Warm-up:Warm-up:

Explain the differences Explain the differences between global warming between global warming and ozone depletion. and ozone depletion.

What is the difference between global What is the difference between global warming and ozone depletion?warming and ozone depletion?

Global warmingGlobal warming Ozone depletionOzone depletion

Two completely Two completely different issuesdifferent issues

• Warming of the EarthWarming of the Earth• Caused by greenhouse gasesCaused by greenhouse gases• Results from burning fossil Results from burning fossil

fuels and deforestationfuels and deforestation

• Break down of ozone (OBreak down of ozone (O33))•Caused by CFCs (man-made Caused by CFCs (man-made pollutants)pollutants)• Increased UV radiationIncreased UV radiation

Global Warming

How much controversy is there in the scientific community How much controversy is there in the scientific community regarding global warming and climate change?regarding global warming and climate change?

Survey of 928 papers on global climate change published in Survey of 928 papers on global climate change published in peer-reviewed scientific journals peer-reviewed scientific journals between 1993 and 2003between 1993 and 2003

75%75%

25%25%

0%0%

What’s the

scientific consensus on global climate change?

What’s the

scientific consensus on global climate change?

agreed that humans

are causing the earth’s climate to warm up.

Studying other climate data (no position)

What percentage

of the studies

DISAGREED with

human- caused global

warming?

What percentage

of the studies

DISAGREED with

human- caused global

warming?

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1686.full

Among the scientists who are experts Among the scientists who are experts specializing in climatologyspecializing in climatology::

96%96% 97%97%

76 out of 79 76 out of 79 climate climate

scientists scientists agreed that agreed that the earth is the earth is

warming. warming.

75 out of 77 75 out of 77 agreed that agreed that humans are humans are responsible responsible for the change for the change in climate.in climate.

100%100%

http://tigger.uic.edu/~pdoran/012009_Doran_final.pdf

Global Warming

• Causes – – “Greenhouse gases” collect in the atmosphere and trap

the heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere

– The #1 Greenhouse Gas = Carbon dioxide builds up from:

• Burning fossil fuels• Emissions from cars and factories• Deforestation (cutting down trees)

Greenhouse Greenhouse gasgas

Human ActivityHuman Activity

Carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide

MethaneMethane

Nitrous oxideNitrous oxide

COCO22

CHCH44

NN22OO

Fossil fuels; Burning anything; Power plants; Deforestation

Fossil fuels; farming (cows); landfills; sewage; decomposition

Fertilizers; Factories(20x better at trapping heat than CO2)

Global Warming

Global Warming

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/co2_human.html co2_human.html

Global Warming

Global Warming

Notice the date for China’s

data.

Notice the date for China’s

data.

Global Warming

Global Warming

In 2007, China In 2007, China surpassed the United surpassed the United States in greenhouse States in greenhouse gas emissions, gas emissions, although the US still is although the US still is #1 per capita.#1 per capita.

Scientists estimate Scientists estimate that China will double that China will double its greenhouse gas its greenhouse gas production in the next production in the next 20 years.20 years.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,611818,00.html

Global Warming

Free methane goes into the

atmosphere and causes more

warming

Free methane goes into the

atmosphere and causes more

warming

Warming melts ice and releases

the methane bubbles frozen in

the arctic permafrost

Warming melts ice and releases

the methane bubbles frozen in

the arctic permafrost

Holy Holy methane!methane!

Global Warming

What are possible effects of global What are possible effects of global warming?warming?

• Rise in TemperatureRise in Temperature• Melting of ice-capsMelting of ice-caps• Rise in sea levelRise in sea level• Large-scale climate changeLarge-scale climate change• Destruction of ecosystemsDestruction of ecosystems• Spread of malaria from tropicsSpread of malaria from tropics• Increase in number and severity Increase in number and severity

of hurricanesof hurricanes• Changes in ocean currentsChanges in ocean currents• New ice age?New ice age?

Global Warming

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2010/12/climate_change

Of the Of the hottest hottest

12 years 12 years on on

recordrecord, , 10 of 10 of them them

were in were in the last the last decade!decade!

Global Warming

Temperature over last 1,000 yearsTemperature over last 1,000 years

Is this an average Is this an average temperature temperature fluctuation?fluctuation?

Global Warming

COCO22 and temperature The last 600,000 years and temperature The last 600,000 years

Does temperature data correlate to Does temperature data correlate to atmospheric COatmospheric CO22 levels? levels?

Is this a Is this a normal level normal level of carbon of carbon dioxide?dioxide?

Global Warming

Major findings of the Major findings of the International Panel on International Panel on

Climate Change (IPCC 2001)Climate Change (IPCC 2001)• The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased

by 31% since 1750.

• The current CO2 concentration is at the highest level in the last 420,000 years.

• Atmospheric CO2 is increasing at a faster rate today than at any time over the past 20,000 years.

• The current concentration of methane (CH4) is at its highest level in the last 420,000 years.

How can we possibly know How can we possibly know what the temperature and what the temperature and

atmosphere were like atmosphere were like thousands of years ago?thousands of years ago?

Global Warming

The answer lies in the glacial ice of…The answer lies in the glacial ice of…

Antarctica!

Antarctica!

Why is Antarctica the only place where we can find Why is Antarctica the only place where we can find out about the climate 400,000 years ago?out about the climate 400,000 years ago?

Global Warming

Coral BleachingCoral Bleaching

BeforeBefore AfterAfter

Global Warming

Global Warming

How much carbon is How much carbon is storedstored in the forests of the world? in the forests of the world?

What happens as these areas become cleared?What happens as these areas become cleared?

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/earth20110531_prt.htm earth20110531_prt.htm

Global Warming

Living thingsLiving things

Where else is carbon Where else is carbon storedstored on Earth? on Earth?

On the sea floorOn the sea floor

Fossil fuels undergroundFossil fuels underground

How is this carbon released How is this carbon released into the atmosphere?into the atmosphere?

Global Warming

Rising coastal sea Rising coastal sea levels would result levels would result from an increase in from an increase in

melted ice melted ice

Global Warming

Global Warming

19411941 20042004

Muir Glacier: Glacier National Park, AlaskaMuir Glacier: Glacier National Park, Alaska

Global Warming

Global Warming

San Francisco San Francisco Bay AreaBay Area

After a 20 After a 20 foot rise in foot rise in sea levelsea level

http://visions2200.com/EnvironmentSeasRising.html

Global Warming

LouisianaLouisiana

After a 20 foot rise in sea levelAfter a 20 foot rise in sea level

Global Warming

FloridaFlorida

After a 20 foot rise in After a 20 foot rise in sea levelsea level

Global Warming

Click to view the effects of sea level

rise in our area.

Global Warming

SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS

• Conservation – changing bad habits - Sustainable living (Ecological Footprint & Green Home Project)

• New Technologies – (Energy Fix Activity)• Alternative Energy Sources• Carbon Capture & Storage• Fuel Efficient Cars:

www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best-worst.shtml

Global Warming