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Many past ice ages were caused by… 1. 2. 3. 4. Volcanic activity Photosynthesis Prehistoric humans Changes in the earth’s orbit 5. Sun spots 57% 39% 4% C ot s . s ha Su n sp rt h’ .. ea th e ng e s in is t or ic hu m an is he s yn t Pr eh ot os Ph Vo lc a ni c ac t iv ity 0% 0% The #1 cause of rising GHG levels is… 1. CO2 from deforestation 2. CFCs from industrial activity 3. CO2 from burning fossil fuels 4. Methane from cows 86% 14% C co w s s. . ne fro m fo s et ha M O 2 fro m bu rn in g ... 0% ria l us t fro m C FC s fro m O 2 C in d de fo re st a tio n 0% The #2 cause of rising GHG levels is… 1. CO2 from deforestation 2. CFCs from industrial activity 3. CO2 from burning fossil fuels 4. Methane from cows 55% 36% 9% co w s s. . ne fro m fo s M et ha ... C O 2 fro m bu rn in g ria l us t fro m C FC s fro m O 2 C in d de fo re st a tio n 0% T/F: Scientists know that Hurricane Katrina resulted from climate change 1. True 2. False 91% ls e Fa Tr ue 9% Basics • Climate is “average weather” – Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, ocean acidification, etc. • So climate change is changes in “average weather”… • …and anthropogenic climate change is changes in “average weather” due to human activity. Basics • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a group of scientists and governments created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). • Mandate: “to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information...” • “The IPCC does not conduct any research…” Historic climate Source: http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Ice_Age_Temperature_Rev_png Historic climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig 6.3 Historic climate • Do we have a theory about what caused historic climate changes? • Yes: The theory is that they were driven by variations in the Earth’s orbit (the 120,000year “Milankovitch cycles”) plus feedbacks. • IPCC: “The next large [change], similar to those that started past Ice Ages, is due to begin in 30,000 years.” [IPCC 2007, FAQ 6.1] Historic climate Source: IPCC 2007 Energy balance • Think of the Earth like a water heater: Energy comes into it (Ein, e.g., from electric coils) and energy leaves (Eout, e.g., heat loss). • In steady state, energy in equals energy out (Ein = Eout) and so temperature T is constant. • Wrap a blanket around the tank and Eout goes down. Q: What happens next? • A: Either you can keep the same T by reducing Ein or T rises to a new steady state. Recent climate Source: http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Instrumental_Temperature_Record_png Recent climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig 6.10 Recent climate Source: http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Mauna_Loa_Carbon_Dioxide_png Recent climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig SPM.1 Recent climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig SPM.1 Recent climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig SPM.1 Recent climate and historic climate Source: IPCC 2007, Fig 6.3 Recent climate • Do we have a theory about what caused recent climate changes? • Yes: The theory is that they are driven by anthropogenic activity (burning fossil fuels, deforestation, etc.) plus feedbacks. • IPCC 2007: “Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” Greenhouse gases • Most incoming energy is at wavelengths in the visible spectrum. • Most outgoing energy is at longer infrared wavelengths. • Greenhouse gases(water vapor, CO2, …) interact with outgoing (infrared) but not incoming Arrhenius (Swedish chemist), 1896 Anthropogenic climate change / global warming • Like an extra blanket on the water heater, increased levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases reduce Eout (energy out). • Since Ein (energy in) is not changing much, we have Ein > Eout and so the Earth is out of energy balance and so T rises. • Q: What happens to temperatures in the stratosphere (up 10-50km / 6-31miles)? • A: Stratospheric temperatures are falling. • Q: How sure are scientists about anthropogenic climate change? 1990 (1st Assessment Report) “[The observed warming in the 20th century] is broadly consistent with predictions of climate models, but it is also of the same magnitude as natural climate variability. Thus the observed increase could be largely due to this natural variability…” 1995 (2nd Assessment Report) “The balance of evidence suggests a discernable human influence on global climate.” 2001 (3rd Assessment Report) “There is new and stronger evidence… most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations.” 2007 (4th Assessment Report) “Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” Recent climate • IPCC 2007: “Most of the observed increase in global • • • • average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.” Q: Are there other (natural) forces at work? A: Yes, e.g., Ein from the sun has been going up. But this is about 1/10th of anthropogenic impacts. Q: Can other theories explain recent climate? A: No. Source: IPCC 2007, FAQ 9.2, Fig 1 Roy Ruffin and Paul Gregory, Principles of Microeconomics, 7th ed. (2001), p. 380. Brian Walter and David Salt, Resilience Thinking (2006), p. 7. Future climate • Two main uncertainties about future climate. • Uncertainty #1: What’s going to happen with emissions of CO2 and other GHGs? • Uncertainty #2: What’s going to happen with positive or negative feedback loops? • Positive feedback loops amplify. Ex: as T rises, less snow/ice, lower albedo means more sunlight is absorbed rather than reflected. • Negative feedback loops tone down. Ex: As T rises, more water vapor, so more clouds, and clouds reflect incoming sunlight. (Note: Clouds are key!) Climate sensitivity: How much would T go up in a new steady state with doubled CO2? Source: UW atmospheric physics professor Marcia Baker Future climate • Two main uncertainties about future climate. • Uncertainty #1: What’s going to happen with emissions of CO2 and other GHGs? • Uncertainty #2: What’s going to happen with positive or negative feedback loops? • Positive feedback loops amplify. Ex: as T rises, less snow/ice, lower albedo means more sunlight is absorbed rather than reflected. • Negative feedback loops tone down. Ex: As T rises, more water vapor, so more clouds, and clouds reflect incoming sunlight. (Note: Clouds are key!) Future GHG emissions: Going up for now… Source: IPCC 2007, Fig. SPM.3 Put Uncertainties #1 and #2 together… Source: IPCC 2007, Fig. SPM.5. Warming is relative to 1980-1999 Future climate • T has been rising ≈0.2°C (≈0.5°F) per decade. • Even if we stopped cold turkey, some 21st century warming (≈0.6°C, ≈1.1°F) is projected because we are not in energy balance. • Atmospheric concentrations of CO2 (280ppm preindustrial, 379ppm in 2005) are going up about 2ppm per year. [IPCC 2007 WG1SPM, p. 2] • “For the next two decades a warming of about 0.2°C per decade is projected…” [IPCC 2007] Recent climate Source: http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Instrumental_Temperature_Record_png