GLOBAL WARMING

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Greenhouse Effect

© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart

The Greenhouse Effect

The molecules of some gases in the atmosphere absorb heat energy and retain it

This can be a good thing Without an atmosphere the Earth would have

same temperature as the moon Moon mean surface temperature -46°C Moon temperature range: -233 to +123°C

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Main Greenhouse Gases

Water Vapor Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Oxides Methane

© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart

© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Infrared Absorption Spectra

© Oceanworld 2005 Robert R Stewart

The Greenhouse Gases Water vapor in the atmosphere is stable Carbon Dioxide levels are currently rising

but they have been higher in the past Methane levels are increasing:

Waste, cattle (manure), more rice paddy fields, as permafrost melts

Nitrogen Oxide levels increase due to increased circulation of motor vehicles

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Mauna Loa Observatory

© Mauna Loa Observatory Site

© Earth System Research Laboratory

© Earth System Research Laboratory

Carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas

© Mauna Loa Observatory Site

South Pole Data

Samoa data

Since the Industrial Revolution

Concentration of Carbon Dioxide from trapped air measurements for the DE08 ice core near the summit of Law Dome, Antarctica. (Data measured by CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research from ice cores supplied by Australian Antarctic Division)

Average temperature of Earth

Visual of the Little Ice Age 1500-1700’s

Levels during the last ice age

© Dennis Hartmann: Universoty of Washington: Department of Atmospheric Sciences

Earth during the Jurassic Period

The oceanic conveyor belt

The melting Arctic ice

The length of the melt season inferred from surface temperature weekly data has been increasing by 9, 12, 12, and 17 days per decade in sea ice covered areas

© NASA

Is it really getting warmer – This is not what the debate is about.

1979 2003

© NASA

The consequences Sea level rise – Melting ice caps

Flooding coastal areasReduced agricultural land

Displacement of populations Climate change

Displacement of ecosystemsChange in range of insect vectors of pathogensReduced biodiversity

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The consequences

Increased rates of photosynthesis Increased agricultural production at high

latitudes Amount of water vapor in the air will increase

leading to more tropical-like ecosystems.

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

What can be done?Reduce carbon emissions

Stop burning as much fossil fuel.

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

What can be done?

Increase natural processes that use up CO2 Reduce deforestation Increase reforestation

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

What can be done?

Artificial ways to reduce atmospheric CO2 are being researched.

Filter CO2 sources using hydroxide scrubbers

Injection of CO2 into deep ocean layersForms CO2 reservoirsImpact on sea life unknown

Injecting CO2 into disused oil wells

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The bottom lineThere is NO debate, the earth is going through

a warming phase.

The question that no one seems to have an answer for and what the debate is about:

1. The earth is getting warmer due to burning fossil fuels.

2. The earth is getting warmer due to a natural warming trend.

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Finally:Make your own decision

about what is going to happen and WHY the earth is getting warmer.

The planet will look after itself in the end Easter Island (Rapanui) in the

Pacific Settled between AD900 and

1200 Community in severe decline

AD 1700 Cause: excessive

deforestation

© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The Moai statues, Easter Island © Martin Gray, World Mysteries

The planet will look after itself in the end Chaco Canyon, New

Mexico Anasazi culture AD 850 – 1250 Cause: Deforestation

combined with a decline in rainfall

© New Mexico Tourism Department

© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

The planet will look after itself in the end Mesopotamia Sumerian civilization 3100 – 1200 BC Increased salt levels in

soil due to irrigation systems & arid environment

Reduced food yield

© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

© Asociación Cultural Nueva Acrópolis en Barcelona

The planet will look after itself in the end Greenland Viking colony AD982 – 1350 Cause: Deforestation,

soil degradation & cooling of the climate

© Emporia State University

© Text 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

forumpolitics.com/pics/earth-photo.jpg

Who’s next?

© NASA