enhanced greenhouse effect.

    2. Collect a copy of the table below and fill it in using the articles in the 'Useful Resources' box.

Useful Resources