1. Climate Change The Current Warming Trend

2. What is Climate Change? Climate Change: Long-term, held changes in average overall near-surface temperature on a planet. Climate Change: Long-term, held changes in average overall near-surface temperature on a planet. Global Warming: increase in average overall near-surface temperature on a planet. Global Warming: increase in average overall near-surface temperature on a planet. From Vostok Ice Core, 1998

3. Evidence for Climate Change? Ice Core: sample of accumulated ice that has trapped air bubbles from previous time periods Ice Core: sample of accumulated ice that has trapped air bubbles from previous time periods What is captured in air bubbles? What is captured in air bubbles? –Greenhouse Gases  CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)  CH4 (Methane)  N2O (Nitrous Oxide) –Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes –Ash, dust, debris What do inclusions tell us? What do inclusions tell us? –Temperature –Ocean volume –Precipitation –Chemistry and gas composition of the lower atmosphere –Volcanic eruptions –Solar variability –Desert extent –Forest fires Ice Core

4. Why Does Climate Change? Energy that Sun radiates changes Energy that Sun radiates changes Orbit of Earth changes Orbit of Earth changes Reflection of sunlight at the Earth's surface (albedo) changes Reflection of sunlight at the Earth's surface (albedo) changes Amount of cloud cover changes Amount of cloud cover changes Composition of atmosphere changes Composition of atmosphere changes

5. Greenhouse Effect 1.Solar radiation approaches atmosphere 2.Either gets reflected away or absorbed by atmosphere or surface of planet 3.Reflected solar radiation gets bounced back to space 4.Absorbed radiation is reemitted as infrared radiation (HEAT!) 5.This heat either escapes, or gets trapped in atmosphere by greenhouse gases that serve as barrier to the Infrered radiation

6. The Greenhouse Effect Good thing! Without it Earth  60ºF colder Good thing! Without it Earth  60ºF colder Rise in temperature on Earth due to atmospheric gases trapping infrared radiation from sun Rise in temperature on Earth due to atmospheric gases trapping infrared radiation from sun –Water vapor (H 2 0) –Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) –Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) –Methane (CH 4 ) Potentially a bad thing for biodiversty Potentially a bad thing for biodiversty

7. Carbon Cycle

8. Carbon/ Oxygen Cycle Photosynthesis and Respiration

9. Evidence Linking CO 2 to Temp Rise and Fall of CO 2 present in atmosphere virtually parallel rise and fall in temperature

10. Recent Temperature Trends

11. More Evidence

12. Human Impact

13. Consequences

14. Other Consequences Disruption of millions of delicately balanced ecological relationships among species Disruption of millions of delicately balanced ecological relationships among species Increase in invasive species Increase in invasive species Diseases and pests are better able to take hold in ecosystems Diseases and pests are better able to take hold in ecosystems Species loss Species loss Coral Reef bleaching Coral Reef bleaching Rampant algae blooms Rampant algae blooms Migration of species (and vectors) into new regions Migration of species (and vectors) into new regions

15. What Can We Do? Practice fuel-efficient driving Every gallon of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and attention to your style of driving. Practice fuel-efficient driving Every gallon of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and attention to your style of driving. Buy a fuel-efficient car Even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. If you buy a new car that gets 10 more miles per gallon than your old car, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction realized in one year will be about 2,500 pounds. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. Buy a fuel-efficient car Even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. If you buy a new car that gets 10 more miles per gallon than your old car, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction realized in one year will be about 2,500 pounds. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. Recycle air conditioner coolant If your car has an air conditioner, make sure you recycle its coolant whenever you have it serviced. You can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year by doing this. Recycle air conditioner coolant If your car has an air conditioner, make sure you recycle its coolant whenever you have it serviced. You can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year by doing this. Drive less You’ll save energy by taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking. Try consolidating trips to the mall or longer routine drives. Encourage car-pooling. Drive less You’ll save energy by taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking. Try consolidating trips to the mall or longer routine drives. Encourage car-pooling. Conserve energy in the home and yard Conserve energy in the home and yard Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more. Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more. Reduce lawn size Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater. Reduce lawn size Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater.

16. What Can We Do? Recycle whenever possible Aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass - anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products. To find the recycling center nearest you, call: 1 800-CLEANUP. For ideas on home recycling, Recycle whenever possible Aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass - anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products. To find the recycling center nearest you, call: 1 800-CLEANUP. For ideas on home recycling, Eat locally produced food Today, the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this ‘traffic’ in food requires staggering amounts of fuel - generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Eat locally produced food Today, the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this ‘traffic’ in food requires staggering amounts of fuel - generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Eat vegetarian meals Vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce. Enjoying vegetarian meals once or twice a week results in significant CO2 savings. Eat vegetarian meals Vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce. Enjoying vegetarian meals once or twice a week results in significant CO2 savings. Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate. This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate. This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Choose clean energy options If you can choose your electricity supplier, pick a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources. Choose clean energy options If you can choose your electricity supplier, pick a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources. Buy clean energy certificates and carbon offsets Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution with “wind certificates” or “green tags,” which represent clean power you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels. Buy clean energy certificates and carbon offsets Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution with “wind certificates” or “green tags,” which represent clean power you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels. A “carbon offset” is an emission reduction credit which can be purchased by individuals, businesses and governments to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions. A “carbon offset” is an emission reduction credit which can be purchased by individuals, businesses and governments to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions.