Creation Cries Out: Creation Cries Out: Is Anyone Listening?Is Anyone Listening?

Dr. Bill Blair, astronomer, Dr. Bill Blair, astronomer, Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University

Dept. of Physics & AstronomyDept. of Physics & Astronomy

Mt. Pine Beetle damage, Montana(NYT, 11/17/08)

Take Home Points

• God’s Creation is awesome, but fragile.God’s Creation is awesome, but fragile.

• Global Warming is real, and is driving significant Global Warming is real, and is driving significant climate changes on our planet.climate changes on our planet.

• The human impact is undeniable and significant.The human impact is undeniable and significant.

• There is an urgent need to change our behaviors.There is an urgent need to change our behaviors.

• As Christians, there are significant stewardship and As Christians, there are significant stewardship and social justice concerns that should motivate us to Care social justice concerns that should motivate us to Care for Creation.for Creation.

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

• Sunlight comes Sunlight comes through glass.through glass.

• Light is absorbed and Light is absorbed and re-radiated as heat re-radiated as heat (infrared light).(infrared light).

• Heat is trapped Heat is trapped (warms interior of (warms interior of greenhouse).greenhouse).

• Need for “balance” to Need for “balance” to keep it from getting keep it from getting too hot/cold.too hot/cold.

• Sunlight comes Sunlight comes through glass.through glass.

• Light is absorbed and Light is absorbed and re-radiated as heat re-radiated as heat (infrared light).(infrared light).

• Heat is trapped Heat is trapped (warms interior of (warms interior of greenhouse).greenhouse).

• Need for “balance” to Need for “balance” to keep it from getting keep it from getting too hot/cold.too hot/cold.

BALANCEBALANCE

The Earth is so big! How can we The Earth is so big! How can we affect things?affect things?

The Earth is so big! How can we The Earth is so big! How can we affect things?affect things?

The Earth is so big! How can we The Earth is so big! How can we affect things?affect things?

The Earth is so big! How can we The Earth is so big! How can we affect things?affect things?

By affecting theBy affecting the BALANCEBALANCE

Apollo 11, July 1969

Venus - Our Twin Planet?* Venus - Our Twin Planet?*

• Closest planet to earth.• Nearly the same size

as earth, but

• CO2 atmosphere 100x denser than earth’s.

• Surface temp 900 degrees F.

• Example of “Runaway” Greenhouse effect.

• Closest planet to earth.• Nearly the same size

as earth, but

• CO2 atmosphere 100x denser than earth’s.

• Surface temp 900 degrees F.

• Example of “Runaway” Greenhouse effect.

Venus - Our Twin Planet?*Venus - Our Twin Planet?*

• Closest planet to earth.• Nearly the same size

as earth, but

• CO2 atmosphere 100x denser than earth’s.

• Surface temp 900 degrees F.

• Example of “Runaway” Greenhouse effect.

• Closest planet to earth.• Nearly the same size

as earth, but

• CO2 atmosphere 100x denser than earth’s.

• Surface temp 900 degrees F.

• Example of “Runaway” Greenhouse effect.

*(Let’s hope not!)

BALANCEBALANCE

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases• Water Vapor HWater Vapor H22OO

• Methane CHMethane CH44

• Carbon Dioxide COCarbon Dioxide CO22

A trace constituent, but A trace constituent, but very effective at trapping very effective at trapping heat.heat.

Fact: Atmospheric COFact: Atmospheric CO22 levels are increasing. levels are increasing.

Direct EvidenceDirect Evidence

Evidence of WarmingEvidence of WarmingEvidence of WarmingEvidence of Warming

Larsen B Ice Shelf, Antarctica, 2006

Glacier National Park, MontanaGlacier National Park, Montana

19382003

North Polar Ice 2007

Climate ImpactsClimate Impacts

Warmer sea temperatures…Warmer sea temperatures…• cause stronger storms and affect cause stronger storms and affect

atmospheric and sea circulation patterns.atmospheric and sea circulation patterns.• Can cause droughts in some areas and Can cause droughts in some areas and

excessive rainfall in others.excessive rainfall in others.• Add to the rise in sea level.Add to the rise in sea level.

