Global Climate Change and You By Fred Pollert Matt Hartman Bill Heslin Colleen Kozel

Global Climate Change and Global Climate Change and YouYou

By Fred PollertBy Fred PollertMatt HartmanMatt Hartman

Bill HeslinBill HeslinColleen KozelColleen Kozel

ClimateClimate

Climate is the long term Climate is the long term averageaverage of a of a regions weather events, it describes regions weather events, it describes temperature and precipitation.temperature and precipitation.– Ex. New England’s climate is cold and wetEx. New England’s climate is cold and wet

Factors Influencing the Earth’s Factors Influencing the Earth’s ClimateClimate

Solar RadiationSolar Radiation– UV rays, Infrared rays, visible lightUV rays, Infrared rays, visible light

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases– Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, CFCsCarbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, CFCs

Sulfate Aerosols and Global CoolingSulfate Aerosols and Global Cooling Changes in Ocean TemperatureChanges in Ocean Temperature

– Interruptions in ocean currents: El Nino and La NinaInterruptions in ocean currents: El Nino and La Nina

Milankovitch CyclesMilankovitch Cycles

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases are particles in the Greenhouse gases are particles in the atmosphere that actually act like the glass atmosphere that actually act like the glass that makes up a greenhouse. They allow that makes up a greenhouse. They allow the light to pass through and not radiate the light to pass through and not radiate back out, allowing the atmosphere to heat back out, allowing the atmosphere to heat up without that much heat lost.up without that much heat lost.

Greenhouse Gases Cont.Greenhouse Gases Cont.

Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide– This most common greenhouse gas, which has This most common greenhouse gas, which has

increased about 30% since the Industrial Revolution, increased about 30% since the Industrial Revolution, indicates that humans have a significant role in the indicates that humans have a significant role in the globally increased temperatureglobally increased temperature

– Its believed that the main source of carbon dioxide Its believed that the main source of carbon dioxide emissions are through the burning of fossil fuelsemissions are through the burning of fossil fuels

– Photosynthesis, a natural process called a sink, Photosynthesis, a natural process called a sink, removes gases like this one from the atmosphereremoves gases like this one from the atmosphere


Methane Methane – Formed when organic compounds decompose Formed when organic compounds decompose

under anaerobic conditionsunder anaerobic conditions Methane levels have more then doubled since pre-Methane levels have more then doubled since pre-

industrial times due mainly to the worldwide industrial times due mainly to the worldwide expansion of wet-rice agriculture and cattle ranchingexpansion of wet-rice agriculture and cattle ranching

– Even though less present in the atmosphere it’s Even though less present in the atmosphere it’s radiative forcing effect is around 20 times more radiative forcing effect is around 20 times more potent than that of carbon dioxidepotent than that of carbon dioxide


Nitrous OxideNitrous Oxide– Formed by bacterial decomposition of organic Formed by bacterial decomposition of organic

matter (fertilizers, forest fires, etc..)matter (fertilizers, forest fires, etc..)– Levels of this gas have stayed relatively Levels of this gas have stayed relatively

constant through recent decadesconstant through recent decades– Nitrous oxides force is 200 times greater than Nitrous oxides force is 200 times greater than

carbon dioxidecarbon dioxide


Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)– Once widely used in refrigerators, freezers and Once widely used in refrigerators, freezers and

air conditionersair conditioners– The most common known CFC used in The most common known CFC used in

Freezers was Freon.Freezers was Freon.– CFC’s were banned by the Montreal Protocol in CFC’s were banned by the Montreal Protocol in

19961996– This is because CFC’s are 10,000 times more This is because CFC’s are 10,000 times more

potentpotent than carbon dioxidethan carbon dioxide


OzoneOzone– Most commonly overlooked greenhouse gasMost commonly overlooked greenhouse gas– Naturally occurs in the stratosphere Naturally occurs in the stratosphere – Forms ozone shield around the Earth, and Forms ozone shield around the Earth, and

blocks out harmful UV radiationblocks out harmful UV radiation– When present in troposphere, it causes When present in troposphere, it causes

temperature inversions (ex. Smog over LA)temperature inversions (ex. Smog over LA)


Water Vapor can act as a greenhouse gas Water Vapor can act as a greenhouse gas or heat reflector or heat reflector – While in the upper atmosphere the high-While in the upper atmosphere the high-

elevation cirrus clouds act as greenhouse gases elevation cirrus clouds act as greenhouse gases while the more lower-level cloud (cumulus while the more lower-level cloud (cumulus clouds) reflect solar radiationclouds) reflect solar radiation

– With increased global warming, comes With increased global warming, comes increased precipitation, leading to more water increased precipitation, leading to more water vapor in the atmospherevapor in the atmosphere

Contributors to Greenhouse GasesContributors to Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect is the natural The Greenhouse Effect is the natural warming process that results from the warming process that results from the emission of greenhouse gasesemission of greenhouse gases

Greenhouse Effect cont.Greenhouse Effect cont.

