The Cause of Global Warming Slides

8/3/2019 The Cause of Global Warming Slides

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What causes globalWhat causes global

warming? You do,silly!warming? You do,silly!

Kevin CumminsKevin Cummins

Sierra Club VolunteerSierra Club Volunteer


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Increases in carbon dioxide causeIncreases in carbon dioxide cause

the earth to get warmerthe earth to get warmer

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) (plusGreenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) (plusother gases like methane) in the atmosphere absorbother gases like methane) in the atmosphere absorbheat radiating from the earth.heat radiating from the earth.

This trapped heat increases the evaporation of water fromThis trapped heat increases the evaporation of water fromthe oceans into the air to cause a greater increase inthe oceans into the air to cause a greater increase inwarming of the atmosphere. CO2 has a forcing effectwarming of the atmosphere. CO2 has a forcing effecton climate.on climate.

The combined effect of water vapor, carbon dioxide andThe combined effect of water vapor, carbon dioxide andmethane controls the temperature of the earth.methane controls the temperature of the earth.


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Source: OSTP


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Carbon dioxide levels in theCarbon dioxide levels in the

atmosphere are increasingatmosphere are increasingCarbon dioxide is produced from burningCarbon dioxide is produced from burning

wood, coal, gas, etc.wood, coal, gas, etc.

The amount in the atmosphere has risenThe amount in the atmosphere has risenfrom 280 ppm (100+ years ago) to 370from 280 ppm (100+ years ago) to 370

ppm today.ppm today.

This increase in carbon dioxide is theThis increase in carbon dioxide is the

atmosphere is increasing the heat beingatmosphere is increasing the heat being

absorbed from the earth.absorbed from the earth.


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CO2,CH4 and estimated

global temperature

(Antarctic T/2in ice core era)

0 = 1880-1899 mean.

Source: Hansen, Clim.Change, 68, 269, 2005.


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Todays atmosphere blanket is tooTodays atmosphere blanket is too

thick!thick!The increase in CO2 in the atmosphereThe increase in CO2 in the atmosphere

traps more heat and causes more watertraps more heat and causes more water

vapor to evaporate into the atmosphere.vapor to evaporate into the atmosphere.

Our new blanket around the world isOur new blanket around the world is

simply making the earth too warm!simply making the earth too warm!

We need a thinner blanket for our earth!We need a thinner blanket for our earth!


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What can happen if we dontWhat can happen if we dont

produce less CO2 ?produce less CO2 ?Temperatures will get warmer.Temperatures will get warmer.

Glaciers will melt, ice sheets in Artic willGlaciers will melt, ice sheets in Artic will

melt (Polar Bears hunt on ice sheets)melt (Polar Bears hunt on ice sheets)Sea levels will rise. Utah will be on PacificSea levels will rise. Utah will be on Pacific

Coast. NOT!Coast. NOT!

More droughts in dry areas and more rainMore droughts in dry areas and more rainand snow in wet areas.and snow in wet areas.

More violent weather around the world.More violent weather around the world.


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Ifnothing is done to slow

Ifnothing is done to slowgreenhouse gas emissions. . .greenhouse gas emissions. . .

COCO22 concentrations will likelyconcentrations will likelybe more than 700 ppm by 2100be more than 700 ppm by 2100

Global average temperaturesGlobal average temperaturesprojected to increase betweenprojected to increase between

2.52.5 -- 10.410.4FF

2100

Source: OSTP


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Melt descending

into a moulin,

a vertical shaft

carrying water

to ice sheet base.

Source: Roger Braithwaite,

University of Manchester (UK)

Surface Melt on Greenland


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How can we stop the earthsHow can we stop the earths

blanket from getting us to warm?blanket from getting us to warm?We must start putting less carbon dioxide intoWe must start putting less carbon dioxide intothe air.the air.

Most the CO2 in the air will be around for 100Most the CO2 in the air will be around for 100

years.years.We need to burn less gasoline in our cars.We need to burn less gasoline in our cars.

