* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download ENVI 30 Environmental Issues
General circulation model wikipedia , lookup
Global warming hiatus wikipedia , lookup
Climate change denial wikipedia , lookup
Economics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climatic Research Unit documents wikipedia , lookup
Climate resilience wikipedia , lookup
Fred Singer wikipedia , lookup
Urban heat island wikipedia , lookup
Climate sensitivity wikipedia , lookup
Climate governance wikipedia , lookup
Climate engineering wikipedia , lookup
Politics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Citizens' Climate Lobby wikipedia , lookup
Global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climate change adaptation wikipedia , lookup
Instrumental temperature record wikipedia , lookup
Clean Air Act (United States) wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Tuvalu wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Saskatchewan wikipedia , lookup
Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment wikipedia , lookup
Media coverage of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Attribution of recent climate change wikipedia , lookup
Climate change feedback wikipedia , lookup
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Scientific opinion on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Solar radiation management wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Public opinion on global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on human health wikipedia , lookup
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
Climate Change – Effects I. A. Negative 5. • Ozone Holes Global warming of the atmosphere translates to stratospheric cooling • 6. Stratospheric cooling may enhance ozone destruction in Antarctic and make phenomenon more common in Arctic (Waibel et al. 1999) Health • • • Consistently elevated temperatures can lead to immunosuppression • Exacerbated by elevated levels of UV-B • Ex – Mass mortality of animals in last 10 years due to viral infections - Seals in North Sea - Lions in Serengeti (Africa) - Horses in Australia - Birds in western US Allergies could worsen due to increased pollen production, dust (desertification), mold (humidity) Additional human mortality from severe summer heat Climate Change – Effects I. A. Negative 7. • Tropical Pests and Diseases Unusual weather favors opportunistic pests while making life difficult for the predators that typically control them • • Periods of anomalous weather tend to be followed by outbreaks of disease Many tropical diseases are transmitted by animal vectors – insects, rodents Climate Change – Effects I. A. Negative 7. Tropical Pests and Diseases a. • • • b. • • • Cholera 1991 – Freighter from Asia emptied bilge tanks off Peru during an ENSO event Cholera in bilge water plankton shellfish humans 500,000+ infected; 5000+ dead Hantavirus Late 1980s/Early 1990s – Drought in SW US led to increase in deer mouse population Transmitted lethal form of pulmonary hantavirus To date, hantavirus has appeared in 20 states; 100+ dead Climate Change – Effects I. A. Negative 7. Tropical Pests and Diseases c. • • • d. • • • Plague 1994 – Unusually long monsoon season in N India followed by 90 days of temperatures > 100 oF Heat drove rats into cities Spread plague $2 billion to combat problem; 63 dead Dengue fever 1995 – Rising temperatures allowed a coastal mosquito species to cross mountains and spread across Costa Rica, carrying dengue fever Reached as far north as Texas border 140,000+ people infected; 4000+ dead Climate Change – Effects I. A. Negative 7. Tropical Pests and Diseases e. • • • • • Malaria Most prevalent vector-borne disease (1-2 million cases/year) Transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes Warming could lead to • Broader geographic range (estimate that +2oC could expand range from 42 to 60% of land area) • Higher metabolic rate More food • Faster maturation More rapid reproduction • Faster parasite life cycle Potential spread into large urban areas (Nairobi, Kenya; Harare, Zimbabwe) with immunologically naïve pop’ns Projections are controversial and highly variable Climate Change – Effects I. B. Positive 1. Plant Growth • • • 2. Warmer temperatures and elevated concentrations of CO2 lead to faster plant growth and greater food production per acre Elevated concentrations of CO2 should lead to more efficient use of water, reduced runoff and less water pollution Enhanced plant growth should remove CO2 from atmosphere at a faster rate (Gaia Hypothesis) Agriculture • • Expansion of agricultural regions Longer growing season in areas that currently are marginal for agriculture Climate Change – Effects I. B. Positive 3. Rainfall Patterns • • • 4. Predictions of increased rainfall in major agricultural regions, especially in northern hemisphere Reduced irrigation required for plants/crops Increased precipitation should cause glaciers and ice sheets to grow Milder Winters • • Severe winters pose a health and safety risk Fewer expenses associated with less severe winter weather Climate Change – Projections II. • Complexity and uncertainty in climate models Response of earth climate system to a forcing function • • • Accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere What should we do?? • Lomborg Air Pollution – Sources & Effects III. • Most local air pollution associated with cities, esp. large cities and industrial centers • • Average concentration of airborne particles in urban areas ~10x concentration in rural areas Major cities – air pollution causes thousands of deaths each year Mexico City – Air quality so severe that some people estimate breathing is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day China – Controversy re: monitoring by Chinese government vs. US embassy personnel Many air pollutants are hygroscopic • • • • Combine with water and promote fog formation Air Pollution – Components IV. • Primary • • • Secondary • • • • Form from precursors Ex – Ozone Many are components of photochemical smog (react chemically with light) Legislation addressing air pollution requires consideration of both primary and secondary pollutants • • • Problematic in the form in which they’re produced Ex – Lead, carbon monoxide Clean Air Act – 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments – 1990 EPA – NAAQS for six criteria pollutants Distribution of national total emissions estimates by source category for specific pollutants, 2010 http://www.epa.gov/air/airtrends