GLOBAL WARMING © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The layers of the atmosphere The troposphere is the part of the atmosphere in the biosphere The stratosphere contains the ozone layer The stratosphere is also a zone of warm air that keeps a lid on the troposphere. It does not mix with the upper atmosphere © Windows to the UniverseWindows to the Universe © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Ozone layer

Sunlight energy in the atmosphere © Windows to the UniverseWindows to the Universe

The Greenhouse Effect © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart

The Greenhouse Effect The molecules of some gases in the atmosphere absorb heat energy and retain it This can be a good thing Without an atmosphere the Earth would have same temperature as the moon Moon mean surface temperature -46°C Moon temperature range: -233 to +123°C © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Greenhouse Gases H 2 O vapour CO 2 CH 4 NO x CFC © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Greenhouse Gases Water vapour in the atmosphere is stable CO 2 levels are currently rising They have varied in the past Methane levels are increasing: as more cattle are farmed, as more paddy fields are planted, as permafrost melts NO x levels increase due to increased circulation of motor vehicles © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

Mauna Loa Observatory © Mauna Loa Observatory Site © Earth System Research Laboratory Earth System Research Laboratory © Earth System Research LaboratoryEarth System Research Laboratory

Carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas © Mauna Loa Observatory Site

South Pole Data

Samoa data

© Australian Antarctic Division © New Scientist : Environment

Levels during the last ice age © Dennis Hartmann: Universoty of Washington: Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Out of the ice age

Since the Industrial Revolution Concentration of Carbon Dioxide from trapped air measurements for the DE08 ice core near the summit of Law Dome, Antarctica. (Data measured by CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research from ice cores supplied by Australian Antarctic Division)

The oceanic conveyor belt

The melting Arctic ice The length of the melt season inferred from surface temperature weekly data has been increasing by 9, 12, 12, and 17 days per decade in sea ice covered areas © NASA

Is it really getting warmer © NASA

The DIRECT consequences Sea levels increase, affecting coastal lands Ecosystems displaced © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The knock-off consequences Increased rates of decomposition of detritus previously trapped in the permafrost Temperate species expanding their habitat range Loss of ice habitat Changes in distribution of prey species, further affecting higher trophic levels Increased success of pest species, including pathogens © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? Reduce carbon emissions Improve mass transport systems (public transport) Design more efficient motors Design alternative power sources Hydrogen powered motors BUT problems of fuel reservoir, delivery, fabrication Renewable energy (wind, tidal, hydro, geothermal, biomass) BUT growing crops for biofuel reduces farmland available for food Hydroelectric dams disrupt river ecosystems Nuclear power BUT problems of nuclear waste treatment/storage © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? Increase natural CO 2 sequestering Reduce deforestation Increase reforestation © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? Artificial CO 2 sequestering Filter CO 2 sources using hydroxide scrubbers Injection of CO 2 into deep ocean layers Forms CO 2 reservoirs Impact on sea life unknown Injecting CO 2 into disused oil wells Mineral deposition as carbonates © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCS) Take notes

The ozone layer stops 99% of UV radiation

Ozone

BIOSPHERE ISSUES CFCs CFCs are chlorofluorocarbons These are molecules used in:  Refrigerators  Air conditioners  Fire extinguishers  Propellants in aerosol sprays

BIOSPHERE ISSUES CFCs It was believed that they diffused harmlessly into the stratosphere where they were broken down by sunlight. This is true, BUT… We now know that in the process of breaking them down, a chlorine atom is produced. Chlorine is very destructive to the ozone layer. Chlorine reacts with ozone molecules and breaks it apart into oxygen, which cannot turn back into ozone. One chlorine atom can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules.

The effects of UV radiation The main effect of UV radiation on living tissues is its ability to alter DNA. This can eventually lead to skin cancer.

Specific effects Skin cancers  Carcinomas (relatively minor)  Melanomas (dangerous) Eye issues  Cataracts (lens becomes less transparent)  Growths Phytoplankton – very sensitive to UV light Plants – lower crop yields Nitrogen-fixing bacteria – low tolerance to UV light

The bottom line Two factors will ultimately govern what happens: 1. Human population growth More people means greater demand for non- renewable resources 2. The ecological footprint of each individual human Higher standards of living usually means higher consumption of fossil fuels The planet will look after itself in the end There are plenty of examples where human communities have disappeared because they outstripped the environmental resources © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The planet will look after itself in the end Easter Island (Rapanui) in the Pacific Settled between AD900 and 1200 Community in severe decline AD 1700 Cause: excessive deforestation © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS The Moai statues, Easter Island © Martin Gray, World Mysteries

