Global Warming:Problems and Solutions

Geography 98/198Fall 2007

www.decal.org/globalwarming

What is Global Warming?

What do you think when you hear “global warming”?

CO2 emissionMelting glaciersRising sea levelGreenhouse effectFloods / droughtsHeat wavesOil addictionDecreasing biodiversityPolar bears dyingSevere hurricanesAn Inconvenient Truth

Hockey stick figureIce cores recordsKyoto ProtocolIPCCAlternative Energy: solar panels; windmills; hydro-electric; hydrogen powerCompact florescent bulbsHybrid carsBuying carbon creditEmission standards

Introduction

Valerie Jaffee

Major / Minors:Political Science Spanish & Conservation and

Resources Studies

Background/Interest:*environmental policy*governmental mitigation*sustainable living

Angie Lee

Majors: Forestry; Conservation and

Resources Study

Background/Interest:*trees … duh*city planning for sustainable

development*cross-dating increment cores*love to ☺

Lan Ma

Majors: Atmospheric Science;

Integrative Biology

Background/Interest:*atmosphere-biosphere

interactions (trace gases and energy fluxes)

*atmospheric dynamics*hydro-meteorology

Prof. John Chiang

Assistant Professor (Dept. of Geography)

Classes:*Climate Dynamics*Global Warming*Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics*Global Environmental Change *Topics in Climatology

About this class

Course Structure

First part:* Instruction on the scheduled topics by course facilitators or guest speakers* Movie screeningSecond part:* Group and class discussion* Hands-on experiments

Course Description

This course will be divided into three parts:1) Physical science and ecological impact2) Governmental mitigation3) Individual action; green business, and environmental organizations

Course Description

This course will be divided into three parts:1) Physical science and ecological impact* How do we calculate the Earth’s surface temperature?

* What makes a gas a greenhouse gas and how does the greenhouse effect make us warm?

* What are the sources, the fate, and sinks of carbon?

* How is GW affecting the biosphere?

* Compare with climate skeptics – what are the facts and controversies?

Course Description

This course will be divided into three parts:2) Governmental mitigation* What is the Kyoto Protocol and should developing countries follow the same standard?

* What is in the IPCC report?

* What are some US environmental policies / regulations?

* How do Europeans live more sustainably?

Course Description

This course will be divided into three parts:3) Individual action; green business, and environmental organizations* What are some simple and effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint- from daily habits to living more green?

* What are some examples of green business?

* How you can get involved in your community?

Reading

Reading for the course will be available in electronic format on the course websitePlease do the assigned reading before coming to class and be prepared for discussion

Assignments

Discussion write-upPhoto Journalsurvey your friends about global warming

play with a climate modelcalculate your carbon footprint

Plant a Tree (extra credit)

Assignments

Discussion write-upThe small group discussion during the second half of each class meeting is targeted for students to develop their intuition on either the topic introduced in the first half of the class or the previous homework assignment. Students will be in groups of 5 or 6 and one of them will be a reporter for the group. The reporter will summarize the group discussion to the class as well as writing up a one-page report due the following week. The role of the reporter will rotate and in the end each student will be the reporter at least once.

Assignments

Photo JournalStudents will take or draw pictures that reflect the different aspects of global warming as we cover them in class. Each picture should also have short description (less than 100 words). Be creative!

Here are some examples…

Making Global Warming Visible

Angie LeeSample Photo Journal

Global Warming: Problems and Solutions

Eco-art festival, Berkeley City College

Addressing global warming through the use of art.

The image of polar bear looking for a resting place makes people think about the impact of global warming.

Black Forest/ Public Transportation Building

Freiburg, Germany

Alternative renewable energy produces lower carbon emission and reduces the use of fossil fuels.

Also, alternative energy infrastructures are visible and serve the purpose of raising people’s awareness of the environment.

Earth Week 07’, UC Berkeley

ClimateChangeEducation.Org educating people about the science of climate change at EarthWeek.

Educating the public is important. When people are aware of the problem, they want to be part of the solution.

Cal Day 06’ & 07’, UC Berkeley

Cal Forestry Club distributing seedlings at Cal Day, encouraging people to plant trees.

Perhaps planting a tree yourself is the best way to learn about the importance of protecting our environment. Besides, trees can perform carbon sequestration, reduce pollution and make our world beautiful.

Forestry Camp 06’, Sierra Nevada

A typical class day at Forestry Camp. Professor Joe McBride teaching the class about the ecology of the Sierra Nevada

It is through seeing that we understand our environment. Global warming is not only affecting human beings, but also plants, insects, and animals.

EarthWeek 07’, UC Berkeley

Numerous campus groups tabling at Earth Week. The common goal is to make people aware of the environmental issues that we are currently facing.

Now that we know global warming is happening, are we ready to do something?

Valerie Jaffee

Sample Photo Journal

Global Warming: Problems and Solutions

A Little Earth Love

Road sign with graffiti in Southside Berkeley

Significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions will require dramatic changes in the American lifestyle. Some of the privileges we now enjoy, such as driving half a mile to the grocery store, must be reduced, abandoned, or made more efficient by advanced technologies.