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Similarity of Climate Change Data for Antarctica and Nevada
Corbin
1
Benally ,
Dr. Shahram
1
Latifi ,
Dr. Karletta
2
Chief
1University
of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
2Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV
Results
References
Throughout the duration of the research, data was readily
available for Vostok, Antarctica. Graphs for Vostok, Antarctica
(figure 2) were a little more tedious to find. Information
regarding carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature records
for the state of Nevada is a lot more difficult to find, as it was
not readily available using online sources and literature in the
university library. However, information from the Antarctica
research station demonstrates peaks of warmth approximately
every 100,000 years. Could we be fluctuating through a cycle as
opposed to nearing climate change or even global warming?
1. Dave Reay and Michael Pidwirny. “Carbon Dioxide.” In:
Encyclopedia of Earth [Internet]. Washington, D.C.:
Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for
Science and the Environment; 2006 [cited 2010 July 21]. Available
from: http://www.eoearth.org/article/carbon_dioxide
2. Jonathan Cowie. Climate Change: Biological and Human Aspects.
New York (NY): Cambridge University Press; 2007. 4 p.
3. Petit, J.R. et al. Four Climatic Cycles in Vostok Ice Core. Nature.
1997; 387: 359-360.
4. Paul Przyborski. Paleoclimatology: The Ice Core Record
[Internet]. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD: NASA;
2005 [cited 2010 July 21]. Available from:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Paleoclimatology_IceCo
res/
5. Robert H. Webb, Lynn F. Fenstermaker, Jill S. Heaton, Debra L.
Hughson, Eric V. McDonald, David M. Miller, editors. The
Mojave Desert: Ecosystem Processes and Sustainability. Reno
(NV): University of Nevada Press; 2009. 9, 33, 34, 40, 49 p.
6. J.T. houghton , Y. Ding, D.J. Griggs, M. Noguer, P.J. van der
Linden, X. Dai, K. Maskell, C.A. Johnson. Climate Change 2001:
The Scientific Basis. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University
Press; 2001. 183-239 & 525-583 p.
7. Jake F. Weltzin, R Travis Belote, Nathan J. Sanders. Biological
Invaders in a greenhouse world: will elevated CO2 fuel plant
invasions?. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 2003; 1(3):
146-153.
8. Scientific Steering Committee. Global Warming Facts and Our
Future [Internet]. Washington, DC: National Academy of
Sciences; 2010 [cited 2010 July 21]. Available from:
http://www.koshland-sciencemuseum.org/exhibitgcc/historical02.jsp
Abstract
The correlation between temperature and carbon dioxide
concentration in the past one hundred years is studied. Separate
graphs containing data from Vostok, Antarctica and the Mojave
desert/mountain west (Nevada region) are presented. Using data
obtained from these graphs, an attempt is made to explain the
results and investigate the similarity of these results for Antarctica
and Nevada. The importance of this study lies in the fact that if
data show the same trend in the two regions, many findings for
climate change in Antarctica may readily be validated and
employed for Nevada.
Introduction
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important greenhouse gas
produced by human behavior, primarily through the incineration
of fossil fuels1. Not all carbon dioxide(figure 1) are produced by
human activities, carbon dioxide also naturally occurs through
cycles. Among these naturally occurring gases are water vapor
(H2O), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) 2. It is originally
perceived that samples of these chemicals can only be collected
in the atmosphere. However, through ice-drilling in East
Antarctica, detailed climate records can be accessed and
analyzed. Climate records from these ice-cores can be traced back
over 400, 000 years. This unprecedented length of time can only
be obtained the further down the ice is acquired. In January 1998,
the Vostok project yielded the deepest ice core ever recovered,
reaching a depth of 3,623m 3. Although Nevada does not
incorporate ice core data, carbon dioxide levels and temperature
levels still exist and are available.
Figure 1 4
Ice core drilling
It is calculated that carbon dioxide levels will continue to elevate
for at least the rest of the century, reaching 550 ppm (part per
million) by 2050 and700 ppm; approximately doubling today’s
concentration levels 5,6. Carbon dioxide is one of the raw
substances of photosynthesis because it increases distribution
rise of CO2 into the leaf. Elevated sustained rates of
photosynthesis should associate higher growth and plant
production 5.
Figure 2 8 This graph is based on ice cores drilled in Vostok, Antarctica. It illustrates
changes near the South Pole, which were more extreme than middle latitudes.
Discussion
The consequences of climate change are important. Although
more research is imperative before any conclusions can be made,
much can still be said about the effects of climate change in the
Nevada region. Changes in the temperature can dramatically
affect vegetation in the Mojave Desert, causing native species to
become obsolete and making way for new nonnative vegetation
to appear more often on the land. Thus, essentially changing
ecosystem processes 5.Global climate models predict the
doubling of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere will
considerably amplify both winter and summer rainfall, or
possibly just summer rainfall, in the southwestern desert region
6,7.
Table 1 5 Potential ecological effects of climate change in the Mojave Desert
External variable
Functional response
Potential new regime
Elevated CO2
Greater plant production
Increased plant invasion
More productive desert
Increased fire frequency
Species range shift
Community disequilibrium
Greater production of exotics
Greater production of
bunchgrasses
Increased mortality
Increased fire frequency
Semiarid ecosystem type
Species poor system
Reduced Nitrogen-fixation
Greater plant production
Loss of Nitrogen-fixing species
More productive desert
Higher Temperature
Altered Precipitation
Wetter winter
Wetter summer
Drier
Increased Nitrogen deposition
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Shahram Latifi for allowing me this opportunity
to study and learn in hopes that I will broaden my knowledge in applied
research. A special thanks to Dr. Karletta Chief for working with me
personally throughout the project and answering any particular questions
that came up. Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to my family
and friends, who have continuously supported me throughout the
summer keeping me focused and determined when I would be become
discouraged. This project was funded by the NSF Nevada ESPCoR
research program Track I.
For further information
If you have any questions or would like more information, the authors may
be reached at: [email protected] and [email protected] .