Overview

o Introduction to Climate Change

• Causes of Global Climate Change
o Effects of Climate Change
• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Level
• Changes in Precipitation Patterns
• Effects on Organisms
• Effects on Human Health
• Effects on Agriculture
o Dealing with Global Climate Change
Climate Change and Adaptation
 Climate Change-
Mean Annual Global Temperature 1960-2005
 Climate Change Terminology
o Greenhouse Gas
• Gas that absorbs infrared radiation
• Ex: Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons
and tropospheric ozone
o Positive Feedback
• Change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the
changed condition
o Infrared Radiation
• Radiation that has a wavelength that is longer than that of visible
light, but shorter than that of radio waves
o Greenhouse Effect
• Increase of heat in a system where energy enters (often as light), is
absorbed as heat, and released sometime later
 Climate Change
o Evidence for Climate Change
• 11 of the 12 years between 1995 and 2006 were among
the twelve warmest years since the mid-1800s
• Phenological spring in N. hemisphere now comes 6 days
earlier
o Warming is not due to natural causes
• Human produced greenhouse gases are most plausible
explanation
 Causes
o Greenhouse gas concentrations increasing
 Causes
o Increased concentration
of CO2 (right)
• Burning fossil fuels in
cars, industry and homes
• Deforestation
• Burning of forests
Greenhouse Effect
 Other Pollutants Cool the Atmosphere

o Atmospheric Aerosols tend to cool the atmosphere

• Both human and natural sources
• Tiny particles that remain in troposphere for weeks or
months
• Contain many chemicals, but often contain sulfur
o Complicates models of climate change
 Climate Models
o Climate affected by:
• winds, clouds, ocean currents,
and albedo
o Used to explore past climate
events
o Advanced models can project
future warming events
o Models are only as good as the
data and law used to program
them
• They have limitations
Effects of Global Climate Change- Melting Ice
and Rising Sea Levels
o Ocean as CO2 sink - excess CO2 is starting to harm
ocean life
o Sea level rise caused in 2 ways
• Thermal Expansion
• Water expands as it warms
• Melting of land ice
• Retreat of glacier and thinning of ice at the poles
o Melting has positive feedback
• Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo
leading to further warming
Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels

1957

1998
 Case-In-Point Impacts in Fragile Areas

o Eskimo Inuit live traditional life

dictated by freezing climate
o Climate change is altering their
existence
• Wildlife are smaller or displaced
• Reduced snow cover and shorter
river ice seasons
• Thawing of permafrost (right)
 Effects of Global Climate Change-
Changing Precipitation Patterns

o Some areas will get more water, some areas will

have greater droughts
• Ex: Hurricanes will likely get stronger
 Effects of Global Climate Change-
Effects on Organisms

o Zooplankton in parts of California Current have

decreased by 80% since 1951
• Effecting entire food chain
o Decline in krill around Antarctica
• Caused decrease in penguin populations
o Species have shifted their geographic range
o Migrating birds are returning to summer homes
earlier
• Food is not available at this time
 Effects on Organisms - Coral Reefs

o Coral reefs can be bleached (right) due to increase

in water temperature
• Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more
susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be
immune
 Effects on Human Health

o Increased number of heat-related illnesses and

deaths
 Effects on Agriculture
o Difficult to anticipate
• Productivity will increase in some areas and decrease in others
o Rise in sea level will inundate flood plains and river valleys
(lush farmland)
o Effect on pests is unknown
o Warmer temperatures will decrease soil moisture- requiring
more irrigation
o Location (i.e. elevation and altitude) where certain crops
can be grown may have to change
 International Implications
of Climate Change

o Developed vs.
Developing countries
• Differing self-interests
• Differing ability to meet
the challenges of climate
change
 Dealing with Global Climate Change

o To avoid the worst of climate change, CO2 levels

must be stabilized at 550ppm
• 50% higher than current levels
o Two ways to attempt to manage climate change
• Mitigation
• Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate
global climate change
• Adaptation
• Focuses on learning to live with to the environmental changes
and societal consequences brought about by global climate
change
Dealing with Global Climate Change-
Relationship Between Mitigation and
Adaptation
 Dealing with Global Climate
Change- Mitigation

o Locate/invent alternative fuels to fossil fuels

o Increase efficiency of cars and trucks
o Sequestering carbon before it is emitted
o Plant and Maintain trees to naturally sequester
carbon
 Dealing with Global Climate Change-
Adaptation

o Rising sea levels and

coastal populations
• Move inland
• Construct dikes
and levees
o Adapt to shifting
agricultural zones
o NYC sewer line
 Environmental effects
o UV damage to DNA
o Skin cancer
o Cataracts
o Suppression of immune system
o Ecosystem:
o Primary producers
o Food chains
o Development in aquatic larva
 El Nino/Southern Oscillation
o Trade winds keep warm water in
W. Pacific. La Nina
o El Nino: Shift in tropical
depression
o Northern Jet stream splits changes
rainfall patterns
o Pacific decadal oscillation: warm
water in northern pacific moves
back and forth.
o Cool water in north help Alsaka
salmon runs, warm off coast and
then switches.
 Human Activities

o Industrialization
o CO2 increased 31%, CH4 inc 151%, N2O inc 17% over since pre-
industrial times.
o 40% of excess CO2 absorbed by oceans
o Methane a big problem
 Reduction of Carbon Emissions

o Burn less fossil fuel: Turn down your thermostat

o Plant Trees for shade and CO2 uptake
o Insulate your house
o Replace old appliances
o Use compact fluorescence light bulbs
o Use renewable energy