Climate Change & Tropical

StormsChristen McAllister

True or False?

There is a direct relationship between climate, oceans and hurricanes.

Climate Change Defined●What is Climate Change?

○ Rise in average surface temperatures on Earth

○ Due to?

■ Fossil fuels

■ Release of greenhouse gases into the environment

■ Traps the heat released

● Effects our ecosystems

○ Rising sea levels

○ Severe weather events

Main FocusGreenhouse gases

Most come from fossil fuels - cars, factories, electricity production

Most Responsible? CO2

Percentage of the total emitted GHGs

Methane - Landfills & Agriculture

Nitrous Oxide - Fertilizer, Refrigeration and Industrial Processes, etc.

Fluorinated Gases - Gases used in Industrial Applications

Created by burning fuels - oil, natural gases, organic-diesel, petrol, ethanol

Dramatic increase in last 50 years

Impact of Climate Change on StormsEffects of Global Warming

Rising Sea Levels

Increase in temperature → warm water expands

Ice sheets are melting

Higher sea level = bigger storm surges

Warmer Ocean Temperatures

Sponge accumulating in air due to human activity

Less cold, subsurface ocean water

Cooler waters serve as breaking mechanisms

EX? Hurricane Katrina

Warmer Air

Holds more water vapor than cold air → heavier rainfall

Rising temperature causes increase in atmospheric WV content

Increased moisture provides additional fuel

Global Warming Policy USA is the 2nd worst polluter in the world

Climate change law is more than 50 years old → Clean Air Act 1963

Supreme Court didn’t link GHGs/air pollutants to climate change until 2007

Kyoto Protocol

Treaty committing State Parties to reduce GHGs

Binding - Ratified in 2005

Based on premise A and B

Senate vote against treaty 95-0; withdrew U.S support

North Carolina

House Bill 819 → In response to 2010 Sea Level Report

Projections of increased sea level (39in)

Saw as threat to future development along coast

Restricts all sea-level predictions used to guide state policies for the next four years to those based on "historical data."

Global Warming Policy Continued● North Carolina

○ “If your science gives you a result that you don't like, pass a law saying that the result is illegal"

■ Refusing to recognize future predictions

● Paris Agreement 2020

○ Agreement within the UNFCCC → GHG mitigation/adaptation/finance

○ USA and China recently ratified (Co-drafted/signed)

○ Pledge to cut emissions 26-28% by 2025

○ Issues with Trump

● Copenhagan Accord

○ Explicit emission pledges by all major economies

○ Endorse contrinuation of Kyotot Protocol

○ Non-binding

Important Steps to Take● Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

● Use less heat and air conditioning

● Build energy-efficient products

● Turn off lights, appliances when not in use

● Cautious of transportation

● Limit use of hot water

Thank you!