APES: Ch 19 Climate Change

Core Case Study: Studying a Volcano to Understand Climate Change

1. In 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted, which allowed

scientists to further study global climate change.

2. Scientists studied that amount of SO2 released by the

volcano to determine if pollutants would indeed change the

climate of the Earth on a larger scale. It does.

How Might the Earth's Temperature

& Climate Change in the Future?

**Bottom Line: Temperature, acidity, and ability to absorb CO2 from atmosphere are changing as a result of human activities

1. Browning of the Earth- desertification

2. Ice and Snow Melting

3. Sea Level Rise- mostly due to thermal expansion

4. Melting of Permafrost- releases trapped methane

5. Ocean Currents Changing

6. Extreme Weather

7. Threat to Biodiversity

8. Agriculture

9. Health

5. Rainfall patterns are changing

So what's the problem?

The problem is when we have too many greenhouse gases and human activities have led to this increase.

-Mainly due to agriculture, deforestation,

and burning fossil fuels

Evidence For

Climate Change

For the past 900,000 years the Earth has experienced period of global cooling and global warming. For the past 1,000 years the temperature has been stable, but has begun to rise in the last century when people began clearing forests and burning fossil fuels.

- Oceans absorb half of all of the CO2 released and help moderate temperature

- Some Carbon is converted to carbonate salts that are buried in the sediments for millions of years

- Solubility of CO2 decreases with warmer temperatures

6. Sea level has risen by 4-8 inches

4. Glaciers and floating sea ice are melting

What Role Does the Ocean Play?

1.Between 1906-2000, average global surface temp has increased by 1.3 F

At our current rate of emission of CO2 we will have a concentration of 560 ppm by 2050, and according to research the tipping point is 450 ppm.

How are past temperatures determined?

Life on Earth wouldn’t be possible without the natural greenhouse effect:

-warms the Earth’s lower atmosphere

and surface due to greenhouse gasses like

CO2, water vapor, and CH4 that trap heat

from the sun

Can One Degree Actually Make a Difference???

Radioisotopes in

rocks and fossils

Temperature taken at different depths of the Earth

3. Arctic temps have risen twice as fast in the past 50 years

Top 2 CO2 emitting countries:

1. China

2. US

2. Greenhouse gas emissions has risen 70% since 1970

-As water heats, the CO2 isn't absorbed as easily and can amplify global warming= positive feedback loop

-Higher levels of CO2 increases the acidity of the ocean, which decreases the ability of corals to make calcium carbonate shells

Bubbles of ancient

air in ice cores

Data from ice cores also shows that 60% of methane emissions is due to human activity from extracting fossil fuels, landfills, and livestock.

Nitrous Oxide levels have also increased due to use of Nitrogen fertilizers.

Historical Records

Ch 19 Climate Change

What are Some Possible Effects of a Warmer Atmosphere?

Impacts of Climate Change Across the World- Instructions

The 6 Notorious GHGs!

1. CO2 2. CH4 3. H2O

4. N2O 5. O3 6. CFCs

You and your group will be looking for very SPECIFIC effects of climate change seen around the world. Make notes on your map using your dry erase marker. You should be able to find at least 1 impact for each continent, plus impacts seen in wetlands and the ocean.

The Great Barrier Reef has suffered massive bleaching events due to an increase in ocean temperature and an increase in ocean acidity.

Who's Been Successful?

*Kyoto Protocol- a treaty to slow climate change (2005)

** Effectiveness of these strategies would be enhanced by reducing population and reducing poverty.

What Can We Do to Slow Climate Change?

Output Strategies for Reducing Climate Change:

Companies and Schools are reducing their Carbon Footprints

 DuPont, IBM, Toyota, & Walmart have cut GHG emissions

Solutions: Three Major Prevention Strategies-

1. The problem is global- much international cooperation

2. Effects of climate change will last a long time- CO2 stays in atmosphere 120 years

3. It is a long term political issue.

Harmful Effects of Climate Change:

Global climate models say we must make a 50-85% cut in GHG emissions by 2050 so prevent Earth from heating up more than 3.6°F, which will likely be difficult to do. Therefore, analysts have compiled a list of things we need to do to prepare for the long-term effects of climate change. See Picture.

Costa Rica aims to be the first carbon neutral country. They currently generate 78% of their electricity from renewable hydroelectric power and 18% from wind and geothermal energy!



Some US States are tired of waiting on the federal government to take charge.

Why is this complex problem so difficult to tackle?

-requires countries to cut emissions of Co2, CH4, and N2O by 5.2% of their 1990 levels by 2012.

-countries can trade greenhouse gas emissions- the “cap and trade” system

-174 countries agreed to this. The US DID NOT.

*George W. Bush decided not to comply because he felt it would harm the economy and he did not like how rapidly developing countries (like China) were

exempt.

What Can the Government Do to Slow Climate Change?

3. Stop cutting down tropical rainforests.

1. Massive tree planting on degraded land in the tropics.

2. Plant fast growing perennial plants like

switchgrass- stores CO2 in soil to be

harvested for biofuels.

3. Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)- removing

CO2 from smokestacks and pumping it

deep into coal beds or abandoned oil or

gas fields

-CCS is expensive and could raise prices

-require large inputs of money to operate=

counterproductive

-earthquakes, war, etc could cause a

leak; even a small leak would be disastrous

1. Improve energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel use.

4. Impacts of climate change are not spread evenly across the globe.

5.Phasing out fossil fuels would disrupt economies and lifestyles.

Other Suggestions:

1. Inject sulfate particles/aerosols into stratosphere -reflects sunlight to cool troposphere

2. “Re-ice” the Arctic Sea.

3. Deep sea pipes to bring up nutrients for algal blooms which can take in CO2

1. Strictly regulate CO2 and methane pollutants.

2. Carbon taxes

3. Cap and Trade Approach

4. Subsidies to businesses who use green technologies

5.Technology transfer to developing countries

California- 12th largest producer of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the WORLD!



*2006- CA passed a law to cut GHG to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.

*Set fuel efficiency and carbon emissions standards and let the free market find the best ways to meet standards- EPA refused this request. CA and 17 other states are now suing the federal government to allow states to set tougher CO2 emission standards.

Portland, Oregon- 1st city to cut greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels.

*The city promotes energy efficient buildings and use of electricity from wind and solar sources.

*Has built many bicycle trails & has greatly expanded mass transit.

*This has actually produced an economic boom and has saved the city $2 million/year in energy costs!

2. Shift from nonrenewable Carbon based fossil fuels to a mix of Carbon free renewable energy resources.