AP Environmental Science
Ozone Depletion and Climate Change – chap 19
I. Climate – determining factors (see chap 7 p. 145-148)
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overview and comparison of climate with weather
NOAA Climate Service is a good basic resource for this unit
National Rain, Snow and Hail network - keep track of what's happening!
How high is the sky?
A. latitude
B. air circulation - Fig 7-3 and 7-4
C. water circulation - see also fig. 7-2; 7-5 | examine buoy data on temperature in
ocean currents
D. local geography (such as rain shadows - fig 7-6)
II. Greenhouse effect and global warming
B sure you are familiar with atmospheric structure
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global air circulation influences climate
A. how the greenhouse effect warms the earth | view an animation | carbon cycle
animation
B. climate has cycled naturally throughout history (fig. 19-2 and 19-3)
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How do we know? (NOAA Paleoclimatology project) | more on how
isotope ratios are used to infer past environments
C. probable causes of an enhanced (unnatural) greenhouse effect
1. primary greenhouse gases: CO2, methane, CFC’s, NOx - fig 19-6
2. rise in CO2 emissions this century – see fig. 19-8
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where are the emissions coming from? Check out this
interactive map
Compare CO2 emissions of states
3. rise in atmospheric carbon has been less than the emissions –
where is it going??
4. temperatures have risen slightly (more in some areas than others)
in the past 100 years
5. CO2 and temperature are historically linked (fig. 19-7)
6. CO2, fossil fuel use, and temperature are linked in recent decades
D. evidence that the climate is currently warming
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Global Climate Change.Gov - interactive site based on May 2014 report
NASA climate web page - excellent place to start
World view of global warming - photographic documentation of climate
change
sea ice changes in the Antarctic, Greenland, and Alaska – Check out a
NASA satellite image/animation
changes in timing of migration
vegetation changes
check out more info on the basics of climate change and recent trends
measured by the National Center for Atmospheric Research
National Geographic special from September 2004
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that warming is
occurring
Analysis of Michael Crighton's novel, which features climate change
RealClimate is a site that collects articles and commentary on global
warming
CO2 is absorbed by phytoplankton in the ocean; this process can be
measured from space. Check out the link for a movie explaining the
process
An Inconvenient Truth -- check out the documentary narrated by Al Gore
National Snow and Ice Data Center - charts changes in the artic
Overview of the evidence: What's up with the weather (NOVA)
How to talk to a climate skeptic (excellent site with detailed responses to
dozens of common "skeptic" arguments)
Ocean buoys measure the temperature of the Eastern Pacific Equatorial
Current | National Buoy Data Center
Evidence of warming at Glacier National Park
The US Global Change Research Program published a lengthy report in
2009. Additional reports have been issued, including one in spring 2014
Melting ice on Kilamanjaro
E. global warming and its impact (fig. 19-A, section 19-3)
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Use the Climate Wizard to see map-based predictions of change based on
various models
Air pollution may be reducing the effects of climate change - see Nova's
Dimming the Sun
Interactive map of global warming "early warning signs" - changes already
taking place
interactive map of potential changes
Tour the effects of climate change in Google Earth
Another interactive map of projected changes
Another interactive map, focusing on the Chesapeake region
1. climate shifts
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impacts of a warming acrtic
changes to ocean circulation
changes in the gulf stream
2. changes in forest cover and farming (fig. 19-13)
3. increased severe weather
4. droughts and floods (sea level rise/melting of ice caps)
(predictions – fig. 19-14, 19-15) | check out flood maps to see which
areas might be flooded
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sea level rise predictions for the Chesapeake
5. oceans are becoming acidic as they absorb more CO2. This
reduces the availability of CaCO3, with significant negative impacts
on corals. More here.
6. positive benefits to crop growth and other possible benefits
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predicting the changes is very complicated because of
feedback systems
Changes are likely to be gradual; even gradual changes
could require significant costs
economic analysis suggests that the effects of "inaction" on
solving the problem will be significant "Climate Change
Fight Can't Wait"
Check out some projections for future emissions and
temperature changes
F. solutions (fig. 19-13)
1. various approaches to action – precautionary; wait and see; act
now with no regrets
2. Kyoto conference/treaty and US opposition/Copenhagen
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a coalition of US cities has signed an alternative agreement:
the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
many states are also acting, partly because the federal
government has failed to act
Stop Global Warming (an activist's site)
Copenhagen meetings in December 2009 negotiated the
follow-up to Kyoto. text of the Copenhagen Accord
3. decreasing CO2 emissions - fig. 19-22
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changes in tax structure to encourage conservation. The
summer 2009 Waxman-Markey bill would (have)
establish(ed) a "cap and trade" approach to reducing CO2
emissions.
A primer on "cap and trade"
encouraging use of non-emitting electricity and
transportation
changes in farming practice
individual actions – fig. 19-28
The Sustainable Energy Institute also discusses solutions
calculate your own CO2 emissions | and another greenhouse
gas calculator -- the 10% challenge | Your Carbon Diet interactive shows how to reduce CO2 emissions in homes |
another calculator from "Low Carbon Diet" | And one from
the EPA | overview of various carbon calculators from Sierra
Club (Sept. 08)
EPA greenhouse gas reporting program
Rocky Mountain Institute does research to promote the use
of renewable energy and other "green" technologies
Craig Branson of Virgin Group, recently announced a plan
to invest $3 billion into helping solve the climate crisis.
Google.org is a new for-profit philanthropic venture which
aims to fight climate change
The Fix: Sierra Club proposal for reducing CO2 emissions
(Jan. 2007)
Sports Illustrated: The Greening of Sports (3-6-07)
Various programs allow you to purchase renewable energy
or "offset" your contribution to non-renewable sources by
investing in cleaner options: Terrapass.com | Native Energy |
Climate-neutral travel
Green resources of many varieties
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network
a plan for a power plant in Georgia was denied recently
because of global warming concerns. The state of Kansas
has also denied permits for new coal-fired power plants
recently.
Greenhouse gas equivalences calculator (how much is a
metric ton of CO2?)
4. sequestering CO2 in trees and the ocean – fig. 19-D
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plant trees!
Biochar is a material that could sequester carbon in the soil
5. evidence of progress
6. Adaptation - fig 19-29
7. Geoengineering - fig 19-23
Caution -- Global warming is not the cause of every problem!!
III. Ozone - section 18-7 | cartoon guide to ozone depletion
A. the ozone “layer” and its importance (stratospheric ozone)
B. ozone depletion – causes and its extent
1. the history of CFC’s and their uses
2. how CFC’s destroy ozone in the stratosphere
3. documenting the changes (fig. 18-30)
4. other ozone-depleting chemicals
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NOx (more details)
C. impact of ozone depletion
1. potential problems – fig. 18-31
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EPA UV Index page - forecasts
2. skin cancers
D. solutions
1. Montreal Protocol – 1987
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analysis of how skeptics slowed down the response to this
threat, and how similar obstruction might be occurring
regarding climate change.
2. CFC substitutes are being phased in
3. protecting yourself from the sun
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Q&A about sunscreens and UV light from the CDC
EPA site on sun safety