The 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.
Natural processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere operate slowly when compared to the processes that are now adding it to the atmosphere. Thus, carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere today may remain there for a century or more. Other greenhouse gases, including some created by humans, may remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years.
The overwhelming consensus of scientific studies on climate indicates that most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the latter part of the 20th century is very likely due to human activities, primarily from increases in greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.
Energy Literacy
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
The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness.
Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about
how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- This video provides a short overview of sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It needs to be supplemented by more thorough materials and activities.
- Best used in conjunction with the other 10 short videos in the series.
About the Science
- Video uses a very simplified graphic of the greenhouse effect that does not really explain it. Addresses carbon dioxide but not other greenhouse gases.
- The claims made in this video are not supported by references in the video or on its webpage.
- Comments from expert scientist: It is presented in a simple way and visually really well prepared, but it is missing references to scientific work/literature.
About the Pedagogy
- Engaging cartoon format.
- The breezy style and playful animations of this video will likely engage most students. It lacks a teacher's guide, background materials, etc. that would support its use in a classroom.
Technical Details/Ease of Use
- This is a HD video that can easily be projected in a classroom.
Have you used these materials with your students? Do you have insights to share with other educators about their
use? Please share with the community by adding a comment below.
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Climate Science in a Nutshell: Where Carbon Dioxide Come From? --Discussion
The reviewer's comments state that this video does not explain the greenhouse effect. The purpose of this video is not to explain the greenhouse effect. It is designed to explain where carbon dioxide comes from. The greenhouse effect is explained in another video in the series, which is available here:
http://planetnutshell.com/videos/climate-science-in-a-nutshell-4-too-much-carbon-dioxide. That video also points out that CO2 is not the only contributor to the greenhouse effect (see 1:59 in the video).
The reviewers comments also state that references are not provided. A link to references is provided below the video description and are also available here:
http://planetnutshell.com/nutshell-news/climate-science-series-bibliography-resources
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