1. Misconceptions about the role of greenhouse gasses in climatechange are almost as common as misconceptions about evolution.Usually, the misconceptions have a little bit of truth in them, butit is coupled with a misunderstanding. Take a look at the followingmisconceptions, choose one and discuss what isincorrect about that statement and what parts of it are correct. Ifyou’re not sure what is wrong, just discuss what parts of it makesense to you.
a. Carbon dioxide destroys the ozone layer and lets in moresunlight, warming up the earth. More carbon dioxide emissions leadto a bigger hole and higher temperatures.
b. Carbon dioxide rises into the air because it is warm. Themore carbon dioxide is released, the warmer the air gets causingglobal warming.
c. Light energy coming from the sun is absorbed by carbondioxide in the atmosphere and the carbon dioxide sends the heatdown to the surface of the earth, heating it up. The more carbondioxide is released, the more heat is sent down to the earth’ssurface.
d. CFCs are greenhouse gasses that destroy the ozone layer. Asmore CFCs are released, the ozone layer gets smaller and lets inmore sunlight, causing the earth to heat up.
e. Ice usually reflects sunlight away from the earth and intospace. Carbon dioxide causes ice to melt, meaning less sunlight isreflected and more is absorbed by the earth, further heating up theatmosphere.
f. Ozone is a greenhouse gas. When the ozone hole increases, itlets in more ozone. The ozone traps the heat radiating from thesurface of the earth and keeps it from being lost to space, heatingup the planet.
2. In many ways our actions can have a positive effect on theenvironment. Making these changes all at once can be overwhelming.But making one change at a time is quite do-able and can start youon a path toward making more environmentally-conscious changes inthe future. Suggest one change in your habits or lifestyle that youfeel willing and able to try making to reduce your impact on theenvironment.
