chapter 19 climate alteration and global change. global change includes global climate change and...
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Chapter 19
Climate Alteration and Global Change
Global change includes global climate change and
global warming.
Could it be because 160 members of the 113th Congress have taken more than $55.5 million from the fossil fuel industry?
Youtube bill Nye and congress woman on climate change
America's single largest CO2 emitting coal-fired power plant—Georgia Power's Plant Scherer south of Atlanta. In 2011, that coal plant released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the entire state of Maine.
Global change: any chemical, biological, or physical change in the properties of the planet
Examples include past natural periods of cold temperatures
(ice ages)
Global Change
Global climate change: changes in the climate (average weather)
of the Earth. We are seeing more severe
weatherGlobal warming: one aspect of climate change, the warming of the oceans, land masses, and
atmosphere of the Earth
Global Change
Solar radiation and greenhouse gases make our planet
warm.
The ultimate source of almost all energy on Earth is the Sun.
When radiation from the Sun hits the atmosphere, clouds, and surface of the earth, almost ⅓ is
reflected away back into space:
SUN ⅓
solar radiation reflected
into space
Earth
The Greenhouse Effect
Some of the UV portion of the remaining radiation is then absorbed by the ozone
layer .The rest of the remaining solar radiation
strikes and is absorbed by the clouds and Earth’s surface.
It is then re-emitted into the atmosphere as low-energy infrared radiation.
The Greenhouse Effect
Much of this infrared radiation is taken up by the atmospheric greenhouse
gases. These gases are warmed and also
radiate infrared energy back to Earth.Collectively, these processes cause
warming on the planet.We are supposed to have CO2 in our atmosphere. It is natural, just not this
much.
The Greenhouse Effect
Water vaporCarbon dioxide
MethaneNitrous oxide
OzoneThe major reason why we have more
greenhouse gases is because we have more people who have more
money. Developed countries produce the most carbon emissions
Greenhouse Gases
Volcanic eruptions: mainly carbon dioxide
Methane: from decompositionNitrous oxide: from
denitrificationWater vapor
Natural Greenhouse Gases
Global Dimming
Ash from volcanic eruptions can also cause global
dimming
Livestock produce a lot of methane
1 cow can produce 1/2 pound of methane per day.
Burning of fossil fuelsAgricultural practices
DeforestationLandfills
Industrial production: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are
one example
Anthropogenic Sources of Greenhouse Gases
CFC’s are have the 2nd highest warming potential after CO2
Anthropogenic sources
of greenhouse gases in the
United States.
Changes in CO2 and global
temperatures have been linked for
millennia.
Charles David Keeling began measuring CO2 in 1958.
Increasing CO2 Concentrations
Emissions from the Developed and Developing World
(Total vs. per capita emissions)
China is the leading country but we produce more per person than they do.
In a very rough approximation the following trace gases contribute to the
greenhouse effect:60% water vapor
20% carbon dioxide (CO2)Water has a high heat capacity and therefore hold heat from infra red
radation.
Since 1880 temperatures have increased 0.8°C.
Global Temperatures Since 1880
Scientists also compare isotopic oxygen found in ice cores (O2
18 ) is more common in warm temperatures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ
True or false global warmingThe Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See
Chart on Debate of global warming
We indirectly measure temperature changes over thousands of years in a number of ways,
including: Changes in species compositionsChemical analyses of ice (CO2 and O2
18 )
Temperatures and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in Past 400,000 Years
The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) was created by the UN to monitor climate change
We know an increase in CO2 level in the atmosphere causes a greater capacity for warming through the greenhouse effect.
Coal releases the most CO2, and mercury
Putting It Together
When Earth experiences higher temperatures, oceans warm and
cannot contain as much CO2 gas.
This loss of gas from warmer water is what causes a can of
warm carbonated soda to foam over when opened.
As a result, the oceans release CO2 into the atmosphere.
Putting It Together
Altogether, this is a cyclical effect:
A warmer Earth causes the ocean’s to release CO2
Higher CO2 concentrations warm the Earth through the Greenhouse Effect
This causes a release of yet more CO2 gas from the oceans
… and so on …
Putting It Together
Feedback Systems
Feedback Systems
Decomposers break down organic matter faster in warm temperatures.
