1. Possible Effects of a Warmer World
Misconceptions:
Why worry about a few degrees?
Local weather vs. global climate
Predictions:
1. Climate “Out of Balance”
CO2 (more released from plants)
Temperature (some warmer, some cooler)
Precipitation (drought vs. flooding)
Weather Extremes

2. Possible Effects of a Warmer World
2. Polar Regions
Large Polar Temp Change
Melting Ice (floating vs. land-based/sea level rise)
Decrease Albedo
Thaw Permafrost
Alter Biomes
3. Climate Shift (1°=100km/150m)
Can species adapt quickly enough?
Die-offs release more CO2

3. Solutions to Climate Change
Do nothing
Research more, then act
Act now

4. Dealing with Climate Change
Human Activities
Government Regulations
Marketplace
Removing CO2

5. Human Solutions Cut fossil fuel use Improve energy efficiency
Transfer technology to developing countries
Shift to renewable energy use
Reduce deforestation
Use sustainable agriculture
Slow population growth

6. US Government Regulation
Reduce subsidies for coal & oil use
Encourage shift to natural gas use and energy efficient technologies
Emphasize methane reduction
Agree to meet global GHG standards
Carbon and energy taxes
Fund transfer of technology
Increase nuclear power use
Establish policies/global funding for ZPG

7. Marketplace Competition for companies reducing carbon emissions
develop more efficient technology

8. Removing CO2 Sequestering Carbon Plant trees
Capture and pump deep underground
Inject into deep ocean

9. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
History:
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane, CCl3F)
CFC-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane, CCl2F2)
Uses
AC coolants (freons)
Aerosol cans
Cleaners
Plastics

10. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
What’s the problem?
Release of CFCs into atmosphere
Insoluble in water
CFC breakdown  O3 breakdown
Lag-time years
Residence time = yrs
1 CFC destroys 100,000 O3
Formation
Destruction

11. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Why worry? (effects of depleted ozone)
Increased exposure to UV radiation
Increased skin cancer
Increased cataracts
Immune system suppression
More photochecmical smog in troposhere
Lower crop yields
Decreased forest and aquatic productivity

12. Protecting Stratospheric Ozone
Stop producing CFCs
Find substitutes
HFC (hydrofluorocarbons)
Hydrocarbons
Ammonia
Water/steam
Terpenes
Helium

13. Protecting Stratospheric Ozone
Montreal Protocol (1987)
CFC phase-out by 2010
Developed fund developing countries
CFC production has dropped 90%

14. Links NASA Ozone Research Page