ESRL Global Systems Division
CLIMGRAPH
Educational Graphics on Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect
Original material for the following graphics provided by:
Tom Conway - Chemist, Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory
Louise Belnay - Teacher, Adams County School District - Hodgkins Middle School
NOTE: PDF file versions require Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or higher to view. From there, you can either print or save the file.
Figure 1. Solar Energy
Shows graphically and with text that all Earth's processes can be traced to energy from the Sun.
PDF Version - Solar Energy
Figure 2s. The Solar System
Shows graphically the Solar System - planets, asteroids, comets, and the Sun.
PDF Version - The Solar System
Figure 2a. The Greenhouse Gases - Normal Natural Levels
Shows graphically (in a cartoon) the Greenhouse Gases in normal levels.
PDF Version - The Greenhouse Gases - Normal Natural Levels
Figure 2b. The Greenhouse Gases - Abnormal Levels Influenced by Man's Actions
Shows graphically (in a cartoon) the Greenhouse Gases in abnormal levels under man's influence on Earth's natural processes.
PDF Version - The Greenhouse Gases - Abnormal Levels Influenced by Man's Actions
Figure 3. Putting the Parts Together Makes a System
Shows graphically the component parts of a well-known "system" and the system as a whole entity.
PDF Version - Putting the Parts Together Makes a System
Figure 4. The Major Earth Systems
Shows in graphical form the major component systems that comprise the singular Earth System.
PDF Version - The Major Earth Systems
Figure 5. Earth Systems/Apple Analogy
Shows graphically the Earth and an apple, plus gives textual information on the analogy between the two.
PDF Version - Earth Systems/Apple Analogy
Figure 6. The Layers of the Atmosphere - I
Shows graphically the layers of the Earth's atmosphere and the layers' distances from the Earth's surface.
PDF Version - The Layers of the Atmosphere - I
Figure 6a. The Layers of the Earth's Atmosphere - II
Shows in X/Y plot form the layers of the Earth's atmosphere and the layers' distances from the Earth's surface.
PDF Version - The Layers of the Atmosphere - II
Figure 7. Composition of the Earth's Atmosphere (Percent by Volume)
Shows graphically, with text, the percent by volume of the Earth's atmospheric components, including the known Greenhouse Gases.
Figure 8. Composition of the Earth's Atmosphere (Parts per Million)
Shows graphically, with text, the parts per million composition of the Earth's atmospheric components, including the known Greenhouse Gases.
PDF Version - Composition of the Earth's Atmosphere (Parts per Million)
Figure 9. The Earth's Radiative Heat Budget
Shows graphically the radiation balance that affects all the earth's systems. The incoming, outgoing, and absorbed components are represented.
PDF Version - The Earth's Radiative Heat Budget
Figure 10. Climate Determination Flow Chart
Shows graphically a flow chart on climate, with its definition, influences, and effects.
Figure 11. Regional Climatic Influencing Factors
Shows graphically the three main factors that affect climate on a regional scale.
PDF Version - Regional Climatic Influencing Factors
Figure 12. The Age of Dinosaurs
Shows graphically the slowness of climate change, as evidenced by several factors, including the age of dinosaurs.
Figure 12a. Climate Change - Natural Process
Shows graphically that climate change is a natural process, as evidenced by glacial and interglacial periods.
PDF Version - Climate Change - Natural Process
Figure 13. The Earth's Systems and Dynamic Equilibrium
Shows in graphical form with corresponding text the Earth's component systems in dynamic equilibrium.
PDF Version - The Earth's Systems and Dynamic Equilibrium
Figure 14a. Examples of Earth's Climate Zones - I
Shows in pictorial form seven of the Earth's climate zones. The zones are listed and a corresponding photograph is shown.
PDF Version - Examples of Earth's Climate Zones - I
Figure 14b. Examples of Earth's Climate Zones - II
Shows in pictorial form another seven of the Earth's climate zones. The zones are listed and a corresponding photograph is shown.
PDF Version - Examples of Earth's Climate Zones - II
Figure 15a. The Greenhouse Effect - Part I
Shows in graphical form the Greenhouse Effect on Earth as compared to the effects of sunlight on a actual greenhouse. In this graphic, sunlight enters the greenhouse/Earth's atmosphere and warms each system.
