Global Warming What is Global Warming The increased

Global Warming…

What is “Global Warming”? The increased heating of the earth as a direct result of human activity But How? Global warming is related to the greenhouse effect So what’s the greenhouse effect?

Climate change and the Greenhouse Effect

This ENHANCED greenhouse effect is caused primarily by the emission of Carbon Dioxide resulting from the burning of fossil fuels.

Petroleum, Natural Gas, Coal = Fossil Fuels Fossil Fuel is the residue of plants and animals that were buried millions of years ago; intense pressure caused chemical reactions over time. Burning Fossil Fuels releases the energy originally stored in plants and animals millions of years ago 5

The evidence for global warming The surface temperature on earth seems to be warming in direct correlation to a rise in greenhouse gases

The evidence for global warming Sea levels and temperatures seem to be rising Climates seem to be changing …. There seems to be observable changes taking place on earth

The United Nations In 1988, the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization set up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). More than 1, 250 authors and 2, 500 scientific experts reviewers from more than 130 countries contributed to the panel's most recent report

Some things they observed Increase in global average surface temperature of about 1°F in the 20 th century

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Some things they observed Decrease of snow cover and sea ice extent and the retreat of mountain glaciers

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Some things they observed Rise in global average sea level

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Some things they observed Increase in ocean water temperatures

Some things they observed Increase in average and frequency of precipitation patterns

What else ? Physical and Ecological changes Thawing of permafrost Lengthening of the growing seasons latitudes Poleward and upward shift of plant and animal ranges Decline of some plant and animal species Earlier flowering of trees Earlier emergence of insects Earlier egg-laying in birds

IPPC reports In 1995, a cautious consensus, "The balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on the global climate. ” In its 2001…"There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. "

So what did they say ? February 2007, the Fourth Assessment Report finds that human actions are… "very likely" the cause of global warming, meaning a 90% or greater probability.

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Areas of Controversy: • Is the change natural • Are humans responsible, to what extent? • The size of the future climate change • Regional effects of climate change • The actual consequences • Can reduction policies be effective

Some skeptics say… Just not enough information It’s just natural variation It’s caused by a change in ocean currents Caused by increased solar activity or D. Other

Some other things to think about: 1998 was the hottest year globally since records began to be kept; 2002 is tied for second; 2001 is third; 2004 is fourth. In the past 30 years the temperature of Barrow, Alaska has risen by 4. 16 degrees. When Glacier National Park was established in 1910 it included an estimated 150 glaciers. Today there are fewer than 30, and they have shrunk by about two-thirds. The average American produces 12, 000 pounds of CO 2 emissions yearly. The United States is responsible for approximately 25 percent of atmospheric greenhouse gases and its emissions continue to increase.

California is the 12 th largest source of global warming in the world, exceeding most entire countries