Response to TED Talk by Gavin Schmidt

SUMMARY:

-There are 14 orders of magnitude

-Resolved Physics
-Sub scale 0rocesses are difficult to calculate
-Use Fortean for climate modelling
-Climate Model
-Emergent properties come from small scale processes
-Different ways of kicking the system
● Changes in the solar cycle
● Volcanoes
● Changes in biomass burning
● Ozone hole
● Deforestation
● Contrails
● Greenhouse gasses

Skillful Model
-gives better predictions then simpler ones
-models are skillful in response to:
● Solar Cycle
● Orbital change over 6000 years
● Ice sheet 20000 years ago
● 20th century multi decadal trends
● Lake outbursts into North Atlantic 8000 years ago

A quote that I found interesting that the speaker shared with us was “What’s the use of
having developed science well enough to make predictions if, in the end, all we’re willing to
do is stand around and wait for them to come true?” This message is an important one for all
of us to reflect on for the simple fact that, how is the information being presentation to us
valuable if people are not willing to act on it. The information is being presented and proven
to us and the only way we can work towards reducing the affects of climate change is by
simply acting on it. By changing some of our habits such as discontinuing the use of
single-use plastics or by walking to work/school to reduce carbon emissions, we are
significantly helping the environment. From this Ted Talk, I learned that many people are not
educating themselves, therefore they are not able to see how serious the problem of climate
change is. Therefore, they do not find the need for making these little changes to their
lifestyle. Gavin Schmidt’s Ted Talk was very educational, valuable and eye-opening.