Greenhouse gases are not completely bad. Greenhouse gases are not completely bad. Without them our planet would be seemingly Without them our planet would be seemingly lifeless, something close to that of Mars. lifeless, something close to that of Mars.

The problem is there are high amounts in The problem is there are high amounts in our atmosphere today, creating a warming our atmosphere today, creating a warming situation situation

The EPA, under the Clean Air Act, is The EPA, under the Clean Air Act, is regulating U.S. emissions since 1970regulating U.S. emissions since 1970

Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts

15 – 30% of all species could be driven to 15 – 30% of all species could be driven to extinction by 2050 due to climate changeextinction by 2050 due to climate change– Penguin populations have shrunk by 33% in parts of Penguin populations have shrunk by 33% in parts of

Antarctica due to a lack of an ice habitatAntarctica due to a lack of an ice habitat

279 species of plants and animals are already 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to the dire effects of global warmingresponding to the dire effects of global warming

Species are migrating at a rate of 4 miles a Species are migrating at a rate of 4 miles a decade away from the equator to escape an decade away from the equator to escape an increase in global temperatureincrease in global temperature

Environmental Impacts Cont.Environmental Impacts Cont.

The Arctic ice pack has lost about 40 The Arctic ice pack has lost about 40 percent of its thickness over the past four percent of its thickness over the past four decades.decades.

Global sea level is rising about three times Global sea level is rising about three times faster over the past 100 years compared faster over the past 100 years compared with the previous 3,000 years.with the previous 3,000 years.

Global CoolingGlobal Cooling

Sulfate aerosols that are both naturally Sulfate aerosols that are both naturally occurring in volcanoes and human influenceoccurring in volcanoes and human influence

Instead of greenhouse gases these particles Instead of greenhouse gases these particles have the opposite effect, actually reflecting have the opposite effect, actually reflecting solar radiation (heat) back into spacesolar radiation (heat) back into space

Aside from volcanic eruptions Sulfate Aside from volcanic eruptions Sulfate aerosols originate from sulfur containing aerosols originate from sulfur containing fossil fuels, coal fired industrial boilers, and fossil fuels, coal fired industrial boilers, and coal smelting of metal orescoal smelting of metal ores

How climate is changing.How climate is changing.

The temperature has risen on average The temperature has risen on average about 1about 1ººF over the past 100 years.F over the past 100 years.

Sea level has risen 4-8 inches.Sea level has risen 4-8 inches. The 10 warmest years all occurred in the The 10 warmest years all occurred in the

last 15 years and 1998 was the warmest last 15 years and 1998 was the warmest year on record.year on record.

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Global Warming is an average increase in Global Warming is an average increase in Earth’s temperature, which in turn causes Earth’s temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate.changes in climate.– Leads to high impacts on plant, animal and Leads to high impacts on plant, animal and

human life.human life.

Global Warming in the Arctic:Global Warming in the Arctic: A Case Study A Case Study

The Arctic is receiving some of the most The Arctic is receiving some of the most severe climate change on Earth.severe climate change on Earth.

Over the next 100 years, climate change is Over the next 100 years, climate change is expected to accelerate, contributing to expected to accelerate, contributing to major, physical, ecological, social and major, physical, ecological, social and economic changes, many of which have economic changes, many of which have already begun.already begun.


Greenhouse effect is already devastating Greenhouse effect is already devastating the polar bear and arctic bird populations.the polar bear and arctic bird populations.

In some places the ice is starting to thaw as In some places the ice is starting to thaw as much as 3 months early.much as 3 months early.– In 2001 12 hunters had to be rescued when a In 2001 12 hunters had to be rescued when a

piece of ice broke off and floated out to sea.piece of ice broke off and floated out to sea.

Permafrost stabilizes the ground which Permafrost stabilizes the ground which supports the shorelines against fierce Arctic supports the shorelines against fierce Arctic storms. As the permafrost warms and storms. As the permafrost warms and thaws, that buffer dissolves, and shorelines thaws, that buffer dissolves, and shorelines are retreating by several feet each year.are retreating by several feet each year.


