Deadly Alliance Global Warming and Global Dimming Global
Deadly Alliance Global Warming and Global Dimming
Global Warming n Heating of earth’s surface by reflected sunlight • Increase in greenhouse gases promotes n n Majority attributed to anthropogenic causes. Last 40 years 1°C increase globally Next 40 years maybe 3°C? UT professor using coral samples to collect data
Skeptical?
Trend of Temperature with CO 2 *Picture from: http: //www. brighton 73. freeserve. co. uk/gw/paleo/20000 yrfig. htm
Global Dimming – what is it? n Aerosols – fine particulate matter in form of solids or liquids • Usually from chemical or combustion processes • Are usually ‘washed -out’ in rain • Sulfur containing compounds n Forms • Clouds – diffuse fraction of solar irradiance n Change optical properties of clouds • Lack of rain n Famine and drought of 80’s in Ethiopia.
Clouds at Molecular Level Regular occurring particles * From NASA’s eath observatory website Aerosol particles
Consequences of Global dimming n World gets darker • Plant photosynthesis light limited • Less solar energy possible n Masking effects of global warming • True global warming affect could already be in the 3°C-5°C range. n Clouds are chemically changed • Causes famine and drought • Acid rain formation
Global Dimming – sources n NOx total = 41 • • • n Fossil Fuels - 21 Aircraft - 0. 58 Lightning - 7 n • Fossil fuels - 76 • Volcanoes - 9. 3 n NH 3 total = 54 • Domestic Animals 21. 6 • Oceans - 8. 2 *From IPCC Third Assessment Report SO 2 total = 88 H 2 S total = 25 • Oceans - 24 n VOC’s total = 236 • Anthropogenic - 109 • Terpenes - 127
Solution: Attack Global Dimming and Global Warming together n Reductions of particulates recently show brightening affect. • Leads to more apparent global warming consequences. • Temp increase in wake of 9/11 n n 1. 1°C in 3 days Global effort • • • CO 2 sequestration Renewables Algae farms
Questions? ?
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