GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Current Climate Change Info Q:Is the world warming up? A:YES and has been for 12,000 yrs Q: How much has it warmed in the last 200yrs? A: 1 o F or.6 o C Q: Is this a lot? A: Yes. Prior to the last 200 yrs it took the earth over 1,000 yrs to warm 1 o F Q: Are humans the cause? A: Yes but we are still arguing over how much.

How Are Humans Contributing 1.Burning fossil fuels and reintroducing tons of carbon in to the atmosphere that has been sequestered for 250 million yrs. 2.Reducing world vegetation so less CO 2 is held in biomass. 3.Raising large numbers of domesticated animals that create methane gas.

How do we really know this? IPCC – UN super computer model projections Ice cores (air bubbles trapped) Tree rings Sediment cores Coral samples Direct measurements of Temp., CO 2, Sea Level, Ice and Glacier size, species, and ecosystem location.

What is good about warming? 1.All modern human civilization has taken place in the last 12,000 yrs of warming. 2.Plants actually do better in warmer temperatures with more CO 2. 3.Opens up new habitat for specific species.

What’s bad about warming? 1.Ice sheets and glaciers are melting 2.Biomes are shifting (mass extinction) 3.Extreme weather around the world - extended drought - extreme snow and rain - stronger storms (Sandy and Katrina) - earlier spring and later winter 4.Rise in sea level (20 cm in last 100 yrs) 5.Coral Reef Bleaching

Bad continued 6. Acidification of the Oceans (50% of post industrial CO 2 ) 7. Decrease in albedo (ability to reflect) causing oceans to warm (positive feedback loop). 8. Change in Ocean currents which could trigger rapped climactic change (European Ice Age)