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Possible Effects of a Warmer World

Possible Effects of a Warmer World. Misconceptions: Why worry about a few degrees? Local weather vs. global climate Predictions: 1. Climate “Out of Balance” CO 2 (more released from plants) Temperature (some warmer, some cooler) Precipitation (drought vs. flooding) Weather Extremes.

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Possible Effects of a Warmer World

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  1. Possible Effects of a Warmer World • Misconceptions: • Why worry about a few degrees? • Local weather vs. global climate • Predictions: 1. Climate “Out of Balance” • CO2 (more released from plants) • Temperature (some warmer, some cooler) • Precipitation (drought vs. flooding) • Weather Extremes

  2. Possible Effects of a Warmer World 2. Polar Regions • Large Polar Temp Change • Melting Ice (floating vs. land-based/sea level rise) • Decrease Albedo • Thaw Permafrost • Alter Biomes 3. Climate Shift (1°=100km/150m) • Can species adapt quickly enough? • Die-offs release more CO2

  3. Solutions to Climate Change • Do nothing • Research more, then act • Act now

  4. Dealing with Climate Change Human Activities Government Regulations Marketplace Removing CO2

  5. Human Solutions • Cut fossil fuel use • Improve energy efficiency • Transfer technology to developing countries • Shift to renewable energy use • Reduce deforestation • Use sustainable agriculture • Slow population growth

  6. US Government Regulation • Reduce subsidies for coal & oil use • Encourage shift to natural gas use and energy efficient technologies • Emphasize methane reduction • Agree to meet global GHG standards • Carbon and energy taxes • Fund transfer of technology • Increase nuclear power use • Establish policies/global funding for ZPG

  7. Marketplace • Competition for companies • reducing carbon emissions • develop more efficient technology

  8. Removing CO2 • Sequestering Carbon • Plant trees • Capture and pump deep underground • Inject into deep ocean

  9. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • History: • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) • CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane, CCl3F) • CFC-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane, CCl2F2) • Uses • AC coolants (freons) • Aerosol cans • Cleaners • Plastics

  10. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • What’s the problem? • Release of CFCs into atmosphere • Insoluble in water • CFC breakdown  O3 breakdown • Lag-time 10-20 years • Residence time = 75-100yrs • 1 CFC destroys 100,000 O3 Formation Destruction

  11. Stratospheric Ozone Depletion • Why worry? (effects of depleted ozone) • Increased exposure to UV radiation • Increased skin cancer • Increased cataracts • Immune system suppression • More photochecmical smog in troposhere • Lower crop yields • Decreased forest and aquatic productivity

  12. Protecting Stratospheric Ozone • Stop producing CFCs • Find substitutes • HFC (hydrofluorocarbons) • Hydrocarbons • Ammonia • Water/steam • Terpenes • Helium

  13. Protecting Stratospheric Ozone • Montreal Protocol (1987) • CFC phase-out by 2010 • Developed fund developing countries http://www.multilateralfund.org/ • CFC production has dropped 90%

  14. Links • NASA Ozone Research Page • http://ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

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