Global Climate Change

when the carbon removed from the atmosphere equals the carbon returned to the atmosphere, the carbon cycle is in balance human activities have caused an imbalance in the carbon cycle leading to global warming

Greenhouse gases prevent excess heat energy from escaping the earth's atmosphere

carbon dioxide
largest contributor to global warming released by burning fossil fuels

methane

released by cattle digestion (this is a big one! beef

raised for fast food), rice and other crops

lesser contributors: nitrous oxide - released by auto emissions, agriculture,

chemical manufacturing

ozone - released by auto emissions water vapor - concentration increases as global

temperature rises

Review of the carbon cycle - burning fossil fuels

releases CO2 from food energy stored in petroleum, coal, natural gas

Global warming prevents excess heat from escaping the atmosphere

Studies show a steady increase in CO2 in the atmosphere

atmospheric CO2 levels are currently at the highest level in 650,000 years
CO2 data determined by comparing present day atmosphere with atmospheric gases trapped in polar ice deposited in ancient times

Predicted climate changes resulting from global warming

rising global temperatures changes in global weather patterns rising sea level spread of tropical diseases

Rising global temperature

Rising temperatures melt sea ice and glaciers

beautiful photo of an iceberg - don't you think?

melting glacier. all this rock was covered with thick ice not long ago!

tzi the Iceman - a well-preserved natural mummy of a man from about 3300 BC (53 centuries ago), released from a melted glacier in 1991 between Austria and Italy.

Rising sea level

Maldive Islands - nation in the Indian Ocean, south of India slightly less than 400,000 people lowest sea level of any country in the world

threatened by global warming, the country seeks to buy a new homeland for it's people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/10/maldives-climatechange

FYI: New York City is only a couple of feet above sea level and New Orleans, of course, is below sea level

Changes in global weather patterns

more frequent and more serious storms changes in global rainfall patterns (some areas more drought, others flooding) changing temperature and rainfall patterns can have a serious effect on agriculture and world food supplies

Changes in ocean temperature (due to global warming) can disrupt normal ocean circulation
normally, strong trade the enriched water is winds blow westward, the basis for a thriving moving the surface layer fishing industry off the of the ocean westward coast of Peru flow of surface water the warm water readily westward brings cold diffuses into the water to the ocean atmosphere, bringing surface - nutrient rich abundant rainfall to upwelling Indonesia and Australia (supports significant makes nutrients available agricultural production) to marine life in the eastern Pacific

El Nio Effect
trade winds are much weaker lessens or stops the upwelling of nutrient rich water and reduces the flow of warm water to the west without the westward trade winds, the surface water of the ocean flows from west to east

movement of surface water east prevents nutrient upwelling rainfall follows the warm water eastward, causing flooding in Peru and drought in Indonesia and Australia organisms lack nutrients and many die fishing industry collapses

IPCC reports more than 90% of global climate change is caused by humans

Transportation is the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gases

Electrical generation is another large source

satellite image of North and Central America at night

Heat energy escapes from nations Capitol

Collective action can significantly reduce our carbon footprint

save your hard-earned money be more comfortable in your home reduce carbon emissions help the U.S. economy

what's not to like about that? so, how can this be accomplished? here are just a few suggestions

vote with your pocketbook choose energy efficient appliances when you make a purchase

Insulate and replace windows

double pane windows lose less heat

compact fluorescent bulbs last up to 10 years and use much less energy than normal incandescent bulbs big savings on your power bill imagine how this could help businesses struggling to balance their budgets and avoid layoffs

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to:

light more than 3 million homes for a year save more than $600 million in annual energy costs prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

Here's an example at the San Simeon estate in California

lighting for the mansion the property is now managed by a historical trust

a few other ideas: is your water heater insulated? you can buy an insulating blanket to wrap around at a hardware store how about getting a programmable thermostat? research shows that controlling the temperature automatically can save 10%-15% on your heating bill without sacrificing comfort in most homes, nearly 50% of the total utility bill goes toward heating and cooling edge your doors and windows with insulating tape - prevent drafts and save energy both summer and winter (air conditioning uses energy too)

I have lots more ideas for energy options - you'll hear more about this as we continue through the semester but just one idea to save energy you might not have thought of: low flow shower heads come in dozens of fancy models now - even with multiple massage features this will not only save energy by using less hot water, but will make sure there's enough hot water for everyone to enjoy their showers see the next slide for just a couple of examples I got from a magazine

Water saving shower heads