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Modern climate change
Although how we should respond to climate change is highly debatable, the reasons for the rising temperatures are not. They come down to the physics of radiation and the chemistry of molecular structure. They are topics you probably covered in your middle school science classes. It's time for a little refresher.
The earth's climate is determined by an energy balance between incoming and outgoing radiation. Everything emits radiation - the sun, the surface of the earth, particles of gas and dust in the atmosphere, clouds, you, and me. The intensity of radiation depends on the temperature of the emitter. Also, the wavelength of the radiation is inversely proportional to the temperature.
Next page -> modern climate change, continued
Links and resources
Although how we should respond to climate change is highly debatable, the reasons for the rising temperatures are not. They come down to the physics of radiation and the chemistry of molecular structure. They are topics you probably covered in your middle school science classes. It's time for a little refresher.
The earth's climate is determined by an energy balance between incoming and outgoing radiation. Everything emits radiation - the sun, the surface of the earth, particles of gas and dust in the atmosphere, clouds, you, and me. The intensity of radiation depends on the temperature of the emitter. Also, the wavelength of the radiation is inversely proportional to the temperature.
Next page -> modern climate change, continued
Links and resources