PDF Version - The Greenhouse Effect - Part I
Figure 15b. The Greenhouse Effect - Part II
Shows in graphical form the Greenhouse Effect on Earth as compared to the effects of sunlight on a actual greenhouse. In this graphic, the warmed systems give off heat energy (Infrared), providing additional warmth to each system.
PDF Version - The Greenhouse Effect - Part II
Figure 15c. The Greenhouse Effect - Part III
Shows in graphical form the Greenhouse Effect on Earth as compared to the effects of sunlight on a actual greenhouse. In this graphic, when the warmed systems (Earth and greenhouse) give off heat energy (Infrared), some of the heat escapes and some goes back into further warming the respective systems.
PDF Version - The Greenhouse Effect - Part III
Figure 16. How the Earth's Greenhouse Effect Works
Shows in graphical form the components that make up the Greenhouse Effect on Earth.
Figure 17. Venus: A Runaway Greenhouse Effect
Shows in graphical form how Venus's atmospheric conditions, coupled with incoming solar radiation, have created a runaway Greenhouse Effect.
Figure 18. Mars: A Lost Greenhouse Effect
Shows in graphical form how Mars' atmospheric conditions, coupled with incoming solar radiation, have created a lost Greenhouse Effect.
Figure 19. The Earth's Temperature - A Balancing Act
Shows in graphical form how the Earth maintains its temperature equilibrium using incoming radiation and Greenhouse gases.
Figure 20a. Human Activities That Contribute to Global Warming
Shows in graphical form some of the anthropogenic (human-related) influences that contribute to enhanced global warming.
Figure 21a. Summary of the Gases That Absorb Infrared Radiation - The Greenhouse Gases
Shows in tabular form a listing of the major Greenhouse gases, their sources, and their average residence time in the atmosphere.
Figure 22. Contributions to Global Warming by the Major Greenhouse Gases
Shows in graphical form with a pie chart the percentage contribution of each of the major Greenhouse Gases to overall global warming.
Figure 23. Change in Concentration of Carbon Dioxide Since the Industrial Revolution
Shows in graphical form with an X/Y chart the change in parts per million concentration of carbon dioxide from the start of the Industrial Revolution (1850) to the present.
PDF Version - Change in Concentration of Carbon Dioxide Since the Industrial Revolution
Figure 24. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations From Ice Cores 1734 - 1983
Shows in graphical form with an X/Y chart the parts per million concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, from 1734 to the present, derived from air trapped in ice cores.
PDF Version - Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations From Ice Cores 1734 - 1983
Figure 25. World Population Growth in Billions of People
Shows in graphical form with an X/Y chart the Earth's population growth over the last 10,000 - 12,000 years.
Figure 26. Human Activities That Increase Greenhouse Gases
Shows in graphical form with a bar chart the percent contribution toward global warming of five different anthropogenic activities.
Figure 27. Average Temperature of the Atmosphere in the Most Recent 130 Years
Shows in graphical form with an X/Y chart the average atmospheric temperature (degrees Fahrenheit) from 1860 to the present.
Figure 28. Weight of Carbon in the Atmosphere
Shows in graphical and image form the amount of carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide, added to the atmosphere every year for every person.
Figure 29. Change in World-Wide Fossil Fuel Use - 1970 to 1989
Shows in graphical form the percent change in fossil fuel usage from 1970 to 1989 for eight different countries.
Figure 29a. Sources of Carbon Dioxide Shows in diagram and image form some of the major natural and anthropogenic sources of Carbon Dioxide in our atmosphere.
Figure 30. Concentrations of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide 1958 - 1991 Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Shows in graphical form a plot of the Carbon Dioxide concentrations, in parts per million by volume, at NOAA's Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory - Mauna Loa Observatory, on the island of Hawaii.
Figure 31. Carbon Dioxide Emissions Per Person - 1989
Shows in graphical form a plot for the year 1989 of the number of metric tons of Carbon Dioxide emitted per person for 14 different developed and developing countries.
