Climate Change (and You) Mark van Soestbergen ICBE UF BCN September 1, 2005
Carbon Dioxide Intercepts infrared waves going into space
Gasoline is 85.5% carbon 1 gallon of conventional gasoline becomes 172 cubic feet / 4.87 cubic meters of CO2
Humans add about 25 billion tonne carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year
Image courtesy SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE 01-11-2002
Globally, temperatures are projected to rise an additional 2 – 5°C in the 21st Century We are here
Summer Arctic Sea Ice 1979 2000 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenland is melting NY Times June 8, 2004
Currents distribute heat
Fabian, Sep, 2003
Fabian, Sep, 2003
Jeanne, Sep, 2004
Sea Surface Temp Anomaly, Jun~Sep, 2003
The oceans have absorbed about 30 times more heat than the atmosphere since 1955
Global Climate Change changes everything CO2 changes plant behavior Increases temperature of the atmosphere, the earth’s crust and the oceans Affects global hydro cycle
Summers will be scorchers These maps show the projected increase in average daily July heat index relative to the present. The largest increases are in the southeastern states, where the models projects increases of more than 25°F. A July day in Atlanta that now reaches 105°F would reach 115°F in the Hadley model, and 130°F in the Canadian model.
Florida Reversal of summer-wet, winter-dry Brand new animal, plant and human diseases Sea level rise Storms
Expected sea level increase 21st Century: + 1.2 meter Florida + 5 meter, unavoidable w/out action Courtesy: PBS
Latent atmospheric Carbon is about 188 billion ton The atmosphere now holds 30% more carbon than a century ago. Human emission rate in billion tC/yr 8 equilibrium Earth absorption rate in billion tC/yr 4.7 de-carbonization pathway time Latent atmospheric Carbon is about 188 billion ton
U.S. commitment under Kyoto
Toward Climate Stability™ Nice meeting all of you! this presentation can be downloaded from: www.icbe.com/about/uf/lectures/index.htm Mark van Soestbergen mark@icbe.com 352 367 1144 tel 352 335 9140 fax Toward Climate Stability™