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MODULE #2: Climate Change

& Global Warming

Science & Sources of

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

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Climate - the long-term average weather pattern of anarea, including temperature, precipitation, and wind.

Weather - the short term state of the atmosphere at aspecific time and place, including the temperature,humidity, cloud coverage, precipitation, wind, etc.

Climate Change - any long-term significant change in theaverage weather that a given region experiences.These changes can be caused by dynamic processes on

Earth, external forces including variations in sunlightintensity, and more recently by human activities.

Global warming - the increase in the average measuredtemperature of the Earth's near-surface atmosphere andoceans since the mid-twentieth century, and its

projected continuation.

Some useful definitions

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Is the Earth getting warmer?

Is the Earths climate

changing?

Yes, it is constantly changing due tonatural forcings (intensity of the sun,

volcanic activity, etc.),but more recently as a result of human

activites.

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20062006

The United States recordedits warmest year everwarmest year ever in 2006

2.2F above the 20th Centuryave.

200200

77

Source: NASA

Source: Union of Concerned

Scientists

The

Earths20Hottest

Yearson

Yes.

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Whyis the Earth getting

warmer ?

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Thousands of peer-reviewedscientific research publicationsprovide clear & convincingevidence for warming causedby humans (anthropogenic GHGemissions)

Source: IPCC Report: Summary for Policy Makers,

Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis

Greenhouse Gasconcentrations haveincreased dramatically sincethe industrial revolution.Prior to this, levels stayed

relatively stable forthousands of years. Humanactivities are adding moreGHGs to the atmosphere &boosting the GreenhouseEffect that we learned aboutin MODULE #1

in response to our actions!

There isThere is overwhelmingoverwhelming

evidence toevidence to

show that our climate is changingshow that our climate is changing

Temperature isincreasing as

concentrations of CO2 (&

other GHGs) increase inEarths atmosphere

U.S. Industrial

Revolution

begins

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7/14Graph courtesy of NASA. Data Source: Vostok ice core

data NOAA

COCO22 levels have now reachedlevels have now reached

unprecedented highs, and continue to riseunprecedented highs, and continue to rise

steadily every year steadily every year

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ow can we tell that the recent, rapid warming isow can we tell that the recent, rapid warming is

caused by human (anthropogenic) activity rathercaused by human (anthropogenic) activity rather

than natural cycles?than natural cycles?

If scientists only consider Natural climate forcings (like solar &volcanic activity), then computer models tell them Earth

shouldve been cooling down over the past 30 years (gray line)but thats not what is happening in the real world (red line)

But when GHG emissions from human activities are included in thecomputer models, the results match what scientists are seeing

(temperature increasing) so we are a key part of the equation!

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Why is this problem uniquely caused byWhy is this problem uniquely caused by

us?us?

After allAfter allwe humans live along with countless other species on planet Earth,and like all species change our environment to a greater or lesserdegree.

And change is inevitable.

BUT the rate (and magnitude) of change we have caused sincethe industrial revolution is much too great for the natural cyclesto maintain a balance!

As the American Geophysical Union recently concluded: "It isAs the American Geophysical Union recently concluded: "It is

scientifically inconceivable that - after changing forests into cities,scientifically inconceivable that - after changing forests into cities,

putting dust and soot into the atmosphere, putting millions of acres ofputting dust and soot into the atmosphere, putting millions of acres ofdesert into irrigated agriculture, and putting greenhouse gases into thedesert into irrigated agriculture, and putting greenhouse gases into the

atmosphere - humans have not altered the natural course of the climateatmosphere - humans have not altered the natural course of the climate

system."system."

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Lets take a look at the major sources

of GHG emissions in VermontVermont

Can you guess which 2 sources below are responsibleCan you guess which 2 sources below are responsible

for nearly of Vermonts Greenhouse Gasfor nearly of Vermonts Greenhouse Gas

Emissions?Emissions?

Transportation?Heating our

homes andbusinesses?

Agriculture?

Industry?

Landfills

?Electricitygeneration /

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11%

(1- 5%

3%

4% 6%

44% 27%

Transportation

Heating ourhomes &

businesses

Electricity

Industrialprocesses

Landfills / Waste Industrialfuel use

Agriculture

Vermonts

Greenhou

se GasEmissions

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Residential /

Commercial

Fuel Use

9%

Landfills / Waste

4%

Industrial

Processes

8%

Industrial Fuel

Use

14%

Agriculture

7%

Electrictiy

32%

Transportation

26%

Vermont

United States

GHG Emissionsby Source

Category (2000)

How do these 2 pie charts

differ?

Can you think of reasonswhy Vermonts GHG

emissions profile looksdifferent?

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Please go on to MODULE #3 to learn about how GHGemissions are changing things around the globe