Environmental Science Exam 2
Rising Sea Levels
because of global warming and more ice melting it has caused sea levels to rise 10-20 cm over the last over the last century and this has accelerated since 1993
fossilized mud (evidence of climate change)
can extract plant DNA from fossilized mud samples and it can inform scientists about how historic climate change affected plant life
Clean Power Plan
Signed by Gina McCarthy- national standards for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants
Transparency Rule
Signed by Scott Pruitt- only use scientific studies with publicly avaliable data when developing regulations
Reliable Sources of Climate Change
Since 1901, temperatures have increased over most of earth's surface. Higher altitudes show more warming than mid-altitude areas. There is also warmer annual sea surface temperatures since 1901
Aerosols affect on warming
Some aerosols contain darker particles which sit in the atmosphere and absorb the sunlight's radiation thus warming the atmosphere
What are greenhouse gases?
gases that absorb infrared light
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is day to day conditions and changes all the time. Climate is long term patterns
Albedo
ability of a surface to reflect away solar radiation
What is climate change
alteration in the long-term patterns and statistical averages of meteorological events
The greenhouse affect and why it is important
it is the process by which the earth's surface is heated by the sun then the surface of the earth gives off heat as infrared radiation which is then absorbed by greenhouse gases which also warms the atmosphere. We rely on this to exist
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases
Water Vapor- 72% Carbon Dioxide- 26% Methane- 9% Ozone- 7%
water vapor positive feedback loop
1. Adding Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere tends to warm it causing global warming 2. The warm atmosphere causes surface water to evaporate and become water vapor 3. Since water vapor is a greenhouse gas, the atmosphere tends to warm even more as water vapor increases, thus contributing even more to global warming
Species response to climate change
1. Flowers bloom earlier and some later- this is because of the messed up polar jet stream 2. more species migrating to higher altitudes and latitudes because plants shifted their range to higher altitudes 3. some species beginning to have a higher mortality rate because the peak of forage abundance happens before or after they arrive on their summer breeding grounds 4. Because of warmer conditions pests are increasing and eating off vegetation 5. Coral Bleaching- because of the higher sea surface temperatures the algae growing on the coral which gives it their coral gets stressed and leaves the coral
U.S. Environmental Laws
1. NEPA 2. Clean Air Act 3. Clean Water Act 4. Endangered Species Act 5. Toxic Substances Control Act 6. Resource and Conservation Recovery Act 7. Superfund Act
Layers of the atmosphere
1. Troposphere (the layer we live in) Only thing that touches the top is Mount Everest. Commercial planes fly at the top. 2. Ozone Layer- (in stratosphere) A ring of protective gases that absorbs harmful UV rays. Spy Planes fly here. 3. Stratosphere- Weather balloons fly here 4. Mesosphere- Rockets will fly to this level also where meteors are found 5. Thermosphere- Space crafts and the northern lights are from here 6. Exosphere- Satellites fly here
Troposphere Gases
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon, .03% Carbon Dioxide, and water vapor can make up 0 to 4% of the atmosphere
EPA regulatory role
An administrator for the EPA is appointed by the president and given a cabinet rank Annual budget is $8.1 million 14,172 employees (50% engineers, scientists, and environmental protection specialists others are legal, public affairs and information technologists)
Anthropogenic vs natural pollutants
Anthropogenic- industry, mining, and transportation - fossil fuels and biomass burning Natural- fog, dust, forest fires, volcanic ash, geyser streams, and sea salt They both are harmful to humans, but Anthropogenic can be prevented and causes global warming Natural cannot
Arctic Melt
At the current rate Arctic ice could be completely gone by the summer of 2035
IPCC'S Climate Projections
B1- Lower Level emissions scenario, by 2080-2099 temperatures would reach no greater than 4.5 degrees Celsius in the north pole A1B- Middle-Level Emissions scenario, by 2080-2099 temperatures in the north pole would reach no more than 7 degrees Celsius A2- Higher Emissions Scenario, by 2080-2099 temperatures would reach 7.5 degrees Celsius
Evolution of U.S. environmental policies
Before the 1960s all environmental issues were state-regulated then federal performance standards were issued in the 60s/70s - this was done to regulate growing industries, to address the flow of air and water pollution across state lines, this was proved effective as vehicle air pollution was dropped by 70%
Science's role in environmental policy decisions
CAA (creative artists agency) has the biggest role, then NEPA, then ESA (endangered species act)
Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases
CO2 (carbon dioxide) 64%- from fossil fuels, deforestation, decay, and peat CH4 (Methane) 17%-from agricultural waste and energy N2O (Nitrogen Oxide) 6%- from agriculture and other sources Halocarbons 13%- CFCs
Milankovitch cycles and why it is not causes Global Warming
Changes in the shape earth's orbit and tilt. Example being that the earth's access currently points towards the North Star but in 12,000 years the axis will point toward Vega (opposite direction) Because of our current tilt, we should be in a cooling trend, but instead, we are in a warming trend.
EPA regulatory process
Congress passes laws then EPA acts under statutes of laws --> EPA issues regulations which interpret statues and the EPA enforces regulations and imposes sanctions
Environmental Policies influencing bodies
Congress, the press, the white house, influential individuals, lobbyists, etc.
NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act)
Created in 1969 it established environmental protection as a guiding policy therefore the environment must be considered before any government action is taken This created the citizen suit provision which means private citizens can sue a violator of U.S. environmental laws in federal court to force compliance This also create the EPA or the environmental protection agency- a federal agency put into place to enforcing U.S. environmental laws
Mitigating climate change globally
Cutting down less trees (obviously), creating carbon capture technology or even fake carbon capture trees
Other strategies for mitigating climate change
Eating less meat and more of a plant based diet and using more hybrid or fully electric vehicles
Anthropogenic Greenhouse gases and global warming
Enhanced greenhouse effect- First detected by scientists in 1980s, since more greenhouse gases are being trapped in the atmosphere (not naturally occurring) that means more heat Decreased Albedo- urbanization decreases it, dark roofs absorb the radiation from the sun instead of reflecting it back Positive feedback loop- temperature rises --> more ice melts --> as ice melts more water is exposed, which absorbs more heat
Clean Air Act
Established in 1970 it regulates air pollution that is hazardous to human health Greenhouse gases was not regulated by this till 2009 It has increased life expectancy levels in urban areas
Clean Water Act (Safe Drinking Water Act)
Established in 1972 it regulates environmental and drinking water quality
Endangered Species Act
Established in 1973 it is regulated by fish and wildlife it protects and aids in the recovery of endangered and threatened species
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Established in 1976 it regulates hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave" (regulates the disposal of solid and hazardous waste)
Toxic Substances Control Act
Established in 1976, it regulates the production and distribution of toxic chemicals
Superfund Act
Established in 1980 it requires responsible parties to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and makes them liable for costs
mitigating climate change personally
Examples: 1. Carpool, walk, or take the bus once a week 2. When driving avoid quick stops and starts and drive within the speed limit 3. Raise your air conditioning 2 degrees
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change founding information
Founder- Bert Bolin Founded- 1988 It is a body of the United Nations
New Zealand Glacier melt
Frans Josef Glacier has melted by 3 km in length since the 1800s
Last three EPA administrators
Gina McCarthy (2013-2017), Scott Pruitt (2017-2018), Andrew Wheeler
Present-day evidence of climate change
Global Glacial Melt- Arctic, Antarctic, Greenland, Alaska, Glacier National Park, China, Nepal, New Zealand, The Randolph Glacier Industry: a compilation of all the world's glaciers, developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientists to improve estimates of sea level rise.
What is the biggest contributor to present-day climate change?
Global Warming- observed and consistent rise in the earth's average temperature
Long-term evidence of climate change
Growth rings on trees, fossilized mud, coral rings, ice cores, and glacier's increased 0-16 isotope concentration can all be used as evidence for climate change
Ice cores (evidence of climate change)
Ice cores are long cylinder samples of ice the further down the layer the older it is. Scientists can estimate the temperature of that year based on O2 isotopes in ice cores. Also whatever falls into ice gets trapped and frozen in time i.e. volcanic ash
Albedo Surfaces
Ice- 10-40% of solar radiation is radiated as heat (not reflected away) Snow- 60-90% of solar radiation reflected away Ocean- only 10% of solar radiation is reflected away 90% is radiated as heat
Mitigating climate change nationally
Implicate better legislation to mitigate air pollution
How past data predicts future trends and how it is all caused by humans
In the past data shows that the higher the CO2 levels the higher the temperatures. Today humans are the source of extra CO2 being released in the air, therefore the extra CO2 release is causing the extra warming
What is the IPCC?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change- an international group of scientists that evaluate scientific studies related to climate change to thoroughly and objectively access the data
Importance of 2 degrees threshold
Just recently changed to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we need to keep the earth under that temperature in order to survive
Alaska and Nepal Glacier Melt
Photo of Muir Glacier in 1941 vs 2004 it is no longer a Glacier at all but a giant river Photo of Mount Everest there 1921 vs 2007 there is almost no ice left and less snow
Glacier National Park Melt
Photos from 1913 vs 2012 shows there is no snow ice or glaciers left and has turned into river
Antarctic Glacial melt
The Larsen B shelf (an ice shelf the size of Rhode Island) collapsed in 2002 within a couple of weeks Wikins Ice shelf also collapsed in 2008 also only took a couple weeks
Greenland Glacial melt
The amount of Greenland's cumulative melt days has gone up.
Aerosols Density
The areas with the thickest density of Aerosols is parts of Canada, middle of South America, Europe, parts of China, and south west parts of Africa.
IPCC's Purpose
To make projections based on a wealth of scientific data and to make recommendations to inform government action
Anthropogenic
derived from human activities
tree rings (Evidence of climate change)
each ring of the tree can show what type of year it was depending on width of ring- the wider the ring the better the season it was you can also see scars from natural disasters
Coral Rings (evidence of climate change)
each ring tells us about the age of the coral and climate change because growth depends on temperature, sunlight, and nutrients
Positive vs negative feedback loop
positive forcers or a positive feedback loop means warming negative forcers or a negative feedback loop means cooling Anthropogenic forcers are positive therefore they warm
ozone layer depletion
the ozone "hole" is a periodic depletion of the ozone layer that occurs over Antarctica. CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons) were commonly found in refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and foaming blowing agents before the 1980s. As a ozone layer holes began to form the Montreal Protocol was formed. This was an international commitment to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals. This was universally ratified by all countries who participate in the United Nations.
Why are environmental policies necessary?
they are necessary to protect and restore the natural world and to mitigate human impact on earth