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
?