– Warm water has a larger volume.Warm water has a larger volume.

Warmer sea temperatures…Warmer sea temperatures…• cause stronger storms and affect cause stronger storms and affect

atmospheric and sea circulation patterns.atmospheric and sea circulation patterns.• Can cause droughts in some areas and Can cause droughts in some areas and

excessive rainfall in others.excessive rainfall in others.• Add to the rise in sea level.Add to the rise in sea level.

– Warm water has a larger volume.Warm water has a larger volume.

Katrina 2005

Past Climate: How do we know?Past Climate: How do we know?Past Climate: How do we know?Past Climate: How do we know?• Ice core samples: Greenland, Antarctica, etc.Ice core samples: Greenland, Antarctica, etc.• Ice traps gas bubbles, dust particles, biological Ice traps gas bubbles, dust particles, biological

material, and other materials.material, and other materials.• Chemical isotope ratios are proxies for Temp, Chemical isotope ratios are proxies for Temp,

COCO22 levels, etc., at various times in the past. levels, etc., at various times in the past.

• Ice core samples: Greenland, Antarctica, etc.Ice core samples: Greenland, Antarctica, etc.• Ice traps gas bubbles, dust particles, biological Ice traps gas bubbles, dust particles, biological

material, and other materials.material, and other materials.• Chemical isotope ratios are proxies for Temp, Chemical isotope ratios are proxies for Temp,

COCO22 levels, etc., at various times in the past. levels, etc., at various times in the past.

Layers in ice core Layers in ice core are similar to “tree are similar to “tree rings” - showing rings” - showing annual cycles.annual cycles.

Past Climate - Natural Variations Past Climate - Natural Variations

Are we responsible?You decide.

Are we responsible?You decide.

What can we do to motivate ourselves?What can we do to motivate ourselves?

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a social justice issue.social justice issue.

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a stewardship issue.stewardship issue.

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a survival issue.survival issue.

• Money (e.g. green capitalism!)Economic drivers such as green building, green

jobs, green energy, entrepreneurship, etc.

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a social justice issue.social justice issue.

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a stewardship issue.stewardship issue.

• Consider Global Warming as a Consider Global Warming as a survival issue.survival issue.

• Money (e.g. green capitalism!)Economic drivers such as green building, green

jobs, green energy, entrepreneurship, etc.

Energy Needs vs. SustainabilityEnergy Needs vs. Sustainability

Global SustainabilityGlobal Sustainability• U.S. per capita energy consumption (hence, COU.S. per capita energy consumption (hence, CO22

production) is 32x that of the developing world.production) is 32x that of the developing world.– The U.S. consumes energy at a rate comparable to 10 The U.S. consumes energy at a rate comparable to 10

BILLION people in the developing world!BILLION people in the developing world!

• If the developing world rises to our level of If the developing world rises to our level of consumption, the energy needs are immense.consumption, the energy needs are immense.– If they do it with fossil fuels, we are toast!If they do it with fossil fuels, we are toast!

• Our level of energy consumption Our level of energy consumption is not is not sustainable and is not just sustainable and is not just by the world’s by the world’s standards.standards.

• U.S. per capita energy consumption (hence, COU.S. per capita energy consumption (hence, CO22 production) is 32x that of the developing world.production) is 32x that of the developing world.– The U.S. consumes energy at a rate comparable to 10 The U.S. consumes energy at a rate comparable to 10

BILLION people in the developing world!BILLION people in the developing world!

• If the developing world rises to our level of If the developing world rises to our level of consumption, the energy needs are immense.consumption, the energy needs are immense.– If they do it with fossil fuels, we are toast!If they do it with fossil fuels, we are toast!

• Our level of energy consumption Our level of energy consumption is not is not sustainable and is not just sustainable and is not just by the world’s by the world’s standards.standards.

>> We >> We mustmust reduce our consumption and help reduce our consumption and help the rest of the world cope with their needs.the rest of the world cope with their needs.

Let us take care of the Earth.Let us take care of the Earth.

It is the only one we have!It is the only one we have!