Figure 32. The Carbon Cycle
Shows in diagram form the complete elements of the global carbon cycle, including sources, sinks, and solar effects.
PDF Version - The Carbon Cycle
Figure 33. Carbon Exchange Between the Earth and the Atmosphere
Shows in diagram form how carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, earth, and ocean.
PDF Version - Carbon Exchange Between the Earth and the Atmosphere
Figure 34. Long Term Variations of Global Temperature and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Shows in graphical form a comparison plot of global temperature in degrees F and atmospheric Carbon Dioxide in parts per million by volume for the past 160,000 years - to show the simultaneous trends.
Figure 35. The Greenhouse Index
Shows in tabular form the ranks of six different nations for their total share of Greenhouse Gases, in both weights and percentages.
Figure 36. Methane (CH4) Budget
Shows in graphical and tabular form the natural and anthropogenic sources and sinks for Methane, a known Greenhouse Gas.
Figure 36a. Sources of Methane
Shows in diagram form natural and anthropogenic sources of Methane that provide atmospheric contributions.
Figure 37. How Methane Has Increased With Population Growth
Shows in graphical and diagram form a plot of how the Earth's human population, cattle population, and Methane concentration have all concurrently increased.
Figure 38. Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Budget
Shows in tabular form nitrous oxide sources and sinks, broken into anthropogenic and natural components.
Figure 39. Sources of Nitrous Oxides
Shows in graphical form the two major sources of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere.
Figure 40. Sources of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Shows in graphical form three major anthropogenic (man-made) sources of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are Greenhouse gases, thus contribute to the Greenhouse Effect, which is thought to be the prime cause of observed global warming.
PDF Version - Sources of Chlorofluorocarbons
Figure 41. NOAA/CMDL Baseline Observatories
Shows in graphical form the locations of the four baseline cliamtic monitoring stations managed and staffed by NOAA's Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, one the Environmental Research Laboratories located in Boulder, CO.
PDF Version - NOAA/CMDL Baseline Observatories
Figure 42. A NOAA Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Station
Shows in graphical form the layout of a typical NOAA-maintained carbon dioxide monitoring station, along with steps for sampling ambient air and determining the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air.
PDF Version - A NOAA Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Station
Figure 43. Greenhouse Gases Measured by NOAA/CMDL
Shows in tabular form the gases measured by NOAA's Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, Boulder, CO, their residence lifetimes in the atmosphere, and their percent growths per year.
Figure 44. Global Warming Computer Projections
Shows in graphical form a comparison of actual global average temperatures versus a range of computer model-derived global average temperatures if greenhouse gas emissions continue.
Figure 45. A Global Warming Concept Web
Shows in graphical form the cause and effects of what happens during global warming. Some of the ramifications are left out so that students must fill them in to show understanding of the concept.
Figure 46. The Global Warming Effects Wheel
Shows in graphical form the global warming effects "wheel" for students to show cause and effects of global warming and the Greenhouse Effect.
Figure 46a. Potential Consequences of Global Warming
Shows in image/graphical form potential consequences, or changes, on common aspects of our global environment if global warming due to the Greenhouse Effect continues.
PDF Version - Potential Consequences of Global Warming
Figure 46b. Potential Consequences of Global Warming (cont.)
Shows in image/graphical form potential consequences, or changes, on common aspects of our global environment if global warming due to the Greenhouse Effect continues.
PDF Version - Potential Consequences of Global Warming (cont.)
Figure 47. Possible Contributions to Slowing Global Warming
Shows graphically five methods or techniques that can be utilized to slow global warming.
PDF Version - Possible Contributions to Global Warming
Figure 48. Global Climate Change Comic I
Shows the first in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
Figure 49. Global Climate Change Comic II
Shows the second in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
Figure 50. Global Climate Change Comic III
Shows the third in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
PDF Version - Global Climate Change Comic III
Figure 51. Global Climate Change Comic IV
Shows the fourth in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
Figure 52. Global Climate Change Comic V
Shows the fifth in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
Figure 53. Global Climate Change Comic VI
Shows the sixth in a series of six global climate change newspaper cartoons that present relevant problems in a humorous light.
Created and Maintained by John Osborn.