In this deck, we'll explore the science behind climate change and atmospheric pollution. You'll learn about the greenhouse effect, how human activities are changing our planet's climate, and the consequences of these changes. We'll also investigate the pollutants produced when we burn fuels, and their effects, such as acid rain and global dimming.

The Earth's temperature is carefully balanced, partly by gases in the atmosphere that act like a blanket, trapping heat. This is called the greenhouse effect, and without it, the Earth would be too cold for life as we know it. The main gases responsible for this are called greenhouse gases.

The greenhouse effect works in two steps. First, the sun emits energy that travels to Earth as short-wavelength radiation, like visible light and ultraviolet rays. This radiation passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface of the Earth.

After the Earth's surface is warmed, it radiates some of this energy back towards space. However, this is now long-wavelength radiation, also known as infrared radiation or heat. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are very good at absorbing this long-wavelength radiation, preventing it from escaping and therefore keeping the atmosphere warm.