Download Global Climate Systems

Global Climate Systems
I.
Earth’s Climate
A. Past Climate
B. Present Climate and Classification
1. Climate components
2. Classification
3. Köppen Climate Classification
4. El Nino
III.
Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
I. Earth’s Climate
Climate is weather over time
Climatology is the study of climate
Climatic regions are areas with weather statistics
that are similar over time
1
Past Climate
How do we know about past climatic patterns?
Glacial Ice Deposits
Biological Marine Sediments
Inorganic Marine Sediments
Geological Proxy Data
Biological Proxy Data
Past Climate
Ice ages are intervals of time when large areas of the surface of
the globe are covered with ice sheets (large continental glaciers).
Most recent Ice Age occurred during the Pleistocene (2,000,000
to 14,000 years ago).
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Past Climate
Why did the Ice Age occur?
• changing continental positions
• reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere
• changes in the Earth's orbit every 95,800 years
(Milankovitch Orbital Theory of Glaciation)
Past Climate
Columbian Mammoth
Dire Wolf
Short Faced Bear
Harlan’s Ground Sloth
American Lion
Saber Toothed Cats
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Earth’s Present Climate
Climate Components
Climate Components:
Insolation
Temperature
Pressure
Air Masses
Precipitation
Earth’s Present Climate
A. Climate Components
Precipitation
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Earth’s Present Climate
A. Climate Components
Earth’s Present Climate
2. Classification of Climatic Regions
Types of Climate Classification:
Genetic classification: Classification based on
causative factors (things like air masses and
global circulation)
Empirical classification: Classification based on
temperature and precipitation data.
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Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Weather data used to create the Köppen Climate
Maps:
Average monthly temperatures
Average monthly precipitation
Total annual precipitation
Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
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Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Tropical Climates (A) – equatorial regions, humid, warm
Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Dry Arid and Semiarid Climates (B) - deserts and steppes; arid and semiarid regions
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Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Mesothermal Climates (C) – humid subtropical, Mediterranean, and marine west coast regions
Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Mediterranean Climates (Cs)
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Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Microthermal Climates (D) – humid continental, subarctic regions
Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Polar Climates (E) - polar regions
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Earth’s Present Climate
3. Köppen Climate Classification System
Highland Climates (H) – Found in areas with moderate to high temps., but
temperatures here are low due to elevation.
Earth’s Present Climate
4. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Occurs when in air pressure over the Pacific
changes causing the trade winds to change
direction.
Water intensification and thunderstorms are in
turn brought to the west coast of continents.
Occurs every 3-5 years.
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Earth’s Present Climate
4. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Earth’s Present Climate
4. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Gobal Climatological Effects of El Niňo
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Global Climate Change
A.Global Warming
Refers to short-term increases in global
temperatures caused by human actions.
Forced fluctuations in climate change are due
to human activities.
Unforced fluctuations are natural changes in
global climate.
IPCC states that global warming can be
attributed to human activities (forced
fluctuations).
Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
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Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
Radiatively active gases that influence global
warming:
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)
Nitrous oxide (N20)
Chloroflourocarbons (CFCs)
Water vapor
Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
Impact of Global Warming:
World food supply changes
Natural ecosystems changes
Melting glaciers
Increase in sea level
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Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
Antarctic Ice Disintegration
Figure 10.32
Global Climate Change
A. Global Warming
Political Actions:
Development of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.
Forces more developed countries to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions collectively by 5.3%
United States goal of 7.0% will not be met
because President Bush has abandoned the
Kyoto Protocol under concerns for the
economic cost of the emissions reduction.
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