environmental science chapter 14

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

An international panel of climate scientists and government officials established in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. The IPCC's mission is to assess and synthesize scientific research on global climate change and to offer guidance to the world's policymakers, primarily through periodic published reports.

geoengineering

Any of a suite of proposed efforts to cool Earth's climate by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or reflecting sunlight away from Earth's surface. Such ideas are controversial and are not nearly ready to implement.

global warming

an increase in Earth's average surface temperature; the term is most frequently used in reference to the pronounced warming trend of recent years and decades; one aspect of global climate change and in turn drives other components of climate change

-power plants: conserve energy, more energy efficient homes/appliances, cogeneration (power + heat), alternative energy (electricity without as much CO2) -transportation: drive fuel-efficient, hybrid, or electric cars, drive less and use public transportation

Identify the two largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. For each source, describe two ways to reduce those emissions.

carbon storage

carbon sequestration

anthropogenic

caused by human beings

carbon capture

technologies or approaches that remove carbon dioxide from power plant or other emissions, in an effort to mitigate global climate change

carbon footprint

the cumulative amount of carbon or carbon dioxide that a person or institution emits, and is indirectly responsible for emitting, into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change

weather

the local physical properties of the troposphere, such as temperature, pressure, humidity, cloudiness, and wind, over relatively short time periods

climate

the pattern of atmospheric conditions in a region over long periods of time

ocean acidification

the process by which today's oceans are becoming more acidic as a result of increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere; occurs as ocean water absorbs CO2 from the air and forms carbonic acid; this impairs the ability of corals and other organisms to build exoskeletons of calcium carbonate, imperiling coral reefs and the many organisms that depend on them

mitigation

the pursuit of strategies to lessen the severity of climate change, notably by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

adaptation

the pursuit of strategies to protect ourselves from the impacts of climate change

carbon neutrality

the state in which an individual, business, or institution emits no net carbon to the atmosphere

aerosols

tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time

radiative forcing

very fine liquid droplets or solid particles aloft in the atmosphere

greenhouse gases

a gas that absorbs infrared radiation released by Earth's surface and then warms the surface and troposphere by emitting energy, thus giving rise to the greenhouse effect; include carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, halocarbon gases, and methane

global warming potential (GWP)

a quantity that specifies the ability of one molecule of a given greenhouse gas to contribute to atmospheric warming, relative to carbon dioxide

carbon tax

A fee charged to entities that pollute by emitting carbon dioxide. A carbon tax gives polluters a financial incentive to reduce pollution, and is thus foreseen as a way to address global climate change.

fee-and-dividend

A program of carbon taxes in which proceeds from the taxes are paid to consumers as a tax refund or dividend. This way, if polluters pass their costs along to consumers, consumers will not lose money.

proxy indicators

A source of indirect evidence that serves as a proxy, or substitute, for direct measurement and that sheds light on past climate. Examples include data from ice cores, sediment cores, tree rings, packrat middens, and coral reefs.

carbon offsets

A voluntary payment to another entity intended to enable that entity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that one is unable or unwilling to reduce oneself. The payment thus offsets one's own emissions.

cap-and-trade

An emissions trading system in which government determines an acceptable level of pollution and then issues polluting parties permits to pollute. A company receives credit for amounts it does not emit and can then sell this credit to other companies.

I believe that there is human caused climate change. Even though climates have changed on their own in the past, humans are causing climate change, even if some of it is just nature itself. For example, burning an excessive amount of fossil fuels transfers carbon dioxide form the ground into the atmosphere. Deforestation also contributes carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because plants release stored carbon and less carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide amounts are the highest in 800,000 years (maybe even 20 million). They have increased by 1.5-2 times since the 1700s. The precautionary principle is a good standard. It is better to be safe than sorry because we only have one planet, and we do not want to destroy it by being careless. We do not need more certainty before taking action. Although it would be helpful, it is better to respect the planet than being careless.

B. Some people argue that we need " more proof" or " better science" before we commit to substantial changes in our energy economy. Are you convinced by the evidence for human-caused climate change? Why or why not? (note that I am asking for a well-supported opinion, not a particular answer!!). Some countries in Europe use the precautionary principle (precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically) when considering the use of new chemical compounds. Do you believe that this principle is an appropriate standard in the case of global climate change? Why or why not? Do you think we need more certainty before we should take action regarding climate change (explain why or why not)?

One action I would plan on taking is limiting the amount of fossil fuels burned and limit carbon emissions from new power plants. This will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions going into atmosphere. In addition, there will be a carbon tax. Polluters will have to pay a fee for each unit of greenhouse gas they emit. This will give an incentive for polluters to reduce their emissions, which in turn, will hep reduce climate change.

C. As the federal government steps back from trying to limit climate change, states are stepping up to create their own goals and make their own deals. Assume you have just been elected the governor of a medium-sized U.S. State. Your constituents want you to take strong action to limit climate change, but don't want higher electricity or gasoline prices. Industry is cautiously supportive, as is the state legislature (as long as you remain popular!). The State to your West just mandated steep cuts in CO2 emissions. The state to your East just joined an emissions trading consortium, and the state to your north established a revenue-neutral carbon tax. Identify the action(s) you plan to take your first year in office, and explain the expected benefits of each action.

