Chapter 19

Climate Alteration and Global Change

Global change includes global climate change and

global warming.

Could it be because 160 members of the 113th Congress have taken more than $55.5 million from the fossil fuel industry?

Youtube bill Nye and congress woman on climate change

America's single largest CO2 emitting coal-fired power plant—Georgia Power's Plant Scherer south of Atlanta. In 2011, that coal plant released more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the entire state of Maine.

Global change: any chemical, biological, or physical change in the properties of the planet

Examples include past natural periods of cold temperatures

(ice ages)

Global Change

Global climate change: changes in the climate (average weather)

of the Earth. We are seeing more severe

weatherGlobal warming: one aspect of climate change, the warming of the oceans, land masses, and

atmosphere of the Earth

Global Change

Solar radiation and greenhouse gases make our planet

warm.

The ultimate source of almost all energy on Earth is the Sun.

When radiation from the Sun hits the atmosphere, clouds, and surface of the earth, almost ⅓ is

reflected away back into space:

SUN ⅓

solar radiation reflected

into space

Earth

The Greenhouse Effect

Some of the UV portion of the remaining radiation is then absorbed by the ozone

layer .The rest of the remaining solar radiation

strikes and is absorbed by the clouds and Earth’s surface.

It is then re-emitted into the atmosphere as low-energy infrared radiation.

The Greenhouse Effect

Much of this infrared radiation is taken up by the atmospheric greenhouse

gases. These gases are warmed and also

radiate infrared energy back to Earth.Collectively, these processes cause

warming on the planet.We are supposed to have CO2 in our atmosphere. It is natural, just not this

much.

The Greenhouse Effect

Water vaporCarbon dioxide

MethaneNitrous oxide

OzoneThe major reason why we have more

greenhouse gases is because we have more people who have more

money. Developed countries produce the most carbon emissions

Greenhouse Gases

Volcanic eruptions: mainly carbon dioxide

Methane: from decompositionNitrous oxide: from

denitrificationWater vapor

Natural Greenhouse Gases

Global Dimming

Ash from volcanic eruptions can also cause global

dimming

Livestock produce a lot of methane

1 cow can produce 1/2 pound of methane per day.

Burning of fossil fuelsAgricultural practices

DeforestationLandfills

Industrial production: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are

one example

Anthropogenic Sources of Greenhouse Gases

CFC’s are have the 2nd highest warming potential after CO2

Anthropogenic sources

of greenhouse gases in the

United States.

Changes in CO2 and global

temperatures have been linked for

millennia.

Charles David Keeling began measuring CO2 in 1958.

Increasing CO2 Concentrations

Emissions from the Developed and Developing World

(Total vs. per capita emissions)

China is the leading country but we produce more per person than they do.

In a very rough approximation the following trace gases contribute to the

greenhouse effect:60% water vapor

20% carbon dioxide (CO2)Water has a high heat capacity and therefore hold heat from infra red

radation.

Since 1880 temperatures have increased 0.8°C.

Global Temperatures Since 1880

Scientists also compare isotopic oxygen found in ice cores (O2

18 ) is more common in warm temperatures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ

True or false global warmingThe Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See

Chart on Debate of global warming

We indirectly measure temperature changes over thousands of years in a number of ways,

including: Changes in species compositionsChemical analyses of ice (CO2 and O2

18 )

Temperatures and Greenhouse Gas Concentrations in Past 400,000 Years

The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) was created by the UN to monitor climate change

We know an increase in CO2 level in the atmosphere causes a greater capacity for warming through the greenhouse effect.

Coal releases the most CO2, and mercury

Putting It Together

When Earth experiences higher temperatures, oceans warm and

cannot contain as much CO2 gas.

This loss of gas from warmer water is what causes a can of

warm carbonated soda to foam over when opened.

As a result, the oceans release CO2 into the atmosphere.

Putting It Together

Altogether, this is a cyclical effect:

A warmer Earth causes the ocean’s to release CO2

Higher CO2 concentrations warm the Earth through the Greenhouse Effect

This causes a release of yet more CO2 gas from the oceans

… and so on …

Putting It Together

Feedback Systems

Feedback Systems

Decomposers break down organic matter faster in warm temperatures.

