Greenhouse Atmosphere: Let's Heat Things Up!
Figure 1. The greenhouse effect.Copyright Amaan Kler Flikr https://www.flickr.com/photos/156398378@N03/38019205582/in/photolist-4dd9AZ-jJHpR4-8gpoV1-tme1gt-tmkELy-tEfgjY-tjP5K1-tBmKdn-tz21BG-eaKUg7-cy5993-tBztB6-6tg7rm-cv233G-cy5bU3-tmcYkf-biAgbV-ZVCnfw-qsM8sk-sEzyAn-r966HU-r6D9xz-otbFEE-rpHgwC-qsyFQy-r9a9m3-r7ZW9G-tEaprx-r87pNX-rprep8-roqAVY-xfJoXN-xEuPNn-r8vDbm-x5LwGs-sGjsst-tDUxg6-sGJb37-tByG9U-bmmUC4-sGsrcs-tnbqT5-2ibYtj9-x2UM33-x6esTM-w8ExDY-x4T2k9-ovsohz-ouMpE6-ouv8aR
Students observe teacher-led demonstrations, and build and evaluate simple models to understand the greenhouse effect, the role of increased greenhouse gas concentration in global warming, and the implications of global warming for engineers, themselves and the Earth. In an associated literacy activity, students learn how a bill becomes law and they research global warming legislation.
An excess production of "greenhouse gases" is creating an environment unfit for healthful living. In response to this global warming, engineers of all disciplines are examining how humans activities have caused an increase in greenhouse gases and what they can do to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases on our environment. Some engineers re-design vehicles and factories to reduce the emissions. Others are working to change manufacturing processes, regulations and practices, in an effort to clean up many chemical sources.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Understand that human activities have increased carbon dioxide concentrations (air pollution).
- Explain global warming.
- Understand that carbon dioxide gas is a greenhouse gas, and its increased concentration in the atmosphere is contributing to global warming.
- Describe how global warming may impact an engineer's decisions, their own lives and the Earth.