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Deadly Alliance. Global Warming and Global Dimming. Heating of earth’s surface by reflected sunlight Increase in greenhouse gases promotes Majority attributed to anthropogenic causes. Last 40 years 1°C increase globally Next 40 years maybe 3°C?
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Deadly Alliance Global Warming and Global Dimming
Heating of earth’s surface by reflected sunlight Increase in greenhouse gases promotes Majority attributed to anthropogenic causes. Last 40 years 1°C increase globally Next 40 years maybe 3°C? UT professor using coral samples to collect data Global Warming
Trend of Temperature with CO2 *Picture from: http://www.brighton73.freeserve.co.uk/gw/paleo/20000yrfig.htm
Aerosols – fine particulate matter in form of solids or liquids Usually from chemical or combustion processes Are usually ‘washed-out’ in rain Sulfur containing compounds Forms Clouds – diffuse fraction of solar irradiance Change optical properties of clouds Lack of rain Famine and drought of 80’s in Ethiopia. Global Dimming – what is it?
Clouds at Molecular Level Regular occurring particles Aerosol particles * From NASA’s eath observatory website
Consequences of Global dimming • World gets darker • Plant photosynthesis light limited • Less solar energy possible • Masking effects of global warming • True global warming affect could already be in the 3°C-5°C range. • Clouds are chemically changed • Causes famine and drought • Acid rain formation
NOx total = 41 Fossil Fuels - 21 Aircraft - 0.58 Lightning - 7 NH3 total = 54 Domestic Animals - 21.6 Oceans - 8.2 SO2 total = 88 Fossil fuels - 76 Volcanoes - 9.3 H2S total = 25 Oceans - 24 VOC’s total = 236 Anthropogenic - 109 Terpenes - 127 Global Dimming – sources *From IPCC Third Assessment Report
Solution: Attack Global Dimming and Global Warming together • Reductions of particulates recently show brightening affect. • Leads to more apparent global warming consequences. • Temp increase in wake of 9/11 • 1.1°C in 3 days • Global effort • CO2 sequestration • Renewables • Algae farms