Climate Change Pre-Quiz 1.What is the “greenhouse effect”? 2.What are examples of greenhouse gases? 3.Is climate change natural or human- made? How do we know? 4.What are the effects of climate change? 5.Are climate change and the depletion of the ozone layer related?

Is this evidence of global warming?

No shadow Shadow No shadow = early spring Shadow = 6 more weeks of winter Is this evidence of global warming?

Greenhouse Gases Water vapor (H 2 O) Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Methane (CH 4 ) Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Ozone (O 3 )

Do all greenhouse gases have the same effect on atmospheric temperature?

Global Warming Potential Certain GHGs are more effective at warming the Earth than others 2 most important factors: –How well the gas absorbs energy –How long the gas stays in the atmosphere Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of the total energy that a gas absorbs over a particular period of time (usually 100 years), compared to CO 2

U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2011

The Great Recession

Natural Sources of Greenhouse Gases Carbon dioxide and PM from volcanic eruptions Methane from decomposition in low-oxygen environments Nitrous oxide from denitrification Water vapor from evaporation and evapotranspiration

Anthropogenic Sources of Greenhouse Gases Burning fossil fuels releases CO 2 Agricultural practices release methane, nitrous oxide, and CO 2 Deforestation increases CO 2 Landfills release methane Industrial production releases CFCs

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector in 2011

Greenhouse Effect WnoMk&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2QcF9pf nWlyg4MemHAwhttp:// WnoMk&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2QcF9pf nWlyg4MemHAw

Comparing Emissions Which country emits the most CO 2 ? Which country emits the most CO 2 per capita?

Comparing Emissions

CO 2 Emissions Per Capita ?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=en_atm_co2 e_pc&idim=country:CHN&dl=en&hl=en&q =china%20co2%20emissionshttp:// ?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=en_atm_co2 e_pc&idim=country:CHN&dl=en&hl=en&q =china%20co2%20emissions

CO 2 Heat Trapping RTLU4VTZ9o&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2 QcF9pfnWlyg4MemHAwhttp:// RTLU4VTZ9o&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2 QcF9pfnWlyg4MemHAw

Global Temperature Change Since 1880, temperatures have increased 0.8°C

Global Temperature Change edVlw&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2QcF9pfn Wlyg4MemHAwhttp:// edVlw&list=PLi_1unC2AWvBgO2QcF9pfn Wlyg4MemHAw

CO 2 Concentration Throughout History

How do we know what the climate was like thousands of years ago?

Ice Cores TSc1fo&feature=player_embeddedhttp:// TSc1fo&feature=player_embedded

Melting Ice Caps

Melting Arctic Ice Cap 8bHufxbxc8http:// 8bHufxbxc8

Ice Sheets Losing Mass

Rising Sea Levels

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What problems will climate change cause?

What do you think? Should developing countries be held to the same CO 2 emissions standards as developed countries? Things to consider: –How did developed countries become so wealthy? –Which countries are to blame for climate change? –Will strict CO 2 standards inhibit growth in developing countries? –Will developing countries be able to afford costly new technology?

Kyoto Protocol In 1997, representatives of the nations of the world went to Kyoto, Japan to discuss how best to control the emissions contributing to global warming The agreement was that emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012 Developed nations agreed to different levels of emissions restrictions (U.S. – 7%, European Union – 8%, Russia – 0%) Developing nations did not have emission limits imposed by the protocol

Kyoto Protocol Though the U.S. signed the protocol, it was never ratified by the Senate Therefore, the protocol is not legally binding in the U.S. and we do not need to abide by it The U.S. is the only developed country that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol /pol-kyoto-protocol-part-one-ends.htmlhttp:// /pol-kyoto-protocol-part-one-ends.html

Climate Change Awareness In 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"