Feedback SystemsMelting permafrost is also releasing a lot of CO2 and methane that was stored and frozen

Melting of polar ice caps, Greenland and Antarctica

Melting of many glaciers around the worldMelting of permafrost

Rising sea levels due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and because

warm water expandsCurrently, Hawaii is losing 5 inches of

beach per year.

Consequences to the Environment because of Global Warming

Heat wavesCold spells

Global changes in precipitation patternsIncreases in storm intensity Huricane

KatrinaGlobal shifts in ocean currents

Loss of seasonal drinking water Increase in diseases from insects

Consequences to the Environment because of Global Warming

Plants bloom earlier, animals hibernate later, but feeding cycles may be altered. (birds hatch earlier but the insects they eat do not.)

Rising Sea Levels

Greenland Ice MeltAbout ½ of Greenland’s ice melts and then quickly re-freezes each year. In 2013, 97% melted (Red is ice melt in July)

Wild plants and animals will be affected in both predictable and unpredictable

ways.Growing season for plants is changing,

becoming longer or shorter in different areas.

Organisms may be harmed if they can’t migrate to more suitable climates.

Higher temperatures leads to more droughts, less food

Consequences to Living Organisms

Coral BleachingAlgae

leaving their

symbiotic hosts. Hot temperatur

es or pH changes

cause this

Humans may have to relocate due to coastal and island flooding.

Rates of diseases such as those carried by mosquitoes (malaria,

yellow fever) could increase.These could spread into areas only

recently freed from their burden (e.g., southeast United States).

There will be economic consequences.

Consequences to Living Organisms

The fundamental basis for climate change is that greenhouse gas concentrations are increasing and that this will lead to global

warming. This fact is not in dispute among

the vast majority of scientists.

The Controversy of Climate Change

What is unclear is how much world temperatures will

increase for a given change in greenhouse gases.

This depends on the different feedback loops.

The Controversy of Climate Change

In 1997, representatives of the nations of the world went to

Kyoto, Japan to discuss how best to control the emissions

contributing to global warming.The USA is the ONLY developed

country to NOT sign this. Can you believe it??????

The Kyoto Protocol

The agreement was that:Emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries will be reduced to 5.2% below their 1990 levels by 2012.

Developing nations (including China and India) did not have emission limits imposed by the protocol.

The Kyoto Protocol

In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush said in a Danish TV interview aired Thursday that adhering to the Kyoto treaty on climate change would have "wrecked" the U.S. economy, and called U.S. dependence on Middle East oil a national security problem. Kyoto would have “Kyoto would have wrecked our economy. I couldn't in good faith have signed Kyoto," Bush said, noting that the treaty didn't require other "big polluters" such as India and China to cut emissions. Kyoto climate change treaty sputters to a sorry end in 2012. Kyoto Protocol aimed for 5% cut in carbon emissions — instead, we got a 58% increase CBS News

Kyoto Treaty aimed to reduce each below

Involves taking the Greenhouse gas CO2 out of the atmosphere

Some methods include:storing carbon in agricultural

soilsretiring agricultural land and

allowing it to become pasture or forest

Carbon Sequestration

Researchers are looking at other cost-effective ways of capturing CO2 from the air and emission sources such as coal-burning

power stations.This captured CO2 would be compressed and pumped into

abandoned oil wells or the deep ocean.

Carbon Sequestration

What is global change?How is this different from global

warming?Where does most of the energy

on Earth come from?In what forms does it come to

Earth?

Review Questions

What happens to about ⅓ of the solar radiation that strikes the

Earth?Why is the phenomenon called

the “Greenhouse Effect”?Explain how the Greenhouse

Effect operates.What are some greenhouse

gases?

Review Questions

Which greenhouse gas has the strongest effect?

What are some sources of natural greenhouse gases?

Over what period of time have changes in CO2 levels and temperatures been linked?

Review Questions

How do emissions from the developing and developed

nations compare?What has happened to global

temperatures since 1880?What is the trend in the link

between CO2 levels and temperature over the last

400,000 years?

Review Questions

How are gas levels from the past measured?

How do feedback loops impact climate change?

What are some consequences of global warming for the

environment? For organisms and humans?

Review Questions

What impact will rising sea levels have on human life?

What controversy exists over climate change?

What is the Kyoto Protocol?How can carbon sequestration

help limit global warming?

Review Questions