Anacortes Senior College

Understand the science that explains how greenhouse gases cause global warming. Sort through widespread misinformation about the cause. It is not “natural causes.” This course provides the scientific foundation of greenhouse gas theory. The description that CO2 “traps heat” often is used, and it is not incorrect, but just how does CO2 do that? Is methane different? A full explanation of the concepts of warming is much more interesting and convincing than just “traps heat.” There is minimal use of equations, but a science background would be very helpful.

The course will cover:

• Conservation of energy and the overall global energy balance.
• The essential role of the cold atmosphere at high altitude.
• Principles of infrared energy loss to space.
• Demonstration of a free, easy-to-use, online computer model for radiant energy transfer in the atmosphere.

A thorough understanding of the mechanism enables one to know, rather than merely believe, that increasing greenhouse gases are the cause of global warming.

Instructor: Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is a professional chemical engineer who has become fascinated with the science of global warming and climate change in his retirement years. His teaching experience includes presenting seminars, lectures, and courses primarily about global warming, climate change, and air pollution. His career included air pollution control and regulations (Radian, VECO), petroleum refining (BP, VECO), aluminum production (Kaiser), and nuclear power support systems (General Atomic). Degrees include BS, chemical engineering, Washington State University, 1973; MS, Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 1982).