Download Climate and Atmospheric Changes

Climate & Atmospheric
Changes
Ozone Depletion
 Ozone- molecule consisting of 3 oxygen
atoms
 Benefit
to humans because it
absorbs harmful UV radiation
 Ozone layer is being depleted because of the
addition of chemicals (esp. CFC’s) that break
apart the ozone molecule
OZONE VIDEO
How ozone is destroyed by CFCs
Ozone over Antarctica
ANTARCTIC OZONE HOLE (16 MIN)
OZZY OZONE (10 MIN)
Answer the following questions as they
are answered in the video
CLIMATE CHANGE
Long-term change in the earth's climate,
especially a change due to an increase in the
average atmospheric temperature.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Causes of
Climate Change
Description of what it is
Explanation of how it impacts
climate
(What SCIENTISTS say)
Volcanic
eruptions
Eruptions release greenhouse gases (CO2,
H2O, and sulfur dioxide) into the air
…But, ash can also BLOCK the light…
WARMS: more Greenhouse Gases
COOLS: reflects light away
Sunspots
More emitted radiation and increased
More sunspots will increase the amount
temperatures are found around sunspots of heat that stays within the atmosphere.
Earth’s orbit
There is variation in Earth’s tilt which
affects the amount of solar radiation
received.
As heat is emitted back out into space,
Carbon Dioxide
carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbs some of the
fluctuations
heat.
Depending on the season, more or less
energy is received from the sun.
Heat is retained in the atmosphere (not
radiated back into space) causing the
global temperature to rise.
THEY ARE DIFFERENT!!!
Effects of Climate Change
Link: The Nature Conservancy
1. HIGHER
TEMPERATURES
The five hottest years on record
have all occurred since 1997.
2. CHANGING
LANDSCAPES
Changing patterns of rain and
snow are forcing trees and plants
around the world to move toward
polar regions and up mountain
slopes
ALASKA - Portage Glacier
1914
Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org
2004
ARIZONA- Colorado River
June 2002
Dec 2003
Effects of Climate Change
3. WILDLIFE AT RISK
Rising temperatures are changing
weather and vegetative patterns
across the globe, forcing animal
species to migrate to new, cooler
areas in order to survive.
Experts predict
that 1/4 of Earth’s
species will be
headed for
extinction by 2050
4. RISING
SEAS
Sea level rise from
climate change could
displace tens of millions
of people.
Sea levels could continue
to rise between 4 inches
and 36 inches over the
next 100 years.
Effects of Climate Change
5. INCREASED RISK OF
DROUGHT, FIRE & FLOODS
Massive land erosion is one
result of overgrazing &
drought in Kenya
6. STRONGER STORMS
& HURRICANES
Hurricanes and tropical
storms to become more
intense — lasting longer,
unleashing stronger
winds, and causing more
damage to coastal
ecosystems
Effects of Climate Change
7. MORE HEAT RELATED
ILLNESS & DISEASE
As temperatures rise, so do the risks of
heat-related illness and even death for the
most vulnerable human populations.
Increase the spread of infectious diseases.
8. ECONOMIC LOSSES
Climate change could cost between 5 and
20 percent of the annual global gross
domestic product. Declining crop yields
could put hundreds of thousands of
people at risk for starvation.
Effects of Climate Change
9. OCEAN
ACIDIFICATION
As temperatures rise, more
CO2 is absorbed by the ocean
causing acidic water.
10. EL NINO & LA NINA
Weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean
change causing an increased
frequency of bad weather events to
occur around the world.
Normal Ocean Water
NORMAL
• Strong Trade
winds towards the
western pacific
• Warm water off
Australia
• Cool waters off the
coast of South
America.
• UPWELLING
El Nino
EL NINO
•Weaker trade winds in
the pacific ocean
•Warm water off
Australia moves
towards South America
•Cool waters off the
coast of South America
begin to warm.
•More evaporation off
of S.A. leading to more
precipitation  floods
•Reduced upwelling
El Nino
During El Nino, upwelling stops, so fishing industry
and economy are impacted
La Nina
LA NINA
•STRONG trade
winds in the pacific
ocean force warm
water back to
Australia
• COLD waters off
the coast of South
America return.
• STRONG upwelling
NORMAL
YEAR
LA NINO
NINA
EL
Does El
Nino or La
Nina cause
more
hurricanes
to hit the
US
Coastline
(dark line)?
LA NINA
EVENT
Global Atmospheric Concentration of CO2
1000 Years of CO2 & Global Warming
Temperature
(Northern Hemisphere)
Year
Year
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
Parts Per Million
Degree Celsius Increase
CO2 Concentrations
Billions of Metric Tons Carbon
Goal:
Reductions in
2007
CO2 Per Year
of Metric
Billions
CarbonTons Carbon
Gigaton
Our Goal
2007
Reductions
in CO2
Per Year
Produce electricity
efficiently
Use electricity
efficiently
Vehicle efficiency
Solar and Wind
Power
Biofuels
Carbon capture
and storage
WHAT CAN YOU DO
TO HELP SLOW
DOWN GLOBAL
CLIMATE CHANGE?