4.1 Climate Change
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Background of the Experiment This experiment seeks to demonstrate the
process of global warming and the impact it has on the Earth’s temperature.
The results will help in developing better reasoning capacity, and critical
thinking skills will be developed. Fundamental scientific knowledge will
also be gained by comprehending the global warming process, thus easily
connecting the concept of climate change. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon
dioxide, are found within our atmosphere and are referred to as greenhouse
gases since they make the atmosphere act like greenhouse glass. In other
words, the rays of the Sun pass through the atmosphere, heat the earth, and
greenhouse gases ensure that the heat does not leave. Human activities, such
as the use of fossil fuels, increase the number of greenhouse gases found in
the atmosphere. Excess greenhouse gases add another layer that traps even
more heat, thus warming the planet.
Procedure
1. Take a jar and place 3 cups of water and 6 ice cubes. Repeat the procedure
for the other jar and cover the lids.
2. On one of the jars, completely cover it with a plastic bag. (greenhouse jar)
3. Strategically position both jars within bright sunlight outdoors for 60 min.
Make sure that they are in a secure and safe environment.
4. After the stipulated period, use a thermometer to measure the temperature
of the jars.
5. Record the temperature of each jar and use it for answering the Discussion
Questions
Discussion Questions
• Which of the thermometers recorded higher temperature?
• Why do you think this thermometer recorded a higher temperature?
• Explain how the plastic bag acted in a similar way to greenhouse gases.
4.1.2 Biogeochemical Cycles
Climate change impacts the precipitation and evaporation stages of the water cycle.
It can speed up some stages of the water cycle as the rise in global temperatures
also raises the evaporation rate. On average, more evaporation leads to higher
precipitation. Today, people are already witnessing the effects of precipitation rates
and evaporation, and these impacts are anticipated to rise over this century. Higher
rates of precipitation and evaporation are not uniformly distributed globally, and
some areas could experience higher precipitation. Droughts could make some areas
to become vulnerable because of the shifting of the rain belt and desert locations
in response to climate change. Some models predict that there will be higher rates
83
Background of the Experiment This experiment seeks to demonstrate the
process of global warming and the impact it has on the Earth’s temperature.
The results will help in developing better reasoning capacity, and critical
thinking skills will be developed. Fundamental scientific knowledge will
also be gained by comprehending the global warming process, thus easily
connecting the concept of climate change. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon
dioxide, are found within our atmosphere and are referred to as greenhouse
gases since they make the atmosphere act like greenhouse glass. In other
words, the rays of the Sun pass through the atmosphere, heat the earth, and
greenhouse gases ensure that the heat does not leave. Human activities, such
as the use of fossil fuels, increase the number of greenhouse gases found in
the atmosphere. Excess greenhouse gases add another layer that traps even
more heat, thus warming the planet.
Procedure
1. Take a jar and place 3 cups of water and 6 ice cubes. Repeat the procedure
for the other jar and cover the lids.
2. On one of the jars, completely cover it with a plastic bag. (greenhouse jar)
3. Strategically position both jars within bright sunlight outdoors for 60 min.
Make sure that they are in a secure and safe environment.
4. After the stipulated period, use a thermometer to measure the temperature
of the jars.
5. Record the temperature of each jar and use it for answering the Discussion
Questions
Discussion Questions
• Which of the thermometers recorded higher temperature?
• Why do you think this thermometer recorded a higher temperature?
• Explain how the plastic bag acted in a similar way to greenhouse gases.
4.1.2 Biogeochemical Cycles
Climate change impacts the precipitation and evaporation stages of the water cycle.
It can speed up some stages of the water cycle as the rise in global temperatures
also raises the evaporation rate. On average, more evaporation leads to higher
precipitation. Today, people are already witnessing the effects of precipitation rates
and evaporation, and these impacts are anticipated to rise over this century. Higher
rates of precipitation and evaporation are not uniformly distributed globally, and
some areas could experience higher precipitation. Droughts could make some areas
to become vulnerable because of the shifting of the rain belt and desert locations
in response to climate change. Some models predict that there will be higher rates