1. Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere
Nitrogen: 78%
Oxygen: 21%
Argon: 1%
Carbon Dioxide: %
Water Vapor: %
He, H2, O3, etc… trace amounts

2. Atmospheric pressure (millibars) Altitude (kilometers)
Earth’s Atmosphere
Atmospheric pressure (millibars)
200
400
600
800
1,000
120 75
Temperature
110
Pressure 65
100
Thermosphere 90
Mesopause 55
Heating via ozone 80
Mesosphere 45 70 60
Stratopause
Altitude (kilometers)
Altitude (miles) 35 50
Stratosphere 40 25 30
Tropopause 15
Ozone “layer” 20
Heating from the earth 10 5
Troposphere
–80
–40 40 80
120
Pressure = 1,000
millibars at
ground level
(Sea Level)
Temperature (˚C)
Fig. 15-2, p. 347

4. Distinctions …
weather and climate
global warming and
the greenhouse effect

5. Major and Minor Greenhouse Gases
H2O - water vapor
CO2 - carbon dioxide
CH4 - methane
N2O – Nitrous Oxide – Laughing Gas
CFC’s

6. Greenhouse Gases and Sources
Water vapor- evaporation (from Earth’s natural water cycle)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)- burning fossil fuels and plant matter, deforestation, volcanic eruptions
Methane (CH4)- decomposition/decay, livestock waste, decomposing waste in landfills.
Nitrous oxide (N2O)- fertilizer production, burning fossil fuels and wood, agricultural soil processes (nitrification and denitrification)
Synthetic gases (e.g., fluorinated gases, CFCs)- industrial processes, manufacturing

7. Average Global Temperature over the Past 900,000 Years17 16 15 14
Average surface temperature (°C) 13 12 11 10 9
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
Present
Thousands of years ago
Fig. 16-2a, p. 369

8. Temperature Changes Over Past 22,000 Years
Agriculture established 1 –1
Average temperature over past
10,000 years = 15°C (59°F)
Temperature change (°C)
– 2
End of
last ice
age
– 3
– 4
– 5
20,000
10,000
2,000
1,000
200
100
Now
Years ago
Fig. 16-2b, p. 369

9. Temperature Changes Over Past 1,000 Years
1.0
0.5
0.0
Temperature change (°C)
–0.5
–1.0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
2101
Year
Fig. 16-2c, p. 369

10. Average Global Temperature Over Past 130 Years
15.0
14.8
14.6
14.4
Average surface temperature (°C)
14.2
14.0
13.8
13.6
1860
1880
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
2020
Year
Fig. 16-2d, p. 369

11. Global Climate Change

12. Changing Carbon Dioxide Levels
ppm
ppm
Pre-Industrial ppm

13. Ice Cores: Records of Past Climates
Fig. 16-3, p. 369

14. Increases in Average Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Since 1860
410
360
Parts per million
310
260
1800
1900
2000
2100
Year
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Fig. 16-5a, p. 371

15. Rising Carbon Dioxide Levels

16. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Global Temperatures
380
360
340
320
300
Concentration of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere (ppm)
280
Carbon dioxide
260
240
+2.5
220
200
Variation of temperature (˚C)
from current level
–2.5
180
–5.0
–7.5
Temperature
change
End of
last ice age
–10.0
160
120 80 40
Thousands of years before present
Fig. 16-4, p. 370

17. IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2500 scientists
release periodic reports on the state of the climate
mathematical models study interactions among atmospheric conditions and then run these models on supercomputers to predict future climate conditions
2.5 – 3.5 degree (celcius) increase this century

18. Climate Change and Human Activities

19. Complicating Factors ocean storage of CO2 cloud cover
aerosols and particulates
forests
methane

20. Shallow and Deep Ocean Currents
Fig. 16-9, p. 374 20

21. Possible Effects
of a
Warmer Climate
Winners and Losers

22. heat waves
fires
droughts

23. Arctic and Antarctic
Ice Loss
Melting of Mountain
Glaciers

24. Shrinking Arctic Sea Ice (1979-2003)
Fig. 16-6, p. 372 24

25. extreme weather events

26. Rising Sea Levels
Fig , p. 377 26

27. Loss of Biodiversity

28. spread of
tropical
diseases

29. Human Refugees

30. Challenges of Dealing with Climate Change
validity of the science
human cause
global issue
economics

31. Solutions

32. energy efficiency

33. Renewable
Energy

34. Carbon Sequestration Fig. 16-14, p. 380 Tanker delivers CO2 from plant
to rig
Oil rig
Coal power plant
Tree plantation
CO2 is
pumped down
from rig for deep
ocean disposal
Abandoned
oil field
Crop field
Switchgrass
CO2 is pumped down to reservoir through abandoned oil field
Spent oil reservoir is
used for CO2 deposit
= CO2 deposit
= CO2 pumping
Fig , p. 380 34

35. Solutions to Global Warming
Prevention
Cleanup
Cut fossil fuel use (especially coal)
Remove CO2 from smokestack
and vehicle emissions
Shift from coal to natural gas
Store (sequester) CO2 by planting trees
Improve energy efficiency
Shift to renewable energy resources
Sequester CO2 deep underground
Transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to developing countries
Sequester CO2 in soil by using no-till cultivation and taking crop land out of production
Reduce deforestation
Sequester CO2 in the deep ocean
Use more sustainable agriculture
Repair leaky natural gas pipelines and facilities
Limit urban sprawl
Reduce poverty
Use feeds that reduce CH4 emissions by belching cows
Slow population growth
Fig , p. 379 35

36. Preparing for Climate Changes
Connect wildlife reserves with corridors
Move hazardous material storage tanks away from coast
Expand existing wildlife reserves toward poles
Stockpile 1- to 5-year supply of key foods
Prohibit new construction on low-lying coastal areas or build houses on stilts
Develop crops that
need less water
Waste less water
Move people away from low-lying coastal areas
Fig , p. 382 36