LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 18e G. TYLER MILLER SCOTT E. SPOOLMAN. Climate Disruption. Cengage Learning 2015

Transcription

1 LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT, 18e G. TYLER MILLER SCOTT E. SPOOLMAN 19 Climate Disruption

2 19-1 How Is the Earth s Climate Changing? Considerable scientific evidence indicates that the earth s atmosphere is warming at a rapid rate that is likely to lead to significant climate disruption during this century

3 Weather and Climate Are Not the Same Weather is short-term changes Temperature, air pressure, precipitation, wind Climate is average conditions in a particular area over a long period of time, at least 30 years Temperature and precipitation Fluctuations are normal

4 Climate Change is Not New But Has Accelerated Over the past 3.5 billion years the climate has been altered by: Volcanic emissions, changes in solar input, movement of the continents, meteor impacts, changing global air, and ocean circulation Over the past 900,000 years Glacial and interglacial periods

5 Climate Change is Not New But Has Accelerated (cont d.) Over the past 10,000 years Interglacial period Over the past 1,000 years Temperature stable Since 1975 Temperature changes Accelerating

6 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (over past 900,000 years) Average surface temperature ( C) Thousands of years ago Fig. 19-2, p. 507

7 AVERAGE TEMPERATURE (over past 130 years) Average surface temperature ( C) Year Fig. 19-3, p. 507

8 Fig. 19-4, p. 507

9 19-2 Why Is the Earth s Climate Changing? Scientific evidence strongly indicates that the earth s atmosphere has been warming at a rapid rate since 1975 and that human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have played a major role in this warming

10 The Natural Greenhouse Effect Plays a Key Role in Climate Greenhouse gases absorb heat radiated by the earth The gases then emit infrared radiation that warms the atmosphere Without the natural greenhouse effect We would have a cold, uninhabitable earth

11 Atmospheric lifetime Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) 114 yrs Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 100 yrs (varies yrs) Methane (CH 4 ) 12 yrs Fig. 19-6a, p. 510

12 Human Activities Play a Key Role in Atmospheric Warming Since the Industrial Revolution CO 2, CH 4, and N 2 O emissions have been higher Main sources agriculture, deforestation, and burning of fossil fuels There is a correlation of rising CO 2 and CH 4 with rising global temperatures

13 Fig. 19-7, p. 511

14 What Role Do the Oceans Play in Projected Climate Disruption? CO 2 is soluble in ocean water Warmer oceans Last century C increase Absorb less CO 2 and hasten atmospheric warming CO 2 levels increase acidity Affect marine ecosystems

15 19-3 What Are the Possible Effects of a Warmer Atmosphere? The projected rapid change in the atmosphere s temperature could have severe and long-lasting consequences, including increased drought and flooding, rising sea levels, and shifts in the locations of croplands and wildlife habitats LINK

16 Solutions Slowing Climate Disruption Prevention Cut fossil fuel use (especially coal) Shift from coal to natural gas Repair leaky natural gas pipelines and facilities Cleanup Sequester CO 2 by planting trees and preserving forests and wetlands Sequester carbon in soil using biochar Improve energy efficiency Sequester CO 2 deep underground Shift to renewable energy resources (with no leaks allowed) Reduce deforestation Use more sustainable agriculture and forestry Put a price on greenhouse gas emissions Sequester CO 2 in the deep ocean (with no leaks allowed) Remove CO 2 from smokestack and vehicle emissions Fig , p. 528

17 We Could Try to Clean Up Greenhouse Gas Emissions Solutions Massive global tree planting Restore wetlands that have been drained for farming Plant fast-growing perennials on degraded land Promote biochar Preserve and restore natural forests Capture/store carbon from coal-burning plants

18 Greenhouse Gases Can Be Regulated as Pollutants CO 2 is classified as a pollutant Concentration in the atmosphere 2009 the EPA classified several greenhouse gases as a danger to public health Fossil fuel companies are against

19 Governments Can Cooperate Internationally The Kyoto Protocol 1997 treaty to slow climate change Not signed by the U.S. Technology transfer Helping poor countries Protection of large forests

20 19-5 How Can We Adapt to Climate Change? Realize important economic, ecological, and health benefits by drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions With the goal of slowing projected climate disruption

21 We Can Prepare for Climate Disruption Reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible Move people from low-lying coastal areas Take measures against storm surges at coast Prepare for more intense wildfires Conserve water