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I. I.Scientific Method A. A.Process 1. 1.Observation Careful; Include as many parameters as possible Observations Induction Question Hypothesis 2. 2.Question 3. 3.Hypothesis Possible cause Reflect past experience (educated guess) Multiple (consider alternative explanations) Testable Falsifiable 4. 4.Prediction Hypothesis/Principle Deduction Prediction 5. 5.Experiment Experimental group, Control group, Replication 6. 6.Results/Interpretation 7. 7.Scientific Theory
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I. I.Scientific Method B. B.Bias 1. 1.Sampling Bias Our view of the world is conditioned very strongly by the observational methods we use Ex: Counting whales vs. bacteria vs. viruses Methods vary considerably, depending on the temporal and spatial scales of interest Ex: How is global temperature measured? Sea level? 2. 2.Assumptions Important to recognize inherent assumptions Ex: 14 C dating of wooden artifacts 3. 3.Paradigms Generally accepted model, conceptual framework or set of belief(s) about a particular topic Ex: Dinosaurs went extinct because of global climate change precipitated by an asteroid Paradigms may not be permanent Can be discarded/replaced by better explanation (paradigm shift) Ex: Heliocentric solar system, continental drift Paradigms may become so entrenched that people ignore contradictory evidence or modify evidence to match paradigm
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IPCC 2007
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I. I.Scientific Method B. B.Bias 1. 1.Sampling Bias Our view of the world is conditioned very strongly by the observational methods we use Ex: Counting whales vs. bacteria vs. viruses Methods vary considerably, depending on the temporal and spatial scales of interest Ex: How is global temperature measured? Sea level? 2. 2.Assumptions Important to recognize inherent assumptions Ex: 14 C dating of wooden artifacts 3. 3.Paradigms Generally accepted model, conceptual framework or set of belief(s) about a particular topic Ex: Dinosaurs went extinct because of global climate change precipitated by an asteroid Paradigms may not be permanent Can be discarded/replaced by better explanation (paradigm shift) Ex: Heliocentric solar system, continental drift Paradigms may become so entrenched that people ignore contradictory evidence or modify evidence to match paradigm
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II. II.Technology – Developments A. A.Observation Satellite-based sensors Automated monitoring equipment Ex: TAO/TRITON arrayTAO/TRITON array Novel technology Ex: acoustic instruments Powerful computers Real-time communication (fiber, internet, satellite) B. B.Communication Global communication technology Extensive scrutiny (scientific, non-scientific) Intense media coverage C. C.Mitigation/Alternatives Emissions control (air, water) Water purification (desalination, reclamation) D. D.Energy Nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, fuel cells, ocean (tides, waves, currents) Transition in energy use: Biomass Coal Oil/Natural gas & Uranium
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World Fuel Production & Energy Use FUEL180019001990 Biomass (6-18 MJ kg -1 ) 1,0001,4001,800 Coal (14-32) 101,0005,000 Oil (42) 0203,000 Uranium (90 million) 00?? ENERGY180019002000 Total25080010,000 Indexed (1900 = 100) 311001,250 McNeill, 2000 Fuel values in millions of metric tons; Energy values in mmt oil equivalent - More energy used in 20 th century than all of human history before 1900
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II. II.Technology – Developments E. E.Packaging/Processing Canning Bottling Freezing Freeze drying F. F.Global Commerce 1. 1.Developments Refrigerated long-haul trucks/containers/train cars Interstate highway & railroad systems Advances in food processing/storage Selective breeding/genetic modification 2. 2.Consequences Increase in tonnage of food shipped internationally 898 vs. 200 million tonnes in 2001 vs. 1961 2000: Wholesale market in Chicago – Average kilogram of produce traveled >2400 km from farm to plate (25% increase vs. 1980) Typical supermarket 30,000+ items 50% produced by 10 multinational companies
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II. II.Technology – Developments F. F.Global commerce 3. 3.Environmental Effects a. a.Air pollution – Transportation Ex: Bottled water Nearly 25% of all bottled water transported internationally b. b.Release of GHGs Production (e.g. fertilizer, flatulence), transportation c. c.Waste production Ex: Bottled water 89 billion liters/yr 1.5 million tons plastic waste (WWF, 2001) 154 billion liters in 2004 (Earth Policy Institute) >1 billion water bottles in CA trash/yr (CA Dept of Conservation, 2003) d. d.Resource use Ex: Bottled water 2004 – Plastic bottle production used ~9 million barrels of oil, enough to fuel 600,000 cars for a year (EPI)
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Earth Policy Institute
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II. II.Technology – Developments F. F.Global commerce 4. 4.Environmental Effects e. e.Agricultural diversity Conversion to monocultures Loss of diversity f. f.Environmental degradation Ex: Canals/Locks on Mississippi Biodiversity loss (e.g. aquatic plants, inverts, fishes, birds) Ex: Dredging/Development of Pantanal (largest wetland in South America – 140,000 km 2 ~IL) Damage to biodiversity hotspot 5. 5.Health Concerns Ex: 2003 – Green onions from Mexico 600 people in PA with hepatitis, 3 deaths Ex: 2006 – Spinach from CA 200+ people in 26 states sick from E. coli, 4+ deaths
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