Global Warming Whats next? Climate is an ill-tempered beast, and we are poking it with sticks and we are poking it with sticks Wally Broecker, paleoclimatologist, Columbia University Wally Broecker, paleoclimatologist, Columbia University External Forcings Climate Interactions Climate Responses Ruddiman, 2007 IPCC, 2007 Temperatures in 2100 A Role-playing exercise for your class: The Year is Global temperatures have risen 5-6 o C because CO 2 is double what is was in You are the UN Undersecretary for Climate Adaptation What keeps you awake at night? Bio-chemo-physical responses to climate change Hydrosphere Hydrosphere sea level rise ??? sea level rise ??? ocean acidification ??? ocean acidification ??? primary productivity disruption ??? primary productivity disruption ??? thermohaline circulation change ??? thermohaline circulation change ??? methane hydrate destabilzation ??? methane hydrate destabilzation ??? Cryosphere Cryosphere sea level rise ??? sea level rise ??? reduced albedo ??? reduced albedo ??? large marine/terrestrial mammal loss ??? large marine/terrestrial mammal loss ??? permafrost melting ??? permafrost melting ??? Mann and Kump, 2008 Climate Refugees? Est. 400 million Mann and Kump, 2008 (IPCC, 2001)