Feedback SystemsMelting permafrost is also releasing a lot of CO2 and methane that was stored and frozen
Melting of polar ice caps, Greenland and Antarctica
Melting of many glaciers around the worldMelting of permafrost
Rising sea levels due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and because
warm water expandsCurrently, Hawaii is losing 5 inches of
beach per year.
Consequences to the Environment because of Global Warming
Heat wavesCold spells
Global changes in precipitation patternsIncreases in storm intensity Huricane
KatrinaGlobal shifts in ocean currents
Loss of seasonal drinking water Increase in diseases from insects
Consequences to the Environment because of Global Warming
Plants bloom earlier, animals hibernate later, but feeding cycles may be altered. (birds hatch earlier but the insects they eat do not.)
Rising Sea Levels
Greenland Ice MeltAbout ½ of Greenland’s ice melts and then quickly re-freezes each year. In 2013, 97% melted (Red is ice melt in July)
Wild plants and animals will be affected in both predictable and unpredictable
ways.Growing season for plants is changing,
becoming longer or shorter in different areas.
Organisms may be harmed if they can’t migrate to more suitable climates.
Higher temperatures leads to more droughts, less food
Consequences to Living Organisms
Coral BleachingAlgae
leaving their
symbiotic hosts. Hot temperatur
es or pH changes
cause this
Humans may have to relocate due to coastal and island flooding.
Rates of diseases such as those carried by mosquitoes (malaria,
yellow fever) could increase.These could spread into areas only
recently freed from their burden (e.g., southeast United States).
There will be economic consequences.
Consequences to Living Organisms
The fundamental basis for climate change is that greenhouse gas concentrations are increasing and that this will lead to global
warming. This fact is not in dispute among
the vast majority of scientists.
The Controversy of Climate Change
What is unclear is how much world temperatures will
increase for a given change in greenhouse gases.
This depends on the different feedback loops.
The Controversy of Climate Change
In 1997, representatives of the nations of the world went to
Kyoto, Japan to discuss how best to control the emissions
contributing to global warming.The USA is the ONLY developed
country to NOT sign this. Can you believe it??????
The Kyoto Protocol
The agreement was that:Emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012.
Developing nations (including China and India) did not have emission limits imposed by the protocol.
The Kyoto Protocol
In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush said in a Danish TV interview aired Thursday that adhering to the Kyoto treaty on climate change would have "wrecked" the U.S. economy, and called U.S. dependence on Middle East oil a national security problem. Kyoto would have “Kyoto would have wrecked our economy. I couldn't in good faith have signed Kyoto," Bush said, noting that the treaty didn't require other "big polluters" such as India and China to cut emissions. Kyoto climate change treaty sputters to a sorry end in 2012. Kyoto Protocol aimed for 5% cut in carbon emissions — instead, we got a 58% increase CBS News
Kyoto Treaty aimed to reduce each below
Involves taking the Greenhouse gas CO2 out of the atmosphere
Some methods include:storing carbon in agricultural
soilsretiring agricultural land and
allowing it to become pasture or forest
Carbon Sequestration
Researchers are looking at other cost-effective ways of capturing CO2 from the air and emission sources such as coal-burning
power stations.This captured CO2 would be compressed and pumped into
abandoned oil wells or the deep ocean.
Carbon Sequestration
What is global change?How is this different from global
warming?Where does most of the energy
on Earth come from?In what forms does it come to
Earth?
Review Questions
What happens to about ⅓ of the solar radiation that strikes the
Earth?Why is the phenomenon called
the “Greenhouse Effect”?Explain how the Greenhouse
Effect operates.What are some greenhouse
gases?
Review Questions
Which greenhouse gas has the strongest effect?
What are some sources of natural greenhouse gases?
Over what period of time have changes in CO2 levels and temperatures been linked?
Review Questions
How do emissions from the developing and developed
nations compare?What has happened to global
temperatures since 1880?What is the trend in the link
between CO2 levels and temperature over the last
400,000 years?
Review Questions
How are gas levels from the past measured?
How do feedback loops impact climate change?
What are some consequences of global warming for the
environment? For organisms and humans?
Review Questions
What impact will rising sea levels have on human life?
What controversy exists over climate change?
What is the Kyoto Protocol?How can carbon sequestration
help limit global warming?
Review Questions
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