Burn less coal (or burn it cleaner) for ourBurn less coal (or burn it cleaner) for ourelectricity.electricity.

Use less gas to heat our homes.Use less gas to heat our homes.Use less gas and electricity in our factories andUse less gas and electricity in our factories andon our farms.on our farms.


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What can we use for energy toWhat can we use for energy to

replace carbon based fuels?replace carbon based fuels?

SolarSolar

BiofuelsBiofuelsWindWind

Nuclear Power (may be necessaryNuclear Power (may be necessary

whether we like it or not!)whether we like it or not!)GeothermalGeothermal


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We can also use less fuelWe can also use less fuel

Higher mileage carsHigher mileage cars

Live and work closer to homeLive and work closer to home

Walk, ride bikesWalk, ride bikesBetter insulated homesBetter insulated homes

Use more efficient lights (fluorescent/LED)Use more efficient lights (fluorescent/LED)

More efficient factoriesMore efficient factories


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What can you do about?What can you do about?

Discuss it with your parents, friends andDiscuss it with your parents, friends and

relativesrelatives

Conserve more yourself.Conserve more yourself.Write your elected officialsWrite your elected officials

Go to college and find new and betterGo to college and find new and better

solutions for the future.solutions for the future.


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So whats the bad news/good newsSo whats the bad news/good news

if we dont act soon?if we dont act soon?Bad news: We could lose control of theBad news: We could lose control of thetemperature rise of the earth. CO2 and methanetemperature rise of the earth. CO2 and methanefrom warm tundra and oceans could be releasedfrom warm tundra and oceans could be released

to atmosphere. This could be beyond ourto atmosphere. This could be beyond ourcontrol. A run away conditioncontrol. A run away condition

Good news: Schools would close. NOT!Good news: Schools would close. NOT!

Good news: Maybe global engineering couldGood news: Maybe global engineering couldsave us! (reflectors in space, dust in space)save us! (reflectors in space, dust in space)


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What can the future hold for youWhat can the future hold for you

children?children?More community spiritMore community spirit-- we all must workwe all must work

together to solve the global warmingtogether to solve the global warming

problemproblem

A safer world with fewer enemies. GWA safer world with fewer enemies. GW

can only be solved with world cooperation.can only be solved with world cooperation.

Less proverty in the world. Solving theLess proverty in the world. Solving the

worlds GW problem cooperatively willworlds GW problem cooperatively will

require that proverty be reduced.require that proverty be reduced.


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As my high school teacher used toAs my high school teacher used to

say:say:Dont be a carbuncle on the butt ofDont be a carbuncle on the butt of

society!society!

Get out there and make the world a betterGet out there and make the world a better

place to live!place to live!

And also dont forget to take care of theAnd also dont forget to take care of the

elderly along the way (Myself included)elderly along the way (Myself included)


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ReferencesReferences

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch/www.ipcc.ch/

The New Scientist.com, A Special Report on Climate Change,The New Scientist.com, A Special Report on Climate Change,http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climatehttp://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate--changechange..

Defusing the Global Warming Time Bomb by James Hansen,Defusing the Global Warming Time Bomb by James Hansen,

Scientific AmericanScientific American, 290, no. 3, March 2004, pp. 68, 290, no. 3, March 2004, pp. 68--77. (available77. (availablefor download atfor download at http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/))

EPA global warming Website:EPA global warming Website:http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/index.htmlhttp://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/index.html

Climate Change and Utah, USEPA, EPA 236Climate Change and Utah, USEPA, EPA 236--FF--9898--007z. Sept.007z. Sept.1998, available at :1998, available at :

http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ushttp://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/us--utah.htmlutah.htmlFor young children (story book style):For young children (story book style):

http://www.unep.org/PDF/TORE.pdfhttp://www.unep.org/PDF/TORE.pdf


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DisclaimerDisclaimer

The preceding is my opinion and does notThe preceding is my opinion and does not

necessarily reflect the opinion of the Sierranecessarily reflect the opinion of the Sierra

Club.Club.

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