Download Slide 1 - Herricks

Chapter 21
Regional and
Global
Atmospheric
Changes
Global Climate Change
Mean annual global temperature,1960–2003
Global Climate Change
The Causes of Global Climate Change
Global Climate Change
The Causes of Global Climate Change
CO2 in the atmosphere
Global Climate Change
The Causes of Global Climate Change
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Global Climate Change
Other Pollutants Cool the Atmosphere
•
Specifically, the aerosol effect
Caused by sulfur emissions
Global Climate Change
Developing Climate Models
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
1998
1957
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
Melting permafrost
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Changes in Precipitation Patterns
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Effects on Organisms
Present range of
beech trees
Predicted range after
climate change
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Effects on Human Health
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Effects on Agriculture
- Current farmlands could be rendered
unusable
- Location of crop types could be shifted
Global Climate Change
Effects of Global Climate Change
• Global Climate Change May Cause
Unforeseen Events
- Disruption of the ocean conveyor belt
(could induce “ice age” in Europe)
Global Climate Change
International Implications of Global Climate
Change
• Highly Developed versus Developing
Nations
Global Climate Change
International Implications of Global Climate
Change
• International Efforts to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Kyoto Protocol
(currently, not ratified by US)
Global Climate Change
Specifics on How to Deal with Global Climate
Change
More serious
Less
More greenhouse
climate change
gases
produced
mitigation
effects
Greater impact on humans
and natural environment
More adaptation
required
Global Climate Change
Specifics on How to Deal with Global Climate
Change
Less serious
More
Less greenhouse
climate change
gases
produced
mitigation
effects
Lesser impacts on humans
and natural environment
Less adaptation
required
Global Climate Change
Mitigation of Global Climate Change
• Alternatives to fossil fuels
• Sequestering Carbon in Trees
• Carbon Management
• Fertilizing the Ocean with Iron
Global Climate Change
Adaptation to Global Climate Change
• Coastal populations
– move inland
– construct levees
• Adapt to shifting agricultural zones
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
Stratospheric ozone layer
Normal levels
of ozone
Reduced levels
of ozone
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
Ozone thinning
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
The Causes of Ozone Depletion
• Main problem: CFCs
• Other chemicals:
– Halons
– Methyl bromide
– Methyl chloroform
– Carbon tetrachloride
– Nitrous oxide
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
The Effects of Ozone Depletion
Potentially, increased incidence of skin
cancers
Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
Case-in-Point: Facilitating the Recovery of
the Ozone Layer
• Montreal Protocol stipulated a reduction in
CFCs
• Smuggling CFCs remains a problem
Acid Deposition
AKA: Acid rain
In US, damage from acid deposition is
estimated at $10 billion
Acid Deposition
Measuring Acidity
Acid Deposition
How Acid Deposition Develops
Acid Deposition
The Effects of Acid Deposition
• Acid Deposition and Forest Decline
Acid Deposition
Acid Deposition
The Politics of Acid Deposition
• Acid deposition not limited to locations
where it originates.
• IL, IN, MO, OH, PA, TN, WV produce 50 75% of acid deposition that contaminates
New England and southeastern Canada
Acid Deposition
Facilitating Recovery from Acid Deposition
• Reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxides curbs acid deposition
Links Among Global Climate Change,
Ozone Depletion, and Acid Deposition
• Evidence has surfaced of combined effects
of acid deposition, ozone depletion, and
climate warming
• Climate Warming May Hurt Ozone
Recovery