Climate & Climate & Atmospheric Atmospheric

ChangesChanges

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 Causes of Climate ChangeClimate Change

Description of what it isDescription of what it isExplanation of how it impacts Explanation of how it impacts

climateclimate(What SCIENTISTS say)(What SCIENTISTS say)

Volcanic Volcanic eruptionseruptions

Eruptions release greenhouse gases (CO2,

H2O, and sulfur dioxide) into the air

…But, ash can also BLOCK the light…

WARMS: more Greenhouse GasesCOOLS: reflects light away

SunspotsSunspotsMore emitted radiation and increased

temperatures are found around sunspotsMore sunspots will increase the amount

of heat that stays within the atmosphere.

Earth’s orbitEarth’s orbitThere is variation in Earth’s tilt which affects the amount of solar radiation

received.

Depending on the season, more or less energy is received from the sun.

Carbon Dioxide Carbon Dioxide fluctuationsfluctuations

As heat is emitted back out into space, carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbs some of the

heat.

Heat is retained in the atmosphere (not radiated back into space) causing the

global temperature to rise.

THEY ARE DIFFERENT!!!

Effects of Climate Change

1. HIGHER TEMPERATURES

Link: The Nature Conservancy

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 2004

Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org

ARIZONA- Colorado River

June 2002

Dec 2003

Effects of Climate Change

3. WILDLIFE AT RISKRising 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 &

FLOODSMassive land erosion is one result of overgrazing &

drought in Kenya

6. STRONGER STORMS &

HURRICANESHurricanes 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 ACIDIFICATIO

N

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

•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

El Nino

During El Nino, upwelling stops, so fishing industry

and economy are impacted

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

LA NINA

EL NINO

NORMAL YEAR

LA NINA

Does El Nino or La Nina cause more

hurricanes to hit the US

Coastline (dark line)?LA LA NINA NINA EVENTEVENT

Global Atmospheric Concentration of CO2

Temperature (Northern Hemisphere) CO2 Concentrations

1000 Years of CO2 & Global Warming

Deg

ree

Cels

ius

Incre

ase

Part

s P

er

Mil

lion

Year Year

1

00

0

120

0

140

0

160

0

180

0

200

0

100

0

120

0

140

0

160

0

180

0

200

0

2007

Goal: Reductions in CO2 Per Year

Bil

lion

s of

Metr

ic T

on

s C

arb

on

2007Reductions in CO2

Per Year

Gig

ato

n

Carb

on

Produce electricity efficientlyUse electricity efficientlyVehicle efficiencySolar and Wind PowerBiofuelsCarbon capture and storage

Bil

lion

s of

Metr

ic T

on

s C

arb

on

Our Goal

WH

AT

CA

N Y

OU

YO

U D

O

TO

HE

LP

SL

OW

D

OW

N G

LO

BA

L

CL

IMA

TE

CH

AN

GE

?