Transcript Unit Four Climate Change

Unit Four
“Global Climate Change”
Climate and Weather
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Recall that climate is the yearly measure of
temperature and precipitation
Recall that weather is the daily measure of
temperature and precipitation
Recall the sun is the source of life and of
weather patterns
In addition to the sun, the atmosphere and the
ocean add to the development of weather
patterns
Climate System
Greenhouse Gases
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Greenhouse gases exist naturally in the
atmosphere, and serve to retain some of the heat
that originates from the sun
Greenhouse gases retain some heat from the
sun, which enables the global temperatures to
remain hospitable to life
The problem in reference to greenhouse gases is
when there is an unnatural accumulation of
these gases due to human activities
Greenhouse Gases
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In the last century, especially with the addition of the
automobile that uses an internal combustion engine,
there has been an increase in CO2 (one of the
greenhouse gases)
This has lead scientists to do extensive research to
determine the impact…. The result is the theory of
Global Warming
Examples of greenhouse gases include:
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CO2 , H2O , O3 , CH4 , and N2O
***Greenhouse Gases absorb and radiate heat
Research Methods re: Global
Warming
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Proxy Indicators – pollen from sediment cores
and air bubbles from ice cores can reveal
greenhouse gas levels from the earth’s past
Computer modeling of weather patterns
Air sampling – most effective if done several
times a day, 365 days of the year, in many
locations around the world
Global Warming Predictions
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IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
Established in 1988 by U.N. and utilizes the services
of an international panel of atmospheric scientists,
climate experts, and governmental officials
 Established Kyoto Protocol in 1997 to combat the
increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. U.S.A. still has not signed this
agreement to voluntarily reduce its emissions
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Global Warming Predictions
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Predictions
Sea level rise and loss of coastal areas
 Intrusion of salt water into aquifers due to sea level
rise
 Increase in erosion
 Drought in areas normally accustom to ample
amounts of precipitation
 Increase in the destructiveness of hurricanes
 Infectious disease outbreaks and sanitation problems
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Is Global Warming really a threat?
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The debate is ongoing as to the significance of the
threat, or whether green house gases pose any threat at
all to global temperatures
It has become apparent in recent years that politics
have entered this scientific debate thereby handicapping
the fact-based research being undertaken by various
scientists
Politics versus Science
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Any science should be conducted to learn factual
information about how things (biotic and abiotic)
function
Unfortunately, often times, both internal and
external pressures cause scientists to misreport data
(study mentioned in Unit 1)
Scientists are pressured by employers, whether the
employer is a private company or a government
body, to conclude their data supports the agenda of
said entity
Politics versus Science
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http://capitalpress.blogspot.com/2009/06/didepa-suppress-internal-global.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157
449.html
http://www.friendsofscience.org/
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topi
cs/globalwarming/index.html#
Recent Global Warming Revelations
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It appears expert climate scientists have been dishonest as to
how they presented their data as it relates to Global Warming
They also have been preventing research that does not agree
with their point of view from being published (process known as
“peer review”)
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/he
raldsun/comments/hadley_hacked#63657
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/06/13/the-ipccconsensus-on-climate-change-was-phoney-says-ipcc-insider/
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/will-a-ucla-prof-lose-his-jobfor-sticking-to-science-over-politics/
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/paper_its_ok_
to_lie_about_climate_change.html
Who’s right (on the right track)?
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Depending on the source, the conclusion is different
Review both sides of the Global Warming debate (any
issue), do your own research (if possible), then make an
informed conclusion….. The conclusion can be “not
enough factual information to make a definitive
decision at this time”
Regardless of the outcome of the global warming
debate, society should do its best to moderate
consumption/usage of any and all resources