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Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming, Climate Change and Connecticut

Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming, Climate Change and Connecticut. Laurel Kohl Edited by Ms. Mandel Institute for Sustainable Energy Eastern Connecticut State University. D23.

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Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming, Climate Change and Connecticut

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  1. Greenhouse Gases, Global Warming,Climate Change and Connecticut Laurel Kohl Edited by Ms. Mandel Institute for Sustainable Energy Eastern Connecticut State University

  2. D23 Explain how the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere increases Earth’s “greenhouse” effect and may cause climate changes

  3. Learning Targets • I can explain the Greenhouse Effect • I can name the effects of global warming • I can identify strategies to reduce climate change/global warming

  4. What Do You Think About When Someone Says Global Warming? • ? • ? • ? • ? • ?

  5. Greenhouse Effect What happens in the greenhouse effect?

  6. Greenhouse Effect • Is the greenhouse effect necessary for life on Earth? Why? • Yes. Keeps the Earth at a temperature that can sustain life. • How do human activities intensify the warming effect? • Adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere

  7. Greenhouse Effect • What gases are considered greenhouse gases? • CO2 • CH4 • H2O • N2O

  8. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Source: http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/climate/causes.htm

  9. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Source: http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/climate/causes.htm

  10. Does CO2 have the Greatest Heat-Trapping Abilities? • No • CH4 • 20X • N2O • 300X www.epa.gov

  11. What regions of the United States emit the greatest amounts of CO2? • Large population of people • More industry • Northeast US • Areas with large cities Why? http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2008/gurneyvulcan1.jpg

  12. Learning Target Checkpoint • What is the greenhouse effect?

  13. What has been happening to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? • Increasing • What happens when the amount of GHGs in the atmosphere increases? • Accelerated greenhouse effect • Global Warming

  14. What are the possible effects from Global Warming? • Rising sea levels • Threatened cultures • Increased agricultural yields • Decreased snowpack • Severe storms • Water shortages • Changing range of diseases • Loss of biodiversity • Species extinction • Changes in precipitation • Flooding • Reduced tourism • Heat waves • Reduced growing seasons • Receding glaciers • Changing forests • Climate change

  15. What does Climate Change mean in Connecticut?

  16. 2.5 – 7₀F (from 4-12 ₀F by the end of this century depending on the scenario) Predicted Changes in New England Average Annual Temperature http://www.climatechoices.org/ne/impacts_ne/temperatures.html

  17. Average Temperature ₀F CT about 50 ₀F From National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/12cavg0.gif

  18. CHANGES IN AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE Average temp (₀F) October 2008 Your average October day, 5 degrees warmer (~55 ₀F) in 2040 Average temp (₀F) Jan-Dec 2007 From National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/regional_monitoring/12cavg0.gif

  19. Changing Climate — What would Bridgeport feel like if it was more like a Norfolk, VA climate? Or Savannah, GA?? www.climatechoices.org and www.nrcc.cornell.edu

  20. Changing Climate — What would Bridgeport feel like if it was more like a Norfolk, VA climate? Or Savannah, GA?? Normal Minimum Temperature www.climatechoices.org and www.nrcc.cornell.edu

  21. Sea Level Rise • Now rising 8 inches per century • Likely to rise another 22 inches by 2100 • Cost to protect Connecticut’s coastline from a 20-inch sea level rise could be $0.5-$3 billion • Erosion of coastlines and beaches • Loss of habitats • Affects on tourism and industries http://www.nextgenerationearth.org/contents/view/15 and http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/files/connecticut_factsheet_v2.pdf

  22. Aquatic Ecosystems Flood Coasts From the Connecticut Health Foundation http://data.cthealth.org/Portals/0/documents/env_emergency_mgt.pdf

  23. 3 7 2 Ecosystem Health 1 8 10 From the Connecticut Health Foundation http://data.cthealth.org/Portals/0/documents/env_airqualityindex.pdf

  24. Union of Concerned Scientistshttp://www.climatechoices.org/ne/impacts_ne/heat_hartford.html

  25. Connecticut and Regional Effects Plants and Animals

  26. Trees • May become more vulnerable to pest insects and diseases • May need to compete with invasive non-native • May produce fewer seeds (beechnuts, hickory nuts, and acorns) and fruit (wild cherries) that many animals • depend on for food • May change their distribution patterns and species combinations • Subjected to more frequent fires, floods, more erosion • Habitats retreat into Canada and higher altitudes http://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/news/review/review-vol01.pdf http://www.snefci.org/

  27. Habitat Retreat From US Global Change Research Program http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/Library/nationalassessment/19FO.pdf

  28. Source: http://www.nextgenerationearth.org/contents/view/15

  29. Learning Target Checkpoint • What are the effects of global warming?

  30. Is it All Doom and Gloom? • No • What can be done? • Use less fossil fuels • Get involved • Drive a fuel efficient vehicle • Conserve energy at home • Recycle • Spread the word

  31. What Types of Green Energy Does CT Have Available? • Wind • Solar • Geothermal • Hydroelectric • Biomass

  32. What is Connecticut Doing About Climate Change? • CT Climate Action Plan (2005) • CT Act for Energy Independence • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) • First Auction Sept. 2008 • Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont • $38.5 million in proceeds • Funding for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

  33. What is Connecticut Doing About Climate Change? • Green Schools Legislation • CT Energy Efficiency Fund and CT Clean Energy Fund • Kids’ Initiatives • Keep Connecticut Cool Contest

  34. Learning Target Checkpoint • What can be done to slow down global warming?

  35. Resources Union of Concerned Scientist’s Climate Choices www.climatechoices.org Northeast Regional Climate Center www.nrcc.cornell.edu Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change www.ipcc.ch Fourth Assessment Report (2007) www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf Connecticut Climate Change www.ctclimatechange.org Connecticut Energy Advisory Board www.ctenergy.org

  36. Resources Connecticut Energy Info www.ctenergyinfo.com CT Energy Education www.ctenergyeducation.com Keep Connecticut Cool Contest www.keepconnecticutcool.org US Forest Service http://nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/climate_change/ http://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/news/review/review-vol01.pdf Woods Hole Research Center, New England Forests www.whrc.org/new_england/forest_ecol.htm

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