1 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities in the Chemistry Classroom Jerry A. Bell Simmons College (emeritus) Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy American Chemical Society (retired) Alan D. Crosby Newton South High School

2 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Which of the inner four planets in the solar system has the highest average surface temperature (and why)?

3 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Energy balance: solar energy in = planet radiant energy out (mostly visible) (thermal infrared) Climate Science Activities

4 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities To absorb IR energy, molecular vibrations must change the dipole moment of the molecule. All molecules with three or more atoms meet this criterion and are IR absorbers. The trace gases in Earth’s atmosphere contain many species that absorb and re-emit IR.

5 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Energy balance: solar energy in = planet radiant energy out (mostly visible) (thermal infrared) T P calculated assuming no atmospheric effects

6 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Energy balance: solar energy in = planet radiant energy out (mostly visible) (thermal infrared)

7 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Energy balance attained when the planet is warm enough to emit sufficient energy to compensate for the atmospheric trapping. T obs > T P

8 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Since the Industrial Revolution, burning fossil fuels has added large amounts of greenhouse gases to Earth's atmosphere.

9 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Electromagnetic radiation and planetary energy balance Since the Industrial Revolution, burning fossil fuels has added large amounts of greenhouse gases to Earth's atmosphere.  The concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing.  The Earth’s temperature increases as more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere.  Increasing temperature and carbon dioxide bring about changes in the Earth’s climate.

10 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Sea level is rising as glaciers and ice sheets melt and the oceans warm.

11 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (g) CO 2 (aq) CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O HOCO 2 – (aq) + H + (aq) HOCO 2 – (aq) CO 3 2– (aq) + H + (aq)

12 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (g) CO 2 (aq) CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O HOCO 2 – (aq) + H + (aq) HOCO 2 – (aq) CO 3 2– (aq) + H + (aq) Interaction with other species: Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Na +, K +, Cl –, …

13 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (g) CO 2 (aq) CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O HOCO 2 – (aq) + H + (aq) HOCO 2 – (aq) CO 3 2– (aq) + H + (aq) Interaction with other species: Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Na +, K +, Cl –, … Ca 2+ (aq) + 2HOCO 2 – (aq) CaCO 3 + CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O

14 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (g) CO 2 (aq) CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O HOCO 2 – (aq) + H + (aq) HOCO 2 – (aq) CO 3 2– (aq) + H + (aq) Interaction with other species: Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Na +, K +, Cl –, … Ca 2+ (aq) + 2HOCO 2 – (aq) CaCO 3 + CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O Phytoplankton are the base of the oceanic food chain.

15 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (aq) + 2HO – (aq) ==> CO 3 2– (aq) + H 2 O Ca 2+ (aq) + CO 3 2– (aq) CaCO 3 (s)

16 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (aq) + 2HO – (aq) ==> CO 3 2– (aq) + H 2 O Ca 2+ (aq) + CO 3 2– (aq) CaCO 3 (s) CaCO 3 (s) + CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O Ca 2+ (aq) + 2HOCO 2 – (aq)

17 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Climate change and the Earth’s water Oceans store energy, move it around the planet in great currents, and dissolve carbon dioxide. CO 2 (g) CO 2 (aq) CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O HOCO 2 – (aq) + H + (aq) HOCO 2 – (aq) CO 3 2– (aq) + H + (aq) Interaction with other species: Ca 2+, Mg 2+, Na +, K +, Cl –, … Ca 2+ (aq) + 2HOCO 2 – (aq) CaCO 3 + CO 2 (aq) + H 2 O Phytoplankton are the base of the oceanic food chain. Ocean Acidification

18 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Ocean Acidification

19 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Climate Science Activities Was this workshop useful? Do you think you will use any of them?