Future of the Earth’s ClimateFuture of the Earth’s Climate

High Emission ScenarioHigh Emission Scenario– Assumes that the world population growth will Assumes that the world population growth will

continue at current rates and energy demand continue at current rates and energy demand will continue to be met by fossil fuels. In this will continue to be met by fossil fuels. In this scenario, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will scenario, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels will more than double in the next hundred years.more than double in the next hundred years.


Mid-Range Emission ScenarioMid-Range Emission Scenario– Assumes that population growth will slow to Assumes that population growth will slow to

about 1 percent per year and energy will about 1 percent per year and energy will depend largely on fossil fuels. In this scenario depend largely on fossil fuels. In this scenario by 2100, carbon dioxide levels will be around by 2100, carbon dioxide levels will be around 1.5 times the current level.1.5 times the current level.


Low Emission ScenarioLow Emission Scenario– Assumes that the global population will stabilize Assumes that the global population will stabilize

around 6 billion and the use of fossil fuels will around 6 billion and the use of fossil fuels will decline to their 1995 levels. In this scenario decline to their 1995 levels. In this scenario carbon dioxide levels will decrease slightly.carbon dioxide levels will decrease slightly.


If the High Emission Scenario prevailsIf the High Emission Scenario prevails– Average global temperature will rise 2.7-8.1Average global temperature will rise 2.7-8.1º F.º F.– Mountain snow cover, glaciers, and a significant Mountain snow cover, glaciers, and a significant

fraction of continental ice caps and sea ice will fraction of continental ice caps and sea ice will diminish.diminish.

– Average sea level will rise 4-16 inches.Average sea level will rise 4-16 inches.– Flooding in some areas and drought in others.Flooding in some areas and drought in others.– A greater potential for heat- related illnesses A greater potential for heat- related illnesses

and deaths, as well as wider spread infectious and deaths, as well as wider spread infectious diseases carried by insects and rodents.diseases carried by insects and rodents.


If the High Emission Scenario prevails cont.If the High Emission Scenario prevails cont.– Agriculture, fishing, and wildlife will be affected Agriculture, fishing, and wildlife will be affected

in unpredictable ways.in unpredictable ways.– Climate change may also increase rates of Climate change may also increase rates of

species extinctionspecies extinction– Warmer seas are likely to spawn more frequent, Warmer seas are likely to spawn more frequent,

more intense, and more destructive storm more intense, and more destructive storm events such as tornadoes and hurricanes.events such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

Current Efforts to Minimize Current Efforts to Minimize Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Limiting dependence on fossil fuels.Limiting dependence on fossil fuels.– Shifting industries and utilities from coal to Shifting industries and utilities from coal to

natural gas is one way energy efficiency can be natural gas is one way energy efficiency can be enhanced. Natural gas is rich in hydrogen and enhanced. Natural gas is rich in hydrogen and yields more energy per unit of fuel than coal, yields more energy per unit of fuel than coal, thereby lessening carbon dioxide emissions.thereby lessening carbon dioxide emissions.

– Converting conventional coal and oil furnaces to Converting conventional coal and oil furnaces to natural gas would increase efficiency from 50-natural gas would increase efficiency from 50-90 percent.90 percent.


Shifting to alternate forms of energyShifting to alternate forms of energy– Wind Power Installations are reliable and cost Wind Power Installations are reliable and cost

effectiveeffective– Photovoltaic solar powered projects such as the Photovoltaic solar powered projects such as the

U.S. “million solar roofs” programU.S. “million solar roofs” program– Solar Photovoltaic installations in Canada to Solar Photovoltaic installations in Canada to

power coastguard telecommunication devices power coastguard telecommunication devices and meet residential electricity requirementsand meet residential electricity requirements

– Hydrogen Gas, Fuel cell powered concept cars.Hydrogen Gas, Fuel cell powered concept cars.


Kyoto Protocol 1997Kyoto Protocol 1997– More than 160 countries drafted a strong global More than 160 countries drafted a strong global

warming treaty, which established reductions in warming treaty, which established reductions in carbon dioxide emissions that would be met by carbon dioxide emissions that would be met by 2010.2010.

What You Can DoWhat You Can Do

Save ElectricitySave Electricity– Remember to turn off lights when you leave a Remember to turn off lights when you leave a

room.room.

Bike, Bus, and WalkBike, Bus, and Walk Plant TreesPlant Trees RecycleRecycle By products that support a healthier By products that support a healthier

environmentenvironment

Documents

Global Climate Change and You By Fred Pollert Matt Hartman Bill Heslin Colleen Kozel