Historic Climate Discovery

THE SETUP

Foote placed thermometers inside two glass cylinders, filled each one with a different gas, and left them side by side in the sun. Every few minutes, Foote recorded changes in temperature. She then moved both cylinders into the shade, let them come to the same temperature, and recorded their\ temperatures over the same amount of time.

THE SETUP

Foote placed thermometers inside two glass cylinders, filled each one with a different gas, and left them side by side in the sun. Every few minutes, Foote recorded changes in temperature. She then moved both cylinders into the shade, let them come to the same temperature, and recorded their\ temperatures over the same amount of time.

THE VARIABLES

Foote repeated her experiment three times. In the first trial, she tested air of different densities (mass in a given volume). In the second trial, she compared dry air with humid air. In the third trial, Foote filled one cylinder with carbon dioxide and the other with a sample of “common air” from the environment around her.

THE VARIABLES

Foote repeated her experiment three times. In the first trial, she tested air of different densities (mass in a given volume). In the second trial, she compared dry air with humid air. In the third trial, Foote filled one cylinder with carbon dioxide and the other with a sample of “common air” from the environment around her.

THE TRAPPING OF HEAT

The atoms—the smallest units of matter—that make up air molecules are constantly vibrating. For smaller gas molecules like oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), which make up most of Earth’s atmosphere, these vibrations are limited. But gas molecules with three or more atoms—like greenhouse gases—vibrate in a way that absorbs radiation, which traps heat.

THE TRAPPING OF HEAT

The atoms—the smallest units of matter—that make up air molecules are constantly vibrating. For smaller gas molecules like oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), which make up most of Earth’s atmosphere, these vibrations are limited. But gas molecules with three or more atoms—like greenhouse gases—vibrate in a way that absorbs radiation, which traps heat.

THE RESULTS

After both gases sat in the sun for the same amount of time, carbon dioxide was 20 degrees warmer than common air.

Experiment Data:

THE RESULTS

After both gases sat in the sun for the same amount of time, carbon dioxide was 20 degrees warmer than common air.

Experiment Data:

THE SETUP

Foote placed thermometers inside two glass cylinders, filled each one with a different gas, and left them side by side in the sun. Every few minutes, Foote recorded changes in temperature. She then moved both cylinders into the shade, let them come to the same temperature, and recorded their\ temperatures over the same amount of time.

THE SETUP

Foote placed thermometers inside two glass cylinders, filled each one with a different gas, and left them side by side in the sun. Every few minutes, Foote recorded changes in temperature. She then moved both cylinders into the shade, let them come to the same temperature, and recorded their\ temperatures over the same amount of time.

THE VARIABLES

Foote repeated her experiment three times. In the first trial, she tested air of different densities (mass in a given volume). In the second trial, she compared dry air with humid air. In the third trial, Foote filled one cylinder with carbon dioxide and the other with a sample of “common air” from the environment around her.

THE VARIABLES

Foote repeated her experiment three times. In the first trial, she tested air of different densities (mass in a given volume). In the second trial, she compared dry air with humid air. In the third trial, Foote filled one cylinder with carbon dioxide and the other with a sample of “common air” from the environment around her.

THE TRAPPING OF HEAT

The atoms—the smallest units of matter—that make up air molecules are constantly vibrating. For smaller gas molecules like oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), which make up most of Earth’s atmosphere, these vibrations are limited. But gas molecules with three or more atoms—like greenhouse gases—vibrate in a way that absorbs radiation, which traps heat.

THE TRAPPING OF HEAT

The atoms—the smallest units of matter—that make up air molecules are constantly vibrating. For smaller gas molecules like oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2), which make up most of Earth’s atmosphere, these vibrations are limited. But gas molecules with three or more atoms—like greenhouse gases—vibrate in a way that absorbs radiation, which traps heat.

THE RESULTS

After both gases sat in the sun for the same amount of time, carbon dioxide was 20 degrees warmer than common air.

Experiment Data:

THE RESULTS

After both gases sat in the sun for the same amount of time, carbon dioxide was 20 degrees warmer than common air.

Experiment Data:

Energy from the sun reaches Earth, providing light and heat.

Energy from the sun reaches Earth, providing light and heat.

Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect about 30 percent of that energy back into space.

Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect about 30 percent of that energy back into space.

People burn fossil fuels to power cars, homes, and businesses. That releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

People burn fossil fuels to power cars, homes, and businesses. That releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases trap reflected heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures on Earth to rise. The more greenhouse gases produced, the hotter the planet gets.

Greenhouse gases trap reflected heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures on Earth to rise. The more greenhouse gases produced, the hotter the planet gets.

Energy from the sun reaches Earth, providing light and heat.

Energy from the sun reaches Earth, providing light and heat.

Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect about 30 percent of that energy back into space.

Clouds and Earth’s surface reflect about 30 percent of that energy back into space.

People burn fossil fuels to power cars, homes, and businesses. That releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

People burn fossil fuels to power cars, homes, and businesses. That releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases trap reflected heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures on Earth to rise. The more greenhouse gases produced, the hotter the planet gets.

Greenhouse gases trap reflected heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures on Earth to rise. The more greenhouse gases produced, the hotter the planet gets.