Greenhouse WarmingGreenhouse Warming

ByBy

Mark DalmanMark Dalman

Katherine KostopoulosKatherine Kostopoulos

Greenhouse WarmingGreenhouse Warming What influences it?What influences it?

www.ieagreen.org.uk/tecres/tecim5.jpg

The contributing Greenhouse The contributing Greenhouse GasesGases

Water Vapor (60%)Water Vapor (60%)

Carbon Dioxide (20%)Carbon Dioxide (20%)

Methane,CFC’s,Ozone, Methane,CFC’s,Ozone, and Nitrous Oxide(20%)and Nitrous Oxide(20%)

Percentage of the greenhouse gases

20%

60%

20%

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect Is the idea of an encasing layer of gases that serves as a Is the idea of an encasing layer of gases that serves as a

semi-permeable covering that allows for some heat semi-permeable covering that allows for some heat transfer but not complete dissipation of the heat.transfer but not complete dissipation of the heat.

This protects the Earth from the extreme temperature This protects the Earth from the extreme temperature conditions. (the Earths homeostasis mechanism)conditions. (the Earths homeostasis mechanism)

http://interactive.usask.ca/skinteractive/modules/media/drawings/agriculture/greenhouse.jpg

GOALGOAL Plan to analyze [CO2] and [water vapor] data to Plan to analyze [CO2] and [water vapor] data to

determine if there is a correlative effect on the determine if there is a correlative effect on the climatic model climatic model

Increasing the concentration of Carbon Dioxide and Increasing the concentration of Carbon Dioxide and Water vapor leads to more influential greenhouse Water vapor leads to more influential greenhouse warming.warming.

If [water vapor] in the atmosphere remained constant and a doubling in If [water vapor] in the atmosphere remained constant and a doubling in CO2 occurred, it would heat the planet by only ~1.2 deg. C. CO2 occurred, it would heat the planet by only ~1.2 deg. C.

However, if CO2 is doubled in these models, the atmosphere holds more However, if CO2 is doubled in these models, the atmosphere holds more water vapor, enhancing the warming to 3.5 deg. C +/- 1.5 degrees.water vapor, enhancing the warming to 3.5 deg. C +/- 1.5 degrees.

www.arm.gov/docs/education/globwarm/ch_scientist/sld020.htm

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

MethodologyMethodology

I obtained several primary and secondary I obtained several primary and secondary articles that dealt with the effects of CO2 and articles that dealt with the effects of CO2 and water vapor.water vapor.Evaluated American Samoa, TutuillaEvaluated American Samoa, Tutuilla

I got my data from:I got my data from:

http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/ozwv/wvap/http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/ozwv/wvap/

Water vapor dataWater vapor datahttp://www.http://www.cmdlcmdl..noaanoaa.gov/ccgg/index.html.gov/ccgg/index.html

CO2 dataCO2 data

Our boatOur boat

The crewThe crew

Preparing to get our ice core samples

South PoleSouth Pole

Finally Finally

Where I got Where I got mymy data from data from

Water Vapor … however is a whole different issueWater Vapor … however is a whole different issue

It is more difficult to obtain a substantial amount of It is more difficult to obtain a substantial amount of datadata

Water vapor is transported by winds and air currents through the atmosphere. When the air mass Water vapor is transported by winds and air currents through the atmosphere. When the air mass cools sufficiently, the water vapor condenses into clouds, and a portion falls to the ground as cools sufficiently, the water vapor condenses into clouds, and a portion falls to the ground as precipitation in the form of snow, rain, sleet, or hail. precipitation in the form of snow, rain, sleet, or hail.

Water that falls to the ground as precipitation follows many paths on its way back to the Water that falls to the ground as precipitation follows many paths on its way back to the atmosphere. The water may be intercepted and taken up by plants; it may be stored in small atmosphere. The water may be intercepted and taken up by plants; it may be stored in small depressions or lakes; it can infiltrate the soil; or it can flow over the surface to a nearby stream depressions or lakes; it can infiltrate the soil; or it can flow over the surface to a nearby stream channel. channel.

The sun may cause the water to evaporate directly back into the atmosphere, or the force of The sun may cause the water to evaporate directly back into the atmosphere, or the force of gravity may pull it down through the pores of the soil to be stored for years as slowly moving gravity may pull it down through the pores of the soil to be stored for years as slowly moving groundwater. Some of the water flowing through the ground returns to the surface to supply water groundwater. Some of the water flowing through the ground returns to the surface to supply water to springs, lakes, and rivers. to springs, lakes, and rivers.

www.iwr.msu.edu/edmodule/ water/cycle.htm

Water Vapor DataWater Vapor Data

I obtained my data by utilizing the NOAA I obtained my data by utilizing the NOAA balloon borne frost point hygrometerballoon borne frost point hygrometer

The Current State Of Our Ability To Measure Atmospheric Water VaporThe Current State Of Our Ability To Measure Atmospheric Water Vapor

A multitude of systems exist for observing water vapor. Each has different characteristics and advantagesA multitude of systems exist for observing water vapor. Each has different characteristics and advantages

www.agu.org/sci_soc/ mockler.html

www.cmdl.noaa.gov/ozwv/wvapwww.cmdl.noaa.gov/ozwv/wvap

A cross section of the atmosphere in American SamoaA cross section of the atmosphere in American Samoa With increasing height, there is less water vapor in the With increasing height, there is less water vapor in the

atmosphereatmosphere

Water Vapor vs Height (1-20-1988)

0

5

10

15

20

25

0.00E+00 5.00E+03 1.00E+04 1.50E+04 2.00E+04 2.50E+04

ppmv

DataData

http://www.green-innovations.asn.au/Vostok_160000_years.gif

The Current Levels of Carbon DioxideThe Current Levels of Carbon Dioxide

CO2 levels in Amercian Somoa

y = 1.4263x - 2485.8R2 = 0.8667

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997

years

ppm

Water Vapor vs Time for American Samoa y = -1133.6x + 2E+06

R2 = 0.0443

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

years

ppmV

ConclusionConclusion

[CO2] is increasing on the Island of Samoa[CO2] is increasing on the Island of Samoa• It went from in the low 300’s ppm to the upper 300 -550 ppm in a time period It went from in the low 300’s ppm to the upper 300 -550 ppm in a time period

of 30 yearsof 30 years

Water Vapor concentrations are sporadic Water Vapor concentrations are sporadic • This is not accurate due to the lack of data availableThis is not accurate due to the lack of data available

However, there is evidence that global warming is occurring, and However, there is evidence that global warming is occurring, and this is evident due to the increase in the greenhouse effect with this is evident due to the increase in the greenhouse effect with respect to increasing water vapor and CO2 concentrations, overallrespect to increasing water vapor and CO2 concentrations, overall

Our DifficultiesOur Difficulties

You cannot compare water vapor concentrations You cannot compare water vapor concentrations to CO2 concentrations in different regionsto CO2 concentrations in different regions• It’s like comparing apples to orangesIt’s like comparing apples to oranges

Finding a mixed atmosphere that would give us Finding a mixed atmosphere that would give us proper samplingproper sampling

Not enough DataNot enough Data• Neither water vapor levels or CO2 levels have ever Neither water vapor levels or CO2 levels have ever

been measured from the same location in a large been measured from the same location in a large extentextent