Geology 1001/1101

1. Geology 1001/1101 Sec 003 Chris Paola Class 14: the Anthropocene

2. Chapter 14 HUMAN IMPACT ON EARTH’S ENVIRONMENT

5. What is burning? CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O + energy methane oxygen carbon dioxide water

6. Relative carbon emissions

8. What is the “greenhouse effect”? KEY IDEAS: 1. Energy must balance: output = input 2. Higher surface temp  higher rate of energy radiation 1. Incoming solar radiation 3. GHG return some of the outgoing energy back to earth as infrared radiation NO ATMOSPHERE, e.g. Moon WITH ATMOSPHERE, e.g. Earth GHG 2. Surface temp increases until energy balances 4. Higher surface temp required to balance extra input energy

11. Observed changes in GHG levels, 10 kyr

12. 1995-2000 observed temperature w.r.t. 1940-1980 mean

16. 2070-2100 numerical model prediction

25. GW: Points that (I think) both sides agree on • CO2 is a greenhouse gas • The observed increase in CO2 levels is anthropogenic • The Earth’s climate has warmed over the past couple of decades

26. CO2 is a greenhouse gas The observed increase in CO2 levels are anthropogenic The Earth’s climate has warmed over the past couple of decades CO2 is not the most effective greenhouse gas Other anthropogenic changes work against GW The Earth’s climate undergoes important natural cycles that are not well understood but…

27. By not acting, we will create an environmental catastrophe A new “green” economy could be beneficial There is strong scientific consensus about GW By acting in haste, we will create an economic catastrophe A warmer climate could be beneficial Science is not a democracy; dissenting voices are being suppressed Both sides now…

28. There is no way around the fact that this and other important decisions about the environment will have to be made with imperfect scientific understanding. What is the best way to do this?

29. What is the “Anthropocene”? • Holocene: geologic epoch since last glacial advance • Anthropocene: proposed current geologic epoch of strong human influence

30. the Anthropocene • Energy, Climate change, and CO2 • Land use • Geo-engineering

31. Geo-engineering UM Institute on the Environment Momentum 2010 Spring

32. Geo-engineering

33. Geo-engineering

34. Geo-engineering Could stimulating plankton with Fe speed up the biological pump? “Give me half a tanker of iron, and I’ll give you an ice age” – John Martin, former Director, Moss Landing Marine Lab

35. CO2 Storage CO2 Capture and Storage Potential for Reducing CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Power Generation Increased Reforestation CO2 Consumption Gas, Oil, Coal Mobil Source: IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Program Injection into Depleted Oil/Gas Reservoirs

36. The human footprint

37. Current: 6,818,119,630

38. The human footprint Land loss in coastal Louisiana associated with river diking & flood control

39. Natural vs agricultural erosion

40. Natural vs agricultural erosion

41. The human footprint The total earth moved in the past 5000 yr would be sufficient to build a 4000-m-high mountain range, 40 km wide and 100 km long. If current rates of increase persist, we could double the length of our mountain range in the next 100 yr. R. L. Hooke (2000) Geology 28:843

42. The human footprint Sanderson, E. W. et al. (2002) Bioscience, 52, 891

43. The human footprint Sanderson, E. W. et al. (2002) Bioscience, 52, 891-904.

44. The human footprint Sanderson, E. W. et al. (2002) Bioscience, 52, 891

45. How far to the nearest road? Fraction of US land area that is: • Less than 127 m (417 ft) = 20% • Less than 382 m (1253 ft) = 50% • More than 1000 m (0.6 mi) = 18% • More than 5000 m (3.1 mi) = 3% Coterminous US, from Riitters, K. H., and J. D. Wickham (2003), Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 1, 125-129.