The Arctic, Climate Change & the Earth System Douglas “Dr. Doug” Williams, PhD Oceanographer & Arctic Scientist University of South Carolina Paula Keener-Chavis, Director Education Program, Ocean Exploration Program, NOAA NSTA Symposium (March 29, 2007): Polar Climates, How are they Changing?
July 2003: Dr Doug at the edge of the Laptev Sea, Russian Arctic
Paula Keener-Chavis, NOAA
Sea ice in the Antarctic aboard Polarstern; G. Chapelle - © Alfred Wegener Institut / IPF Our goals today: Brief (very) Overview of Earth as a System Arctic as a system Nature of “change” Hands-on activities Nature of Changes in the Arctic
Group of self-regulating, interacting “subsystems” - governed by the Laws of Thermodynamics Subsystems are inter- connected: a change in one part of the system produces change(s) in other parts Over the last 10,000 years, humans have become geological agents of change affecting major parts of the Earth System The Earth System
Burning Question: Is the Earth Heating up?
Cryosphere Humanity (Biosphere)
Role of the sun in “fueling” the Earth System (climate change)
Dynamics of the Global Atmosphere
Wonderous - Chaotic - Responsive - Fragile Life-changing…
“Good” Greenhouse - “Bad” Greenhouse It may be thin but it is certainly influential!
The “miracle molecule” - where would we be without it?
Distribution of Water in the Hydrosphere Cryosphere “Water, water everywhere, nary a drop to drink”
Dynamics of the Global Hydrosphere makes the Blue Marble the Blue Marble Commotion in the Ocean
Wind-driven Surface gyres
The Gulf Stream Meandering Transporting The Gulf Stream Meandering Transporting Heat Salt Plankton Dissolved ions..
Density-driven Current Systems
The Global Ocean Conveyor FRESH WATER How the deep oceans are ventilated:
Experimenting with thermohaline circulation!!
Density-driven Circulation in the Ocean
The Biosphere Fueled by the sun’s energy, in turn changing the atmosphere & climate
Boreal Forests of the Northern Hemisphere
Dynamics of the Biosphere, Global Carbon Cycle & Climate Pivotal “Keeling” Curve from Mauna Loa
Breathing of the Biosphere “bad greenhouse?”
Biosphere in the Oceans: Biodiversity & Productivity
SeaWiFS (ocean color, productivity) and Global Warming September to November 1997 June to August 1998
Can’t forget the Lithosphere !!
Plate Tectonics
Origin & Evolution of Life Can’t forget Time !! Shaping of the Biosphere
Key Science in the quest to understand the past, present and future of our planet Earth System Science Today?
Summary Group of self-regulating, interacting “subsystems” Subsystems are interconnected “We” (humankind) are part of the system
Change - NOT a four-letter word!(6) Change is a natural part of the Earth System
Earth System has been changing & evolving, on different time and spatial scales, in response to external and internal forces for 4.5 billion years !!
Nature of Change at the Poles a five letter word! Rapid
Ice-core records of abrupt climate change Bubbles of ancient atmospheres
Critical thresholds, tipping points, that can lead to abrupt changes from one state to another Earth’s Climate
Ice-core records from Greenland last 10,000 years much colder
30 o F ! very abrupt too! Ice-core records from Greenland
Last 10,000 years much much colder! Last Glacial Maximum Ice-core records from Greenland
The Cryosphere during LGM A very different world
Climate-induced change in the Cryosphere Land ice sheetsYear-round sea iceSeasonal sea ice
LGM Ice Extent and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Climate-changes, Cryosphere-changes, SST-changes Ocean Circulation Changes
Climate-changes, Cryosphere-changes, Biosphere-changes
-150m -10 to 30m Climate-changes, Cryosphere-changes, Sea level-changes
Complexities of the Earth System Earth Rise from the moon Overwhelming or … an invitation to Invite & Excite?
Now, let’s put our thinking caps on… If we don’t invite and excite, if we don’t inspire them… Afterall, our students are dependent on us! WHO will??
Now…the Arctic System