Global Climate Change

Questions of the day: o 1. What is the greenhouse effect? Is it natural or human caused? o 2. Did ozone depletion cause g.c.c? o 3. Are humans influencing g.c.c? o 4. What are some of the potential effects of g.c.c?

Greenhouse Effect

Overview of Chapter 20 o Introduction to Climate Change Causes of Global Climate Change Causes of Global Climate Change o Effects of Climate Change Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level Changes in Precipitation Patterns Changes in Precipitation Patterns Effects on Organisms Effects on Organisms Effects on Human Health Effects on Human Health Effects on Agriculture Effects on Agriculture o Dealing with Global Climate Change

Hot: Living through the next 50years on Earth Mark Hertsgaard o hertsgaard-fatherhood-and-climate- change/# hertsgaard-fatherhood-and-climate- change/# hertsgaard-fatherhood-and-climate- change/#

Is it happening? o ‘97, 98, ’01 Three warmest on record, spring earlier, fall later than normal season changes o IPCC- International panel on climate change in 1995, concluded human-induced air pollution DOES have an impact. o Prediction 2-6 degree F increase in 21 st century, not uniform heating across globe

Introduction to Climate Change- Mean Annual Global Temperature

Climate Change Terminology o Greenhouse Gas Gas that absorbs infrared radiation Gas that absorbs infrared radiation Ex: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, tropospheric ozone, water vapour Ex: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, tropospheric ozone, water vapour o Positive Feedback Change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changed condition Change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changed condition o Infrared Radiation Radiation that has a wavelength that is longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves Radiation that has a wavelength that is longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves o Greenhouse Effect Increase of heat in a system where energy enters (often as light), is absorbed as heat, and released sometime later Increase of heat in a system where energy enters (often as light), is absorbed as heat, and released sometime later

Greenhouse gases o CO2- fossil fuel burning, deforestation, tree burning o CH4- methane-unburned gas, anaerobic activity in landfills, intestines of cattle and man o Nox- nitrogen oxides, from burning and troposphere O3 o CFC’s- trap heat and cause ozone depletion o Aerosols and suspended particles- actually cool atmosphere,

Introduction to Climate Change o Evidence for Climate Change 11 of the 12 years between 1995 and 2006 were among the twelve warmest years since the mid-1800s 11 of the 12 years between 1995 and 2006 were among the twelve warmest years since the mid-1800s Phenological spring in N. hemisphere now comes 6 days earlier Phenological spring in N. hemisphere now comes 6 days earlier o Warming is not due to natural causes Human produced greenhouse gases are most plausible explanation Human produced greenhouse gases are most plausible explanation

Causes of Climate Change o Greenhouse gas concentrations increasing

Causes of Climate Change o Increased concentration of CO 2 (right) Burning fossil fuels in cars, industry and homes Burning fossil fuels in cars, industry and homes Deforestation Deforestation Burning of forests Burning of forests

Other Pollutants Cool the Atmosphere o Atmospheric Aerosols tend to cool the atmosphere Both human and natural sources Both human and natural sources Tiny particles that remain in troposphere for weeks or months Tiny particles that remain in troposphere for weeks or months Contain many chemicals, but often contain sulfur Contain many chemicals, but often contain sulfur o Complicates models of climate change

Climate Models o Climate affected by: winds, clouds, ocean currents, and albedo winds, clouds, ocean currents, and albedo o Used to explore past climate events o Advanced models can project future warming events o Models are only as good as the data and law used to program them They have limitations They have limitations

Climate Models

Effects of Global Climate Change o Ocean as CO 2 sink - excess CO 2 is starting to harm ocean life

Effects of Global Climate Change- Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels o Sea level rise caused in 2 ways Thermal Expansion Thermal Expansion Water expands as it warms Water expands as it warms Melting of land ice Melting of land ice Retreat of glacier and thinning of ice at the poles Retreat of glacier and thinning of ice at the poles o Melting has positive feedback Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo leading to further warming Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo leading to further warming

Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels

Philadelphia with rising sea levels o

Case-In-Point Impacts in Fragile Areas o Eskimo Inuit live traditional life dictated by freezing climate o Climate change is altering their existence Wildlife are smaller or displaced Wildlife are smaller or displaced Reduced snow cover and shorter river ice seasons Reduced snow cover and shorter river ice seasons Thawing of permafrost (right) Thawing of permafrost (right)

Effects/Mitigation/Adaptation o Group posters

o Some areas will get more water, some areas will have greater droughts Ex: Hurricanes will likely get stronger Ex: Hurricanes will likely get stronger Effects of Global Climate Change- Changing Precipitation Patterns

o Zooplankton in parts of California Current have decreased by 80% since 1951 Effecting entire food chain Effecting entire food chain o Decline in krill around Antarctica Caused decrease in penguin populations Caused decrease in penguin populations o Species have shifted their geographic range o Migrating birds are returning to summer homes earlier Food is not available at this time Food is not available at this time Effects of Global Climate Change- Effects on Organisms

Effects on Organisms - Coral Reefs o Coral reefs can be bleached (right) due to increase in water temperature Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be immune Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be immune

Effect on Organisms - Vegetation Beech Tree Range

Effects on Human Health o Increased number of heat-related illnesses and deaths

Effects on Agriculture o Difficult to anticipate Productivity will increase in some areas and decrease in others Productivity will increase in some areas and decrease in others o Rise in sea level will inundate flood plains and river valleys (lush farmland) o Effect on pests is unknown o Warmer temperatures will decrease soil moisture- requiring more irrigation o Location (i.e. elevation and altitude) where certain crops can be grown may have to change

International Implications of Climate Change o Developed vs. Developing countries Differing self- interests Differing self- interests Differing ability to meet the challenges of climate change Differing ability to meet the challenges of climate change

Dealing with Global Climate Change o To avoid the worst of climate change, CO 2 levels must be stabilized at 550ppm 50% higher than current levels 50% higher than current levels o Two ways to attempt to manage climate change Mitigation Mitigation Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate global climate change Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate global climate change Adaptation Adaptation Focuses on learning to live with to the environmental changes and societal consequences brought about by global climate change Focuses on learning to live with to the environmental changes and societal consequences brought about by global climate change

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Relationship Between Mitigation and Adaptation

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Mitigation o Locate/invent alternative fuels to fossil fuels o Increase efficiency of cars and trucks o Sequestering carbon before it is emitted o Plant and Maintain trees to naturally sequester carbon

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Adaptation o Rising sea levels and coastal populations Move inland Move inland Construct dikes and levees Construct dikes and levees o Adapt to shifting agricultural zones o NYC sewer line

International Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission o Kyoto Protocol Legally binding Legally binding Provides operational rules on reducing greenhouse gases Provides operational rules on reducing greenhouse gases US and Australia have not sign it- it will be difficult to implement without US backing US and Australia have not sign it- it will be difficult to implement without US backing

o ion/2009/0318/ html ion/2009/0318/ html ion/2009/0318/ html o stm stm stm