1. Indicators of Past and Present Climate

2. Ice Cores
“The Day After Tomorrow”, the beginning scenes are of scientists collecting ice core samples in Antarctica.
At various locations in an ice core
particulate matter can tell us about events like forest fires and volcanoes
physical characteristics can tell us about temperature and humidity
trapped air tells us about greenhouse gas levels
composition tells us the temperature by analyzing the isotopes of oxygen that are present in the ice.
The only limit is how deep we can drill. The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) drilled 3270m to recover years of history.
Extra info:

3. Ice Core Example
An example of a product of ice core analysis is Figure 1 which shows how ice cores indicate a cycle of warming and cooling going back years.
Figure 1: Historical Temperature and Carbon Dioxide Levels (Dickinson, 2009, p.335)

4. Lake Cores Sediments provide information on
Plant and animal communities at different points in history
Temperature, oxygen content and nutrient levels can be inferred based on plant, animal, diatoms (algae)
Rainfall and water level estimates
Video:

5. Tree Rings Trees grow one new ring each growing season (year)
The width of the ring provides information about how “good” the growing conditions were that year.
What do trees need to grow?

6. Other Past Climate Evidence
Coral Rings
Fossilshttp://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ancient-fossils-hold-clues-for aspx
Ocean Sediments

7. Results of Climate Change

8. Rising Temperatures Societal impacts? Environmental impact?
“Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gasses produced by human activities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes more than 1,300 scientists from the United States and other countries, forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.
According to the IPCC, the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.” (
Every degree matters – at the end of the last ice age global temperatures were less than 10degF cooler in the USA
As research continues, little consensus amongst scientists of exactly how much the temperature will rise and how quickly
Societal impacts?
Environmental impact?
Economic impacts?

9. Rising Temperatures
Average temperatures go up and down over the years but the general trend is INCREASING
By 2006, 11 of the past 12 years were the warmest on record

11. In Canada, the average national temperatures have increased by 1oC in the last 55 yrs, they have risen 2.5oC in the Yukon

12. Coral Reefs Coral is a key indicator of global ecosystem health.
Warmer air leads to warmer waters leads to coral bleaching (white, unhealthy corals)

13. Melting Glaciers Rising temperatures melt ice Glaciers recede
Polar ice caps cleave and large chunks of ice break off
Environmental Impact?
Albedo
Animal habitats
Rising sea levels

14. Melting Glaciers
Over the last few decades the average size of glaciers all over the world has begun to decrease as the temperature has increased
People around the world depend on glaciers for their water – melting glaciers could lead to water shortages

18. Ice Sheets
Ice sheets in Greenland are melting twice as fast as they did 15 yrs ago
Snow is melting much further inland and at higher altitudes than ever before
Sea Ice
Summer ice continues to decrease

22. Loss of Land Ice
Only loss of land ice caps and glaciers contributes to rising sea levels

23. Rising Sea Level
As ice melts (ice caps, glaciers and sea ice) this turns into additional freshwater in our oceans
Two thirds of the global population lives within 80km from the sea coast.
Loss of land will be a major problem for coastal communities
Impacts for any areas at or near sea level elevation

24. Rising Sea Level

25. Rising Sea Levels
Global sea levels have risen significantly over the past 130 yrs
Since 1993, sea levels has risen almost twice as fast than the 30 yrs before
Can result in flooding of coastal areas
Thermal Expansion: Warm water expands which also raises sea levels

27. Changes in Precipitation
In the Northern hemisphere there is more precipitation as rain than as snow
There has been an increase in heavy precipitation
Other areas have received less precipitation than they used to and are experiencing periods of drought

28. Changing Seasons
Agricultural lands will change and growing locations will move
Societal impact – is it easy for humans to move?
Economic impact – direct affect to livelihood for many humans on this planet.

29. Changing Seasons
Amount of snow that stays on the ground in winter is decreasing
Amount of very cold days throughout the world have decreased
Cold weather is starting later in the fall and ending earlier in the spring  longer growing seasons

31. Changes in Ecosystems
Trees, shrubs and flowers are flowering sooner due to temperature changes

32. Animals are breeding earlier

33. Changes in Severe Weather
Severe weather includes most anything for which a warning is issued and definitely those situations where people’s safety is at risk.

34. Changing Precipitation
General changes in snow and rain
Have you noticed any changing patterns?
It snowed in Cairo this year.

35. Changes in Severe Weather
Certain extreme weather events such as heat waves and hurricanes have become more severe i.e. Hurricane Katrina (2005) & Hurricane Sandy (2012)

40. Hurricane Katrina
The most economically devastating hurricane – $200 billion (2005)

41. El Niño, La Nina ( )
See:

42. Killed the most people – 11000 confirmed

43. Hurricanes in Brazil??
Occurred in 2002

44. Flooding in Mumbai (2005)

45. Extreme Weather
There is no doubt that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent
Most powerful El Niño ever recorded ( )
Most fatal hurricane (Mitch, 1998)
Hottest European Summer (2003)
The first South Atlantic hurricane ever recorded (2002)
Unprecedented flooding in Mumbai, India (2005)
The most Devastating hurricane season ($$) in the USA (Katrina, 2005)
Cyclone Monica – most powerful ever recorded (Australia, 2006)

46. Warming and Storms The USA, (1996-1999)
2x the storms
Warm water, warms air, holds more water
Every 10 degrees = double the amount of water (hurricane fuel = heat and water)

47. Homework
Complete the tree ring analysis at to learn about how tree rings give us information about past climates. [Thinking]
Choose one of the Other Past Climate Evidence items. Research and write a summary of how that item provides evidence of past climates. [Thinking]
Complete the Climatograph activity handed out in class.