1. Mark Potosnak DePaul University
My research focuses on the effects of climate change on plants, with links to air quality

2. What is global climate change?
What human activities drive climate change?
What is the physical process that causes climate change?
What are the impacts of climate change?
NCAR press release
Photo © 2002 Richard Lord / UMCOR

3. Global Warming: Is it really happening?
YES!

4. What causes this warming?
Burning fossil fuels
Coal
Oil (gasoline)
Natural gas
Releases energy that generates electricity, moves cars and heats homes
But also releases carbon dioxide (CO2)
Anthracite coal, USGS

5. Linking CO2 and warming
CO2 concentrations are increasing in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel combustion
These elevated CO2 concentrations cause climate to change by increasing the greenhouse effect
Graphic from the Scripps CO2 program (
Transition to my first research project.
Hypothesis: isoprene emissions will be stimulated under elevated CO2
Why? Isoprene is linked to photosynthesis, and photosynthesis is stimulated by elevated CO2

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi3ERes0h84 6 6

7. Impacts and ethics
The poor and vulnerable face disproportionate impacts
Domestically
Hurricane Katrina
Internationally
Flooding in Bangladesh
Most affluent are responsible for emissions
NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team

8. Questions on climate fundamentals?

9. What can we do? Alternative energy
How much has wind energy grown since 2001?
What percentage of our (US) electricity comes from wind?

10. The good news Wind generation increased over 3600%!

11. The bad news Wind was about 6.3% of total electricity in 2016
AZ: coal 41%, Natural gas 19%, nuclear 31%, hydro 5%, Solar/PV %3

12. Some more good news: US emissions peaked in 2007

13. Questions on alternative energy?
By Rob Faulkner, CC BY 2.0,

14. Local and regional climate impacts
By Payton Chung
, CC BY-SA 4.0,

15. Shifting climate Average Annual 5-Day Maximum Temperature
Geographic Area
Modeled Historical ( )
Mid-21st Century ( ) for Lower Scenario (RCP4.5)
Mid-21st Century ( ) for Higher Scenario (RCP8.5)
Northern Minnesota
88 °F
93 °F
95 °F
Southern Missouri
97 °F
102 °F
103 °F
Data from 4th National Climate Assessment
Table 21.1
Wikipedia

16. Record heat in 2012 City of Chicago State of Illinois
Warmest year
State of Illinois
Warmest full year
Contiguous 48 States

17. Great Lakes & climate change
The duration of seasonal ice cover decreased in most areas of the Great Lakes between 1973 and 2013, while summer surface water temperature (SWT) increased in most areas between 1994 and 2013.
4th National Climate Assessment
Figure 21.8 The Changing Great Lakes

18. US EPA climate change indicators report

19. Note: link may lack graph

20. Chicago flooding https://www.mwrd.org/irj/portal/anonymous/tarp

21. Thank you