1. 1 Is Global Climate Change Happening?

2. Weather vs Climate Weather: atmospheric conditions in any given place over a short term. (i.e. Today will be dry and 95 degrees F) Climate: average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time. (i.e. Dry season in the southwest)

3. Global Warming or Climate Change? Global Warming – Increase in the Earth’s average temperature (i.e. an increase of 1 degree F) Global Climate Change – Change in average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time (i.e. increase or decrease; temperature, precipitation, humidity, storms)

4. 3 The Climate System NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory. System – A set of parts that interact or work with each other The climate system is affected by:

5. Hydrosphere – all of Earth’s water (solid, gas & liquid). Oceans store and release Carbon Dioxide or CO 2

6. Cryosphere - all solid water; sea ice, glaciers – Albedo or reflect Sun’s energy http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.the-m-factory.com

7. Biosphere : all life; trees & plants – use, store and release CO 2 (carbon dioxide) http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.isavo.com

8. Atmosphere – gaseous layer surrounding Earth – clouds exert a cooling effect that slows the evaporation of water http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pacificislandtravel.com

9. Anthrosphere – what humans build; we burn fossil fuels which releases CO 2

10. The Greenhouse Eff ect The sun’s energy enters the atmosphere and warms the Earth. Our planet’s atmosphere traps the heat energy. Some of the sun’s energy is reflected back into space but the remainder is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere where they help to warm the planet.

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12. Without this natural phenomenon our planet would be 60 degrees F colder Living things need a temperature of 32-212°F (0-100°C) to survive.

13. 5 Greenhouse Gases: Carbon Dioxide Sources of carbon dioxide emissions are: Land plants use CO 2 from the atmosphere and return it when they die Aquatic plants use CO 2 from the water and return it when they die http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk

14. Oceans and forests are carbon sinks which take in more carbon than they release. Burning of forests or fossil fuels emits CO 2 to the atmosphere Animal and plant respiration emits CO 2 into the environment

15. 6 Greenhouse Gases: Methane NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.

16. Greenhouse Gases: Methane Most of the methane emissions are from landfills Other sources are livestock and fossil fuel production http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://herbarium.usu.edu/fungi/funfacts/

17. Greenhouse Gases: Summary The major greenhouse gas is CO 2 but methane is more potent. The other major gases are water vapor and nitrous oxide.

18. 7 1996 Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Source: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 1996. U.S. EPA publication #236-R-98-006 Carbon Dioxide Hydroflourocarbons (HFCs), perflourocarbons (PFCs), and Sulfur hexaflouride (SF 6 ) Nitrous Oxide Methane

20. Ozone depletion vs. Greenhouse Effect Ozone depletion is caused by the release of CFC’s (chlorofluoro-carbons) which break down the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects us from harmful radiation and gamma rays from the sun. Climate change due to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases is a different problem than ozone depletion.

21. 14 How Do We Take the Earth’s Temperature? Weather stations track temperature, rainfall/precipitation, wind speed, and barometric pressure on land. Ocean buoys take measurements at sea. Satellites and weather balloons take measurements in the lower atmosphere.

22. Air bubbles in ice core samples provide information of the air composition (CO 2 ) and temperature throughout Earth ’ s past. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

23. 12 CO 2 measurements from the ice cores at the South Pole over 1000 years and direct measurements in Hawaii over 150 years

24. 10 Global temperatures are increasing NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.

25. Climate Models - Climate change is a natural process; periods of colder and warmer climates Ice age - 6 degrees F colder Land ice melts, rise in sea levels, mass extinctions - 6 degrees F warmer Scientists predict the earth will warm an additional 2-6 degrees F by the year 2100

26. 11 Scientists suggest that humans are influencing global climate change due to data that population increases match the increases in greenhouse gases. How Humans Influence Climate Models NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.

27. Climate Change Evidence 1.Atmospheric gases of CO2, N2O, Methane and Water Vapor are increasing at a rapid rate. 2.Global temperature has increased by 1 degree F in the past century.

28. 20 Weird Weather: Global Warming

29. 3. Extreme weather; more frequent hurricanes, droughts, and floods. El Nino refers to above normal surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that cause easterly winds to weaken. The cold water is unable to rise to the surface of the ocean. This interaction affects weather around the world, Australia experiences droughts while USA and Peru experience floods. La Nina is below normal sea surface temperatures.

30. 4. Land and sea ice are melting – decreasing Albedo Ocean levels are rising, (melting land ice) submerging islands and eroding land. Salt water invades (salinity rates) and changes the fresh water ecosystems. Warm water holds less oxygen which can suffocate organisms or organisms migrate disrupting the food web for other organisms. WHY?

31. The warmer water prevents mixing of nutrients and organisms found in colder waters. This is referred to as an “ocean desert” and in total is the size of Asia. The warm water also can shut down the ocean conveyor system which cycles water on our planet.

32. 5. Changes in biome boundaries or disappearance of habitats; i.e. forests disappearing impacts variety of species, tundra permafrost, coral bleaching 6. Impacts on organisms; extinction rates increase - changes too fast for plants and animals to adapt, different migrating or nesting patterns 7. Increase in disease carrying mosquitoes in once colder areas 8. Economic effects – damages from sea level rise or severe storms

33. 18 NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory. Are Humans Changing the Climate? Similarities between temperature and CO 2 levels

34. 24 U.S. Emissions NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory. Each year, each person in the USA adds 20 tons of CO 2 to the atmosphere (roughly the mass of 4 elephants or 40,000 pounds)

35. 22 CO 2 Emissions From Fossil Fuel Combustion: 1996 Source: CO 2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 1971 - 1996, International Energy Agency, page II.4-5, 1998 Edition Million Tonnes of CO 2 USA is the leading producer of CO 2

36. 23 CO 2 Emissions Per Person: 1996 Million Tonnes of CO 2 Source: CO 2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 1971 - 1996, International Energy Agency, page II.53-55, 1998 Edition 0 5 10 15 20 25 United States Canada Germany Russia United Kingdom Japan South Africa Mexico People's Rep. Of China India

37. 21 NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory. Human activities that contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere: Electricity-burn fossil fuels Transportation – burn fossil fuels Cutting and burning forests

38. Increase in human population/demand Waste in landfills Livestock waste

39. 26 Why Should We Care?

40. 27 What Can We Do About Global Climate Change?

41. What Can We Do About Climate Change? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Public Transportation, Efficient Cars, Carpool, Bike, Walk Plant trees and Preserve Forests Conserve electricity, turn off appliances & lights when not in use Use renewable sources of energy Buy local products Use fluorescent light bulbs Use Energy Star Products – Appliances, Windows, Heating/Cooling

42. Review: Matching Global Warming Global Climate Change Greenhouse gases Absorb sun’s energy and emit energy in our atmosphere Change in average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time Increase in the Earth’s average temperature

43. Review: Matching Human construction (everything we build) Includes all of the water on the Earth All life on Earth The gaseous layer that surrounds the Earth Atmosphere Biosphere Anthrosphere Hydrosphere

44. Which 2 factors are the largest contributors to GCC? Burning Forests Landfills Ozone Depletion Burning Fossil Fuels Farming Industry Breathing

45. What happens with warm temps? Oceans Levels Oxygen Molecules Ice Albedo Light changes