Does Global Warming Increase the Intensity of Atmospheric Natural Disasters?
Jacqueline Porter-Clinton
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Greenhouse Effect
The "greenhouse effect" is defined as the buildup of heat beneath substances such as glass, water vapor, and carbon dioxide that allow incoming, short - wave length solar radiation but block or absorb long - wave length reradiation.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and a few other gases are greenhouse gases. They all are molecules composed of more than two component atoms, bound loosely enough together to be able to vibrate in such a way as to absorb heat. The major component of the atmosphere (N2 and O2) are two - atom molecules too tightly bound together to vibrate and thus they do not absorb heat as well and do not contribute to the greenhouse effect. (Abbott, 2006)
Activities:
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1. The students will search the web for pictorial representation of the greenhouse effect, to use as a guide so they can create one to show their understanding of the concept.
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2. Complete an experiment to understand how a greenhouse works to retain heat. The students will use two two - liter bottles and construct them into experimental chambers. One bottle will remain intact and the other bottle will have cut outs along the sides to serve as vents. Thermometers will be placed in each bottle and they will be place under a lamp. Data will be collected and graphed every 20 minutes. The students will compare and contrast the graphed data. They will tell what happened by explaining their observations. The class will discuss results and develop possible explanations, compare and contrast plastic greenhouse to the greenhouse effect on earth. The complete experiment can be found at www.woodrow.org/teachers/esi/1998/p/ghe/
