Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/figure-spm-1.html
http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/figure-spm-1.html
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change)
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Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
2c 
2cThe amount of solar energy absorbed or radiated by Earth is modulated by the atmosphere and depends on its composition. Greenhouse gases—such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane—occur naturally in small amounts and absorb and release heat energy more efficiently than abundant atmospheric gases like nitrogen and oxygen. Small increases in carbon dioxide concentration have a large effect on the climate system.
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Environmental observations are the foundation for understanding the climate system. From the bottom of the ocean to the surface of the Sun, instruments on weather stations, buoys, satellites, and other platforms collect climate data. To learn about past climates, scientists use natural records, such as tree rings, ice cores, and sedimentary layers. Historical observations, such as native knowledge and personal journals, also document past climate change.
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Emissions from the widespread burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Because these gases can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds of years before being removed by natural processes, their warming influence is projected to persist into the next century.
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Benchmarks for Science Literacy
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Sometimes, scientists can control conditions in order to obtain evidence. When that is not possible, practical, or ethical, they try to observe as wide a range of natural occurrences as possible to discern patterns.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, are transparent to much of the incoming sunlight but not to the infrared light from the warmed surface of the earth. When greenhouse gases increase, more thermal energy is trapped in the atmosphere, and the temperature of the earth increases the light energy radiated into space until it again equals the light energy absorbed from the sun.
The earth's climates have changed in the past, are currently changing, and are expected to change in the future, primarily due to changes in the amount of light reaching places on the earth and the composition of the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels in the last century has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which has contributed to Earth's warming.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- These graphs can can complement discussions and activities around anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and their heat trapping qualities.
About the Science
- This figure contains three graphs from the 2007 IPCC AR4 Working Group I: The Physical Science Basis.
- Titled "Changes in Greenhouse Gases from Ice Core and Modern Data", this figure examines atmospheric concentrations of CO2, CH4 and N2O and the related radiative forcing of each.
- Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
About the Pedagogy
- There is no pedagogic scaffolding, but this graphic can complement related information and activities.
Related URLs These related sites were noted by our reviewers but have not been reviewed by CLEAN
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