-The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.

Define the "carbon cycle". Name the places where the most carbon is stored (sources & sinks) and describe how it moves (fluxes) through the cycle. Explain how human activity has altered the carbon cycle. Describe some environmental problems these human-driven changes have caused. This info can be found back in Chapter 2.

-scientists can study ancient atmosphere pressure through proxies, air temperature measurements (mercury thermometer), and ocean/atmospheric chemistry measurements -proxy indicator is a stand-in; an indirect line of evidence that substitutes for direct measurements of past climate -examples include pollen preserved in sediment, tree rings, pack-rat middens (rat trash piles), coral reefs, air bubbles trapped in ice cores, stable isotopes

Explain at least three different ways that scientists can study the ancient atmosphere. Describe what a proxy indicator is, and give two examples.

-incoming solar radiation will either be absorbed by the atmosphere, absorbed by surfaced, reflected by surface, reflected by clouds/aerosols/atmosphere, or reflected by solar radiation -thermals, evapo-transpiration, radiation emitted by surface go into atmosphere; these are emitted by atmosphere/clouds/surface and go to outgoing longwave radiation -greenhouse gases put the radiation back which is absorbed by surface

Explain how the greenhouse effect works: start with incoming solar energy, and finish with some waste heat being released into space. (Don't forget to explain how the atmosphere gets warmed).

-major climate changes scientists have documented so far include increased average global temperature, farmers adapt to new conditions, plants and animals adapt, ice is melting, sea level is rising, total precipitation has increased, droughts have increased, and more frequent extreme weather -future climate trends include temperature will rise, precipitation patterns will change, sea level will continue to rise

List four major climate changes that scientists have documented so far. Now list four future climate trends (four different ways that climate is predicted to change), and describe an impact of each predicted change. Ex: Trend: more areas in the US will experience drought during crop growing season, Impact: may be more difficult to get food in the US, and definitely harder to export surplus food around the world. (does not count as one of your four).

-give polluters flexibility on how to cut their emissions, and financial incentives to reduce emission -cap & trade: good for local/regional pollution and hard to enforce internationally -carbon taxes: governments charge polluters a fee for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit; polluters have a financial incentive to reduce emissions; European nations, British Columbia, and Boulder, Colorado, have carbon taxes; However, polluters pass costs on to consumers; Fee-and-dividend: funds from the carbon tax (fee) are passed to taxpayers as refunds (dividends) -carbon offsets: if you can't reduce, you pay someone else to reduce GHG emissions; Popular among utilities, businesses, universities, governments, and individuals trying to achieve; Carbon-neutrality (where no net carbon is emitted); Problems (Cheaters) (Offsets must fund emissions reductions that would not otherwise have occurred)

List the market-based approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For each one, explain how it reduces emissions, then explain one reason why it may work well and one reason it may not work well.

-energy (incoming solar energy, amount of incoming energy reflected vs. absorbed, heat lost to space vs. heat retained by atmosphere, heat distribution by air and oceans, feedback (positive & negative)) -human influences -climate change

List three things FROM THE SLIDE IN THE PPT that have an effect on climate, and explain, briefly, how each works.

-halocarbons have highest warming potential -CO2 has lowest warming potential -scientists worry about carbon dioxide because it is the most abundant -carbon dioxide levels are rising due to burning fossil fuels and deforestation

Look at the table comparing the Global Warming Potential of four greenhouse gases. Which has the highest warming potential? Which has the lowest? Why do scientists worry most about carbon dioxide? Explain why carbon dioxide levels are rising.

Milankovitch cycles

One of three types of variations in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that result in slight changes in the relative amount of solar radiation reaching Earth's surface at different latitudes. As the cycles proceed, they change the way solar radiation is distributed over Earth's surface and contribute to changes in atmospheric heating and circulation that have triggered the ice ages and other climate changes.

-sea level: increased beach erosion, coastal flooding, salt water intrusion into aquifers, and more damaging storm surges -coral reefs: -agriculture: shortened growing seasons, more droughts, more severe storms leading to decreased food production and increasing hunger -forestry: more frequent fires, spread of invasive species, insect and disease outbreaks -health issues: more illness and deaths from heat stress, more lung disease, expansion of tropical diseases

Summarize the predicted effects of additional warming on the following: sea level, coral reefs, agriculture, forestry, and human health.

global climate change

Systematic change in aspects of Earth's climate, such as temperature, precipitation, and storm intensity. Generally refers today to the current warming trend in global temperatures and the many associated climatic changes.

carbon sequestration

Technologies or approaches to sequester, or store, carbon dioxide from industrial emissions, e.g., underground under pressure in locations where it will not seep out, in an effort to mitigate global climate change. We are still a long way from developing adequate technology and secure storage space to accomplish this.

greenhouse effect

Warming of Earth's surface and atmosphere caused by the energy emitted by greenhouse gases

climate models

a computer program that combines what is known about weather patterns, atmospheric circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions, and feedback mechanisms to simulate climate processes