Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 1

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Source: Wikipedia The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement? 1830: George Stephenson's locomotive, The Rocket "Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret, that a half ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile …" The Conduct of Life, "Wealth" Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1860 American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 2

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement? Achievements unimagined by Emerson require unimaginable amounts of energy. What else was unimagined? Source: Wikipedia Source: Matt Lemmon American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 3

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequences Why is the climate changing? Source: Skeptical Science American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 4

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequences Winters are getting milder Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 5

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequences Land sea ice are disappearing Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 1940 Source: NOAA Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 2006 Source: NOAA American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 6

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Earth’s climate controls Energy balance: solar energy in = Earth radiant energy out Source: American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 7

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Earth’s climate controls Energy balance: effect of atmospheric gases Source: IPCC American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 8

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Earth’s climate controls have changed Atmospheric carbon dioxide–past and present Source: Wikipedia American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 9

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science Cause of Earth’s climate changes Present dependence on fossil fuel burning Source: IPCC American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 10

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequences Why is the climate changing? Source: Skeptical Science American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 11

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science The Industrial Revolution: A boon that enormously benefits man. The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with an enormous energy price tag mostly paid for in burning fossil fuel. The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with the unintended consequence that carbon emissions are changing the Earth's climate in disturbing ways. The Industrial Revolution: A boon that requires the Watts and Stephensons of the 21 st century to develop ways to use energy more efficiently, to produce alternative non-carbon-emitting sources, and to reduce the impact of carbon-emitting sources. Source: IPCC American Chemical Society www. acs. org/climatescience 12