* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Global climate - Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering
Citizens' Climate Lobby wikipedia , lookup
Climate change mitigation wikipedia , lookup
Climate change adaptation wikipedia , lookup
Economics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climatic Research Unit documents wikipedia , lookup
Global warming controversy wikipedia , lookup
Climate sensitivity wikipedia , lookup
Climate governance wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on human health wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Tuvalu wikipedia , lookup
Low-carbon economy wikipedia , lookup
Fred Singer wikipedia , lookup
Global warming hiatus wikipedia , lookup
Media coverage of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Global warming wikipedia , lookup
Scientific opinion on climate change wikipedia , lookup
General circulation model wikipedia , lookup
Attribution of recent climate change wikipedia , lookup
Physical impacts of climate change wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on humans wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Solar radiation management wikipedia , lookup
Instrumental temperature record wikipedia , lookup
Climate change feedback wikipedia , lookup
Climate change, industry and society wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on Australia wikipedia , lookup
Public opinion on global warming wikipedia , lookup
Politics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Mitigation of global warming in Australia wikipedia , lookup
Global climate systems LC Intro to Energy Engineering This layer keeps us alive The Earth from Apollo 17, 7th December 1972 NASA image #EL-1996-00155 Atmospheric Aurora layers Meteors Ozone Layer Aircraft Atmospheric circulation Atmospheric circulation Ocean circulation Sea surface temperature map for the northern hemisphere summer. The yellow, orange, and red colours show water temperatures warm enough to sustain cyclones (> 26.5°C) Prevailing wind The hydrological cycle Evaporation Groundwater Cooling effect of ash plumes • Mt Etna • Greek wildfires NASA MODIS images Global Effects of Mount Pinatubo What have we seen? • “Climate change” / “Global warming” – Phrase often used to further political ends – Often confuses many different scientific questions • Particularly cause and effect Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – Global climate is constant Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – Global effects will be slow to occur Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – Any effect is easily reversed IPCC synthesis report Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – A few degrees warmer will be great Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – Effects will be the same everywhere Global climatic systems… • This confusion in public minds is exacerbated by some false assumptions – It’s all a natural cycle anyway Global climatic systems… • Some reports suggest that an increase in extreme weather has taken place in recent decades – there are inadequate data to determine whether such global changes have occurred consistently over the 20th century – On regional scales there is clear evidence of changes in some extremes and climate variability indicators • for example, fewer frosts in several widespread areas • an increase in the proportion of rainfall from extreme events over the contiguous states of the USA Global climatic systems… • It can also be seen that the economic damages from weather related disasters have increased dramatically, although much of this may be attributed to a greater number of people living in vulnerable areas Atmospheric circulation Ocean circulation Linked by the Hydrological cycle UNESCO Linked by the Carbon cycle Some are quick Some are slow Global climatic cycles • Many factors influence these cycles – – – – – – – Carbon dioxide releases Methane releases Atmospheric aerosols Volcanic dust Earth’s “wobble” Solar cycles etc Global climatic cycles • and these cycles affect each other El Niño / La Niña / ENSO • ENSO - El Niño Southern Oscillation La Niña (cold) Conditions December 1998 Normal Conditions December 1993 El Niño (warm) Conditions December 1997 ENSO index • • • • • sea-level pressure components of the surface wind sea surface temperature surface air temperature total cloudiness fraction of the sky COMET webcast (meted.ucar.edu) • Full webcast is on WebCT • There is also a North Atlantic Oscillation Global cycles – Local effects • Global climate is not a steady state – A series of interlocking cycles • Climate change is not a gradual shift – A perturbation of the system • Effects can be rapid and unpredictable – “cascade of uncertainty” – do we wait to prepare? Range of major uncertainties that are typical in impact assessments, showing the "uncertainty explosion" as these ranges are multiplied to encompass a comprehensive range of future consequences, including physical, economic, social, and political impacts and policy responses (modified after Jones, 2000, and "cascading pyramid of uncertainties" in Schneider, 1983) Climate change • Understanding the global system – Education, awareness and action – What does this mean for us? Earth rise – Apollo 11 (NASA) Time for a break Electricity production in the UK 2006 • What % fuel is used in the UK? Electricity production in the UK What does the UK think? • 2007 World Environment Review interviewed consumers in 14 countries about attitudes to climate change • Of those polled in the UK (1018) – 81% are concerned about climate change What does the UK think? • 78% think that the UK Government should make it easier for people to buy renewable electricity • 73% think that the UK is too dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels • 87% think that all electricity should contain a minimum 25% of power generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Only 4% disagree What does the UK think? • • • • • • 78% want to increase use of solar power 77% want to increase use of wind power 65% want to increase use of hydro power (!) 65% want to increase use of tidal power 37% want to increase use of geothermal power 24% want to increase use of nuclear power What does the UK think? • 91% are concerned to some degree about radioactive contamination from the nuclear industry • 85% are concerned to some degree about nuclear power in general What does the UK think? • 89% switch off lights when leaving a room • 80% have some energy-saving light bulbs • 71% switch off electrical appliances at the plug when they are not in use • 68% have turned down the thermostat • 51% have installed insulation of some kind • 17% reduce energy use by washing clothes in cold water What does the UK think? Biggest threats to the world’s climate UK government policy • Climate Change Bill (2007) – 60% cut in the UK carbon emission by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels) – a target of between 26% and 32% by 2020 • Renewables Obligation – – – – – 2006/07 renewables target 6.7% of energy this rises to 10.4% in 2011/12 with an additional 1% pa until 2016/17 target of 20% by 2020 Subsidy is likely to be £1 billion pa by 2010 So what do people want? • People want more “green” energy – but they object to planning permission – they may not understand the options – and they really don’t like high costs • They worry about nuclear energy • They make some savings – but demand projected to increase 6% before 2020 So what can we do? BBC Electricity calculator • Simple but effective to highlight the problem • Makes assumptions – “How the calculator works” • 6 groups to look at various areas of improvement • Report back next week – Build up a realistic idea for 2020