Changing Atmosphere

Part of the Climate Change exhibition.

Wild Weather

The atmosphere is warming. We're starting to feel the effects.

A warming atmosphere affects more than just air temperatures: while heat waves and droughts are becoming more common and intense, rainstorms are also becoming more powerful, sometimes provoking dangerous floods.

Additional Resources

Make Your Own Weather Station

Surrounding Earth is a layer of air, the atmosphere, where conditions are always changing.Try your hand at 

Weather-Station

predicting weather patterns by making a wind vane, a rain gauge, and a barometer.

Climate Change Graphics from the Hall of Planet Earth

A year without a summer? Volcanic eruptions recorded in ice? Take a look at the world through the eyes of a geologist, and see the effects of climate changes.

Article Weather vs. Climate   Article Intense Storms Have Become More Common Rainstorms help sustain life, but they're different from intense downpours that causes floods and landslides. Article Air Temperatures Are Rising   Article Taking Earths Temperature   Article Heat Waves   Article Evidence: Ice Cores   Article What's an Ice Core?   Article How Hot is That Ice? Ancient snow—now in the form of ice—reveals a lot about past temperatures: the chemical makeup of snow depends on the air temperature... Article The Ups and Downs of CO2   Article Clouds and Aerosols You may not know it, but clouds help control temperatures on Earth. Droplets of water or ice particles suspended in clouds, as well... Article Wind   Article Regular Weather?   Article Changing Hurricanes  

Read more about

How Did We Get Here? Climate Change Today Changing Ice Changing Ocean Changing Land Adaptations Making a Difference A New Energy Future Meet the Curators Resources For Educators: Climate Change Fast Facts Sustainability at AMNH Collaborators