You might have heard people talking about how the weather is getting more extreme these days. This is partly because of greenhouse gases, which have made the air at Earth’s surface warmer by about 0.8 degrees Celsius over the past 100 years. But how can such a small change in temperature cause big changes in the weather?
This slight rise in air temperature is just a small part of the extra energy that Earth’s atmosphere has absorbed over the last century. A tiny portion of this energy has been absorbed by the land, but most of it has been absorbed by the oceans. Imagine the energy of an atomic bomb exploding every second for the last 100 years—that’s how much energy the oceans have taken in! This is crucial because the heat stored in the oceans plays a big role in changing weather patterns.
When the surface water of the ocean gets warmer, more of it turns into vapor and rises into the air. Plus, for every degree the air temperature goes up, the air can hold about 7% more water vapor. This means that the air over the ocean is picking up more water than before, which can lead to heavier rain and snow. Warmer land surfaces also mean that the air over land is gathering more water, making dry areas even drier and worsening droughts.
Warmer oceans can also create hot spots on the ocean’s surface, which can lead to stronger storms and floods. These areas of high sea surface temperatures have been behind some of the biggest storms in history, like Hurricane Sandy and super-typhoon Haiyan. While scientists aren’t completely sure if warmer oceans are causing more storms, it’s clear that the extra heat gives these storms more energy and makes them more destructive when they do happen.
So, when you hear people say that the world’s weather is becoming more extreme, they have a point. The changes in temperature and energy in our atmosphere and oceans are making a big impact on the weather we experience.
Explore an online climate change simulation tool. Observe how different levels of greenhouse gas emissions affect global temperatures and weather patterns. Discuss your findings with classmates and consider how small changes can lead to significant impacts on the environment.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand how water absorbs heat. Use two containers, one with water and one without, and place them under a lamp. Measure the temperature change over time. Discuss how this relates to the ocean’s role in absorbing energy and affecting climate.
Research recent extreme weather events and identify patterns related to climate change. Create a presentation that explains how warmer oceans and increased energy in the atmosphere contribute to these events. Share your presentation with the class.
Investigate the relationship between temperature and water vapor capacity. Use a simple experiment with a sealed container, water, and a heat source to observe how temperature changes affect evaporation and condensation. Discuss how this relates to heavier rainfall and droughts.
Choose a major storm, such as Hurricane Sandy or super-typhoon Haiyan, and research its causes and effects. Create a report that includes data on sea surface temperatures and storm intensity. Discuss how climate change may have influenced the storm’s severity.
You’ve probably heard that weather is becoming more extreme, partly due to accumulating greenhouse gases that have caused the air at Earth’s surface to warm by an average of 0.8 degrees Celsius over the last century. But how could such a small rise in air temperature lead to significant changes in weather?
This increase in air temperature represents only 1% of the extra energy absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere over the last century. A few percent has been absorbed by land, while almost all the rest has been absorbed by the oceans. The increase in ocean heat content is equivalent to the energy of an atomic bomb exploding every second for the last 100 years. This is important because heat stored in the oceans significantly impacts weather patterns.
For instance, as the surface water warms, more of it vaporizes into the air. Additionally, every degree increase in air temperature raises the air’s capacity to hold water vapor by about 7 percent. This means that air over the ocean is picking up more water than before, leading to heavier rains and snows. Warmer land surfaces also mean that air over land is picking up more water, making dry areas drier and droughts more severe.
Moreover, warmer oceans create concentrated hot spots on the ocean’s surface, which can lead to more intense storms and floods. These areas of high sea surface temperatures have historically driven some of the largest storms, including Hurricane Sandy and super-typhoon Haiyan. While we don’t yet know for certain if warming oceans are producing a greater number of these storms, it is clear that more heat in the oceans provides these storms with significantly more energy and destructive power when they do occur.
So, if you’ve heard that the world’s weather has been getting more extreme, it’s not unfounded.
Climate – The average weather conditions in a particular region over a long period of time. – The climate in tropical regions is typically warm and humid throughout the year.
Change – A process through which something becomes different, often referring to environmental shifts. – Scientists study how climate change affects ecosystems around the world.
Temperature – A measure of how hot or cold something is, often used to describe the warmth of the atmosphere. – The temperature in the Arctic is rising faster than in other parts of the world due to global warming.
Energy – The ability to do work, often derived from natural resources like the sun, wind, or fossil fuels. – Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are essential for reducing carbon emissions.
Oceans – Large bodies of saltwater that cover most of Earth’s surface and play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s climate. – Oceans absorb a significant amount of the heat from the sun, helping to moderate global temperatures.
Weather – The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation. – The weather forecast predicts rain and thunderstorms for the weekend.
Vapor – The gaseous form of a substance, often referring to water vapor in the atmosphere. – Water vapor is a key component of the Earth’s atmosphere and plays a significant role in the greenhouse effect.
Storms – Severe weather conditions characterized by strong winds, rain, thunder, and lightning. – Hurricanes are powerful storms that can cause significant damage to coastal areas.
Droughts – Extended periods of dry weather that can lead to water shortages and affect agriculture. – Droughts can have devastating impacts on farming communities, leading to crop failures and food shortages.
Floods – Overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry, often caused by heavy rain or melting snow. – Floods can cause extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, requiring significant recovery efforts.
