The Climate is Warming: Dr. Bruce A. Wielicki NASA Langley Research Center The Climate is Warming: So Expect More Blizzards… Dr. Bruce A. Wielicki NASA Langley Research Center Earth Ambassador Education June 4, 2012

NASA Has Engaged in Earth Science From the Very Beginning TIROS IX mosaic, February 13, 1965

Earth View From MODIS on the Terra Spacecraft 2001

What is Climate? Climate is the long term average of weather.Climate is the long term average of weather. –14-day weather prediction limit: but no known limit to climate prediction. –Weather data accuracy is 1 degree, but climate accuracy is 0.1 degree: a factor of 10 tougher measurement. Climate is much more than weather.Climate is much more than weather. –ocean circulation, sea level, salinity –biosphere, greenhouse gas chemistry, –ice sheets, snow, sea-ice

Mean Temperatures Virginia Daily Means March 2010 Virginia Monthly Means March Global Annual Means °F 61.5°F 35.5°F 49.9°F 40.3°F 58.2°F 56.9°F

Where does March 2012 Fit? Virginia Monthly Means March °F 49.9°F 40.3°F 55.5F March 2012 Record Heat in Virginia (117 years) 55.5F March 2012 Record Heat in Virginia (117 years)

Rules of Natural Variability Its everywhere and occurs on all time and space scales in weather and climate Its largest at the smallest space/time scales. –Yorktown temperature 7pm, 3/31/11 Its smallest at the largest space/time scales. –Global average for 2000 to 2010 Dynamics dominates shortest time/space scales. –Cold fronts, thunderstorms, hurricanes Energetics dominates largest time/space scales –Seasons, ice ages, human carbon dioxide emissions

What about this March globally? Virginia is 5.5C or 10F warmer than normal: about "normal" for 2100

How do we put this in context of U.S.? Most of the U.S. states set all time temperature records (118 years) Entire U.S. average temperature was warmest as well (+8.6F warmer) for data see:

Month to Month Temperature Variability: Winter Hansen and Sato, 2011

Seasonal Temperature Variability: Summer Hansen and Sato, 2011

Climate System Energy Balance

IPCC 2007 Global surface temperature change IPCC, 2007

From M. Prather University of California at Irvine Human Influence on Climate Carbon Dioxide Trends: 100yr lifetime Methane Trends Sulfate Trends Global Temperature Trends

The Ice Ages: Temperature, Sea Level Hansen, 2007 Sea Level varies by 100m (300ft) from glacial to Interglacial periods Paleo data used to estimate radiative energy climate forcing (doubled CO 2 = 4 W/m 2 Climate Model uses paleo forcing to predict temperature change and compares well to Paleo temperature data.

EarthSystemResponse How does the Earth Respond? IMPACTS Feedback Of the total forcing of the climate system, 40% is due to the direct effect of greenhouse gases and aerosols, and 60% is from feedback effects, such as increasing concentrations of water vapor as temperature rises. Forces Acting On the Earth System

Major Climate System Elements Water & Energy Cycle Carbon Cycle Atmospheric Chemistry CoupledChaoticNonlinear Atmosphere and Ocean Dynamics

HumanRadiative Forcing of Earth'sEnergy Balance & Climate IPCC, 2007

What do physical climate models predict the change should be? Natural Forcings: Solar, Volcanic Eruptions Human Forcings: CO 2, Methane, Aerosols, Ozone, Land change Natural Forcings Cannot Explain Observations IPCC, 2007

Climate Model Predictions: Add Human Forcing Natural Forcings And Human Forcings Do Explain Observations Natural Forcings: Solar, Volcanic Eruptions Human Forcings: CO 2, Methane, Aerosols, Ozone, Land change IPCC, 2007

What do climate models predict regional change should be? IPCC, 2007

Global Temperature Predictions IPCC, 2001 Uncertainty in future emissions Uncertainty in climate sensitivity

Global Temperature Predictions IPCC, 2007

What about rainfall? Can Climate Models Predict It? Winter: Dec/Jan/Feb Summer: Jun/Jul/Aug 3 mm/day = 3.5 inches per month = typical for Virginia Obs Models IPCC, 2007

What do climate models predict for Rainfall Change From Current to Wet gets wetter, Dry gets drier Winter: Dec/Jan/Feb Summer: Jun/Jul/Aug Change is given in percent of current rainfall climatology Colored regions where at least 2/3 of climate models agreed Stippled regions are where 90% of climate models agreed Color shown is the average of all climate model predictions IPCC, 2007

