Global Warming

CO2 needs to be added to the list!

Not regulated as a pollutant under the U.S. Clean Air Act.
But most emissions are CO2
In the US

A greenhouse gas
Contributes to global climate change

Sources of C02
US emissions
1. 40 % Petroleum products 2. 34 % coal 3. 20 % natural gas

Greenhouse Effect
In a greenhouse, light enters but IR cannot escape CO2 in atmosphere allows light rays to enter but traps IR CO2 % in atmosphere has increased from 280 ppm in pre-Industrial time to present day value of 375.64 ppm (2003 data), 387 ppm (2009 data)

Rise in atmospheric CO2 in the last 50 years

Why the see-saw pattern? Why Mauna Loa?

Other Greenhouse Gases

Methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide
Rice paddy, extraction of fossil fuel, raising of live stock (bovine flatulence) cause increase in methane Cutting of forests kills CO2 sink

Some effects might be opposite of CO2: SO2

Increasing concentration of greenhouse gases

Gas Historic Level Current Level Warming potential comapred to CO2 1 23 300 4000-8000 5700 22,000 Lifetime in Atmosphere (years) 5-200 12 114 5-100 50,000 3200

CO2 CH4 N2O CFCs Perfluoromethane (PFC) Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)

280 ppm 700 ppb 275 ppb 0 40 pt 0.01 ppt

387 ppm 1720 ppb 314 ppb ppt level 80 ppt 3 ppt

Greenhouse Effect: Is it Real?

How much CO2=How much rise of T? More T = more evaporation = more cloud = Less Temp Real rise or natural fluctuation?
Data for the last 10ka indicate upto 6 C fluctuation Little ice age (1450 1850) About 2/3rd of the centuries warming has taken place in the last 25 years: 1990s were the warmest decade of the 20th century Based on 14,000 land and sea records from all over the world Ice core patterns varied between 180 and 280 ppm in the last half million years

Evidence to Support Global Warming

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
An international panel of scientists and government officials established in 1988 Generated reports on the synthesis of scientific information concerning climate change 4th Assessment report 2007
Documents observed trends in surface temperature, precipitation patterns, snow and ice cover, sea levels, storm intensity The IPCC concluded that it is more than 90% likely that most global warming is due to humans Predicts future changes

The Debate over climate change is over 84% of people surveyed think humans contribute to global warming

Effects of Global Warming

Sea level rise Extreme weather Decreasing Biodiversity Decline in Food Production Effect on Health

Greatest air pollution problem: Global Warming

www.nelson.wisc.edu/outreach/energy2006

Greenhouse Effect: Problems

Increasing ocean temperature:
0.06 C between 1955 and 1995 Oceans hold 10X heat than what has been used to raise the global temperature An increased amount of heat storage in the oceans preceded all earlier rapid warming

Rise of temperature : Drier climate?

Satellites that detect and observe different characteristics and features of the Earth's atmosphere, lands, and oceans are often referred to as environmental satellites. Most environmental satellites have one of two types of orbits: geosynchronous (GOES) or sun-synchronous (POES)

Sea Surface Temperature

Sea surface-temperature is one important type of data that GOES and POES provide. Temperature changes influence the behavior of fish, can cause the bleaching of corals, and affects weather along the coast. Satellite images of sea-surface temperature also show patterns of water circulation. Examples include locations of upwelling, characterized by cold waters that rise up from the depths, often near the coasts; and warm water currents, such as the Gulf Stream.

Steve Riser and ARGO lab

3000 free floating package of sensors Crates a ocean temperature map upto 1500 m depth