Human activities are changing Earth's natural greenhouse effect. Burning fossil fuels like coal and oil puts more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. NASA has observed increases in the amount of carbon dioxide and some other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Too much of these greenhouse gases can cause Earth's atmosphere to trap more and more heat. This causes Earth to warm up. Just like a glass greenhouse, Earth's greenhouse is also full of plants!
Plants can help to balance the greenhouse effect on Earth. All plants — from giant trees to tiny phytoplankton in the ocean — take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. The ocean also absorbs a lot of excess carbon dioxide in the air. Unfortunately, the increased carbon dioxide in the ocean changes the water, making it more acidic. This is called ocean acidification. More acidic water can be harmful to many ocean creatures, such as certain shellfish and coral.
Warming oceans — from too many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — can also be harmful to these organisms. You can try this experiment with more and less baking soda and vinegar to test what amounts produce the best reaction. If the greenhouse effect is something we need to sustain life on earth and it has been around for millions of years, why do we keep hearing about how bad it is? Ever since the industrial revolution, and especially in the last few decades, human activities increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
You have probably heard about the population of polar bears decreasing as the Arctic ice continues to melt, but do you know that bacteria and viruses trapped in ice for thousands of years are now being released as the ice melts?
We need the energy from the sun to survive, but too much of a good thing can be bad. A car parked in the sun on a hot day is a great model of the greenhouse effect. In this experiment, we are going to wilt a plant and melt some chocolate in a parked car. The temperature inside a parked car on a sunny day can be 80C degrees higher than outside the car!
Sunshine solar energy goes through the car windows and heats up the interior. Depending on how hot of a day it is, there might be enough heat trapped inside to bake cookies! This is not only our favorite book about the greenhouse effect, but one of our top non-fiction favorites of all times. We liked the quiz to calculate our personal carbon footprint and the tips on how to reduce it.
We love all Anne Rockwell books and this one is no exception. I like the ink-and-watercolor art, actional steps i. Bye-bye cookies! The Lorax by Dr. The rhyming test and groovy drawings deliver the powerful message that unless we start caring, things can get pretty bad for Mother Earth.
This is a great series. I like the scientific facts, simple explanations and the message that the kids can help solve the problem. Global Warming This very short video from National Geographic got almost 3 million views for a reason. The Greenhouse Effect. Disclaimer: this post contains Amazon affiliate links.
If you buy through my links, Kid Minds blog gets a referral commission. As a fully independent organization, C2ES is solely responsible for its positions, programs, and publications. Tags Science At Home. Climate Basics » Climate Classroom. Climate Basics for Kids.
The Science Scientific evidence paints a clear picture: Climate change is happening, it is caused in large part by human activity, and it will have many serious and potentially damaging effects in the decades ahead. The Greenhouse Effect The picture below shows the greenhouse effect. The Greenhouse Effect Explained. Source National Park Service. Where do greenhouse gases come from? Greenhouse Gases The three most common types of greenhouse gases are: Carbon Dioxide CO 2 : Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels oil, natural gas, and coal , solid waste, trees and wood products, and as a result of other chemical reactions such as making cement.
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. It makes up 82 percent of U. Learn more about how emissions from the power sector are regulated in the U.
Methane CH 4 : Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also come from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in landfills. It makes up 10 percent of U. Learn more about how industrial greenhouse gases like methane are controlled in the U. Nitrous Oxide N 2 O : Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.
It makes up 5 percent of U. These gases are used to keep things cool in our refrigerators and freezers as well as keep buildings and cars comfortable in hot weather. However, when the gases escape into the atmosphere, they trap the heat that comes from the sun and prevent it from escaping the atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases by Sector. Source Inventory of U. Impacts of a Changing Climate Each of the past four decades has been warmer than the previous one. Impacts of climate change include: Heat waves.
Heat waves are long periods of time with above-normal temperatures. As the Earth warms, more areas will be at risk for hotter and more frequent extreme heat waves. Learn more about the link between climate change and extreme heat. Heavy Precipitation.
Heavy downpours are becoming more common in many locations. Learn more about the link between climate change and heavy precipitation. Sea-Level Rise. Sea level has risen about 8 inches due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Warmer seas and oceans is also making coastal storms more damaging. Scientists predict sea levels in the United States could rise 1 to 4 feet this century, and could be even higher if glaciers in Greenland or Antarctica melt especially quickly.
Threats to habitats and animals.
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