Slide 1Slide 2Slide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Slide 7Clicker Question:Slide 9Slide 10Slide 11Slide 12Temperature MeasurementsSlide 14Slide 15Slide 16Slide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20InundationSlide 22Slide 23Slide 24Measuring Your Carbon FootprintConservation: Three ExamplesEnergy Efficiency: Two ExamplesSlide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Slide 32Slide 33Slide 34Slide 35Slide 36Slide 37Slide 38The EarthGeneral FeaturesMass: MEarth = 6 x 1027 gRadius: REarth = 6378 kmDensity:  = 5.5 g/cm3Age: 4.6 billion yearsEarth's Internal StructureCrust: thin. Much Si and Al(lots of granite). Two-thirds covered by oceans.How do we know? Earthquakes. See laterMantle is mostly solid, mostly basalt (Fe, Mg, Si). Cracks in mantle allow molten material to rise => volcanoes.Core temperature is 6000 K. Metallic - mostly nickel and iron. Outer core molten, innercore solid.Atmosphere very thinEarth's Atmosphere78% Nitrogen21% Oxygengas is ionized by solar radiationozone is O3 , which absorbs solar UV efficiently, thusheating stratospherecommercial jet altitudesroom temperatureOriginal gases disappeared. Atmosphere is mostly due to volcanoes and plants!IonosphereParticles in the upper reaches of the atmosphere are ionized by the sun.Radio signals below ~20 MHz can “bounce” off the ionosphere allowingCommunication “over the horizon”ConvectionEarth's surface heated by Sun. What would happen if it couldn't get rid of the energy as fast as it gets in?Convection causes both small-scale turbulence and large scale circulation patterns. It also occurs within Earth, on other planets, and in stars.Convection also occurs when you boil water, or soup. Think of Earth's surface as a boiling pot!The Greenhouse EffectMain greenhouse gases are H2O and CO2 .If no greenhouse effect, surface would be 40 oC cooler!Clicker Question:The dinosaurs were most likely wiped out by:A: diseaseB: hunting to extinction by cavemenC: a giant meteor impactD: the close passage of another starClicker Question:A leading cause of Global Warming is:A: Increased soot (smog) in the atmosphere.B: Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.C: The Earth is getting closer to the sun.D: The luminosity of the sun is steadily increasing.Clicker Question:The Greenhouse effect would not occur if:A: The Earth had no atmosphere.B: The amount of carbon dioxide doubled.C: We got rid of all the forests.D: The Earth didn’t have an ocean.Burning carbon-containing fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide.(Combustion)C + O2 CO2Global Warming BasicsPollution is the Primary CausePollution is the Primary CauseGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. Williams1.81.41.10.70.4 0-0.4-0.7-1.1Global Temperature Change (deg F)Year1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000380360340320300280CO2 Concentration (ppm)1000 Years of CO2 and Global Temperature ChangeTemperatureCO2CO2: Most Significant Greenhouse PollutantCO2: Most Significant Greenhouse PollutantGlobal Warming BasicsSource: ACIA 2004 Jennifer Allen graphicGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. WilliamsCO2 CH4Humans have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere by more than 35% since the Industrial Revolution. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2006) The most carbon dioxide in 650,000 years. (IPCC 2007)Temperature Measurements“Warming of the climate system is UNEQUIVOCAL” (IPCC 2007)Top 11 warmest years on record have all occurred in the last 12 years.(IPCC 2007)2006 warmest year on record in continental US. (NOAA 1/07).Alaska is Ground ZeroAlaska is Ground ZeroChapman and Walsh, 2004In past 50 years, Alaska: Temperatures haveincreased•4oF overall(National Assessment Synthesis Team) Worldwide:Temperatures haveincreased •Slightly more than 1oF(IPCC 2007) Surface Air Temperature Trends 1942-2003Global Warming BasicsGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. WilliamsChapman and Walsh, 2004Snow and sea ice reflect 85-90% of sun’s energy.  Ocean surface and dark soil reflect only 10-20%. The Albedo Effect“White shirt versus Black shirt”Why has Alaska warmed the most?Why has Alaska warmed the most?Increased melting of snowand sea iceIncreased melting of snowand sea iceMore of sun’s heat energy is absorbedMore of sun’s heat energy is absorbedMore dark earthand ocean surface is exposedMore dark earthand ocean surface is exposedLand or water warms fasterLand or water warms fasterGlobal Warming BasicsGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. Williams(ACIA 2004)Source ACIA, 2004Jennifer Allen AnimationAn area twice the size of Texas has melted away since 1979 (over 20% decrease). (National Snow and Ice Data Center 2005)Ice 40% thinner. (Rothrock,D.A, et al. 1999)Ice only 6 – 9 feet thick at North Pole (NOAA FAQ 2007).Northwest passage opened Aug 21, 2007 Impacts in Alaska1. MeltingMelting Sea IceMelting Sea Ice1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 20039876----| | | | |Arctic Sea Ice Extent (millions of sq. km.) Source: NSIDC, 2005ARCTIC SEA ICE AREA1979-20052005Global Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. WilliamsImpacts in Alaska1. MeltingGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. WilliamsMelting Sea IceMelting Sea IceArctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2040 (U.S National Center for Atmospheric Research 2006).“Our research indicates that society can still minimize the impacts on Arctic ice.” Dr. Marika Holland, National Center for Atmospheric Research2000 2040Impact World-wide1. MeltingGlobal Warming: The Greatest Threat © 2006 Deborah L. WilliamsImpact on Ski IndustryImpact on Ski Industry• In the US skiing is a $5B industry• 2006 saw a 78% decline in skiers visiting the pacific northwest US• Ski Seasons have shortened by 1 day/year for the last 20 years• Many European ski resorts below 1800 m (6000 ft) will close • 50 to 90% of Alpine glaciers will be gone by 2100• Some resort to snowmaking• Expensive• Requires lots of water• Requires lots of energy • In New Mexico, many ski areas can’t open until after XmasImpacts in Alaska1. MeltingThe rapid retreat of Alaska’s glaciers represents about 50% of the estimated mass loss by glaciers through 2004 worldwide. (ACIA 2004)Loss of over 588 billion cubic yards between ’61 and ’98. (Climate Change 11/05)Alaska’s glaciers are responsible for at least 9% of the global sea level rise in the