FOR STARTERS: WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE? The issues: 1. Are humans responsible for most of the global temperature rise of the past century or so, or is the increase just a typical fluctuation in global temperature? 2. If most of the temperature rise can be attributed to increases in anthropogenic CO 2 emissions, what are the likely consequences if no action is taken to curb these emissions? What is the evidence? Is it compelling? § What is the scientific consensus? § Climate models and their predictions § Consequences of the predictions § Strategies for change Chemistry we need to learn § The Earth’s energy balance - the greenhouse effect § The shapes of molecules - valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory § Molecular vibrations – how they absorb IR radiation § Masses and moles - weighing to count molecules Earth’s atmospher a) The Earth is about 33 O C warmer than expected if we consider only the amount of solar energ