Precipitation Extremes IPCC, 2007

S-K Min et al. Nature 470, (2011) doi: /nature09763 Time series of five-year mean area-averaged Precip Index anomalies over Northern Hemisphere land during 1951–99. 1-day and 5-day maximum annual regional precip ANThropogenic Forcing, ALL = Anth + Natural

Climate Model Sea Level Predictions Sea level rise continues for centuries: Long after atmospheric temperature stabilizes IPCC, 2001

“The Long Thaw” Archer, ft 150 ft -150 ft -300 ft -450 ft ft

Sea Level Rise of 4 meters = 12 ft, Peninsula IPCC: 1 to 11ft ultimate sea level rise from ocean water thermal expansion, depending on emissions. Much larger rise if ice sheet losses: caused 12 to 18 ft sea level rise when poles were warmer 125,000 years ago.

The 3 Laws of Climate Change Accuracy in the data and the science Accuracy in public information Accuracy in policymaking

American Association for the Advancement of Science: millions of scientists, 1848 American Geophysical Union: 50,000 members in 137 countries, 1919 American Meteorological Society: 14,000 members, 1919 All endorse the IPCC conclusions

Where is Accurate Public Information? IPCC Assessment Reports Major scientific associations U.S. Global Change Research Program

Common Climate Myth #1 Its just natural variability like glacial periods! - glacial periods take 100,000 years: not glacial periods are forced by earths orbit around the sun: its tilt (how strong the seasons are) and the earths elliptical orbit (whether northern or southern hemisphere is closer to the sun in summer - these natural variations would take us to the next ice age in 50,000 years or so. - our CO 2 fossil fuel emissions will equal the energy forcing of the glacial cycle in the < 100 years: 1,000 times faster forcing of climate than glacial cycles but of similar magnitude. Fact: we are accidentally "geo-engineering" our own planet.

Common Climate Myth #2 We can't predict weather 5 days from now! How can possibly predict climate 100 years out? - Weather is driven by dynamics: inherently chaotic - Climate is driven by energetics: more constrainted physics - YOU already know how to predict climate 6 months out better than the weatherman can predict 5 days out - How different is the Gloucester average summer daytime high than the winter daytime high? This climate difference is driven by energetics: more sun in the summer than winter. Fact: climate is inherently more predictable than weather. The longer the time average the more predictable it becomes (month, year, decade)

What are the IPCC Conclusions? "Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many 1000s of years""Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many 1000s of years" "Warming of the climate system is unequivocal (>99% certain) and is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level.""Warming of the climate system is unequivocal (>99% certain) and is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level." "The last time the polar regions were significantly warmer than present for an extended period (about 125,000 years ago), reductions in polar ice volume led to 4 to 6 meters sea level rise" (I.e. 12 to 18 ft)."The last time the polar regions were significantly warmer than present for an extended period (about 125,000 years ago), reductions in polar ice volume led to 4 to 6 meters sea level rise" (I.e. 12 to 18 ft). "Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (>90% certainty) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations""Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (>90% certainty) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations" "Anthropogenic warming and sea level rise would continue for centuries due to the timescales associated with climate processes and feedbacks""Anthropogenic warming and sea level rise would continue for centuries due to the timescales associated with climate processes and feedbacks" IPCC Policymakers Summary: The Physical Science Basis, Feb 2007

What can we do about it? Decide to lower your carbon footprint: U.S.: 50,000 lbs/yr/personDecide to lower your carbon footprint: U.S.: 50,000 lbs/yr/person –buy more fuel efficient cars –make your house more efficient: see energystar.gov and start by using the "energy yardstick" to gauge where you are. web site has lots of ideas. –make your energy "cost/benefit" decisions on 10 year time scales, not 1. –most in the U.S. could cut 50% of emissions and save money doing it. –stabilizing CO2 requires ~ 80% reductions in emissions Support development of renewable energy (wind, solar, etc) and carbon storageSupport development of renewable energy (wind, solar, etc) and carbon storage Support more rigorous climate science to allow more accurate predictions of future climate change: better policy decisions and less economic riskSupport more rigorous climate science to allow more accurate predictions of future climate change: better policy decisions and less economic risk Try to think long term and not short term.Try to think long term and not short term.

My home energy improvements and savings: 50% nat. gas, 60% electric Payback time ~ 6 years, now saving $1800/year, tax free, $36,000 home value increase Lots of small changes, not big ones (total cost $9200) (insulation, duct sealing, air leak sealing, cellular blinds, programmable thermostat, flourescent lights, reduce vampire electricity. but no windows, heating, or ac changes! Cost, $9200 (including interest of home equity loan)