GLOBAL WARMING © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS. The Greenhouse Effect © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R...
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Transcript of GLOBAL WARMING © 2007 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS. The Greenhouse Effect © Oceanworld 2005 Robert R...
GLOBAL WARMING
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The Greenhouse Effect
© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart
The Greenhouse Effect
The molecules of some gases in the atmosphere absorb heat energy and retain it
This can be a good thing Without an atmosphere the Earth would have
same temperature as the moon Moon mean surface temperature -46°C Moon temperature range: -233 to +123°C
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The Main Greenhouse Gases
Water Vapor Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Methane
© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart
© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
Infrared Absorption Spectra
© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart
The Greenhouse Gases Water vapor in the atmosphere is stable Carbon Dioxide levels are currently rising
but they have been higher in the past Methane levels are increasing:
Waste, cattle (manure), more rice paddy fields, as permafrost melts
Nitrogen Oxide levels increase due to increased circulation of motor vehicles
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
Mauna Loa Observatory
© Mauna Loa Observatory Site
© Earth System Research Laboratory
© Earth System Research Laboratory
Carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas
© Mauna Loa Observatory Site
South Pole Data
Samoa data
Since the Industrial Revolution
Concentration of Carbon Dioxide from trapped air measurements for the DE08 ice core near the summit of Law Dome, Antarctica. (Data measured by CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research from ice cores supplied by Australian Antarctic Division)
Average temperature of Earth
Visual of the Little Ice Age 1500-1700’s
Levels during the last ice age
© Dennis Hartmann: Universoty of Washington: Department of Atmospheric Sciences
Earth during the Jurassic Period
The oceanic conveyor belt
The melting Arctic ice
The length of the melt season inferred from surface temperature weekly data has been increasing by 9, 12, 12, and 17 days per decade in sea ice covered areas
© NASA
Is it really getting warmer – This is not what the debate is about.
1979 2003
© NASA
The consequences Sea level rise – Melting ice caps
Flooding coastal areasReduced agricultural land
Displacement of populations Climate change
Displacement of ecosystemsChange in range of insect vectors of pathogensReduced biodiversity
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The consequences
Increased rates of photosynthesis Increased agricultural production at high
latitudes Amount of water vapor in the air will increase
leading to more tropical-like ecosystems.
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
What can be done?Reduce carbon emissions
Stop burning as much fossil fuel.
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
What can be done?
Increase natural processes that use up CO2 Reduce deforestation Increase reforestation
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
What can be done?
Artificial ways to reduce atmospheric CO2 are being researched.
Filter CO2 sources using hydroxide scrubbers
Injection of CO2 into deep ocean layersForms CO2 reservoirsImpact on sea life unknown
Injecting CO2 into disused oil wells
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The bottom lineThere is NO debate, the earth is going through
a warming phase.
The question that no one seems to have an answer for and what the debate is about:
1. The earth is getting warmer due to burning fossil fuels.
2. The earth is getting warmer due to a natural warming trend.
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
Finally:Make your own decision
about what is going to happen and WHY the earth is getting warmer.
The planet will look after itself in the end Easter Island (Rapanui) in the
Pacific Settled between AD900 and
1200 Community in severe decline
AD 1700 Cause: excessive
deforestation
© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The Moai statues, Easter Island © Martin Gray, World Mysteries
The planet will look after itself in the end Chaco Canyon, New
Mexico Anasazi culture AD 850 – 1250 Cause: Deforestation
combined with a decline in rainfall
© New Mexico Tourism Department
© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
The planet will look after itself in the end Mesopotamia Sumerian civilization 3100 – 1200 BC Increased salt levels in
soil due to irrigation systems & arid environment
Reduced food yield
© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
© Asociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en Barcelona
The planet will look after itself in the end Greenland Viking colony AD982 – 1350 Cause: Deforestation,
soil degradation & cooling of the climate
© Emporia State University
© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
forumpolitics.com/pics/earth-photo.jpg
Who’s next?
© NASA