The planet will look after itself in the end Chaco Canyon, New Mexico Anasazi culture AD 850 – 1250 Cause: Deforestation combined with a decline in rainfall © New Mexico Tourism DepartmentNew Mexico Tourism Department © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The planet will look after itself in the end Mesopotamia Sumerian civilization 3100 – 1200 BC Increased salt levels in soil due to irrigation systems & arid environment Reduced food yield © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS © Asociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en BarcelonaAsociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en Barcelona

The planet will look after itself in the end Greenland Viking colony AD982 – 1350 Cause: Deforestation, soil degradation & cooling of the climate © Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

forumpolitics.com/pics/earth-photo.jpg Who’s next? © NASA

GLOBAL WARMING © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The layers of the atmosphere The __________ is the part of the atmosphere in the _____________ The stratosphere contains the __________ layer The stratosphere is also a zone of warm air that keeps a lid on the troposphere. It does not mix with the upper atmosphere © Windows to the UniverseWindows to the Universe © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Ozone layer

Sunlight energy in the atmosphere © Windows to the UniverseWindows to the Universe

The Greenhouse Effect © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart

The Greenhouse Effect The molecules of some _______ in the atmosphere _______heat energy and retain it This can be a good thing Without an ____________ the Earth would have same temperature as the ________ Moon mean surface temperature ____°C Moon temperature range: ___________°C © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Greenhouse Gases _______ © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The Greenhouse Gases Water vapour in the atmosphere is _______ _______ levels are currently rising They have varied in the past ___________ levels are increasing: as more _______ are farmed, as more paddy fields are planted, as ____________ melts ________ levels increase due to increased circulation of motor vehicles © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

Mauna Loa Observatory © Mauna Loa Observatory Site © Earth System Research Laboratory Earth System Research Laboratory © Earth System Research LaboratoryEarth System Research Laboratory

Carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas © Mauna Loa Observatory Site

South Pole Data

Samoa data

© Australian Antarctic Division © New Scientist : Environment

Levels during the last ice age © Dennis Hartmann: Universoty of Washington: Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Out of the ice age

Since the Industrial Revolution Concentration of Carbon Dioxide from trapped air measurements for the DE08 ice core near the summit of Law Dome, Antarctica. (Data measured by CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research from ice cores supplied by Australian Antarctic Division)

The oceanic conveyor belt

The melting Arctic ice The length of the melt season inferred from surface temperature weekly data has been increasing by 9, 12, 12, and 17 days per decade in sea ice covered areas © NASA

Is it really getting warmer © NASA

The DIRECT consequences Sea levels increase, affecting coastal lands Ecosystems displaced © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The knock-off consequences Increased rates of ____________ of detritus previously trapped in the permafrost Temperate species expanding their _____________ range Loss of ________ habitat Changes in distribution of _________ species, further affecting higher trophic levels Increased success of pest species, including ________________ © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? Reduce ______________ emissions Improve mass transport systems (public transport) Design more efficient ______________ Design alternative power sources _____________ powered motors BUT problems of fuel reservoir, delivery, fabrication ________________ energy (wind, tidal, hydro, geothermal, biomass) BUT growing crops for biofuel reduces farmland available for food Hydroelectric dams disrupt river ecosystems ______________ power BUT problems of nuclear waste treatment/storage © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? Increase natural CO 2 _______________ Reduce deforestation Increase reforestation © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

What can be done? _____________ CO 2 sequestering Filter CO 2 sources using hydroxide scrubbers Injection of CO 2 into deep ocean layers Forms CO 2 reservoirs Impact on sea life unknown Injecting CO 2 into disused oil wells © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The bottom line Two factors will ultimately govern what happens: 1. _________________________ More people means greater demand for non- renewable resources 2. The ___________________of each individual human Higher standards of living usually means higher consumption of fossil fuels The planet will look after itself in the end There are plenty of examples where human communities have disappeared because they outstripped the environmental resources © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The planet will look after itself in the end _____________(Rapanui) in the Pacific Settled between AD900 and 1200 Community in severe decline AD 1700 Cause: _________________ © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS The Moai statues, Easter Island © Martin Gray, World Mysteries

The planet will look after itself in the end Chaco Canyon, New Mexico _________________ AD 850 – 1250 Cause: ______________ ______________ © New Mexico Tourism DepartmentNew Mexico Tourism Department © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

The planet will look after itself in the end Mesopotamia ___________________ 3100 – 1200 BC Increased salt levels in soil due to ____________ & _____________ Reduced food yield © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS © Asociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en BarcelonaAsociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en Barcelona

The planet will look after itself in the end Greenland __________________ AD982 – 1350 Cause: ____________, soil degradation & cooling of the climate © Emporia State UniversityEmporia State University © Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

forumpolitics.com/pics/earth-photo.jpg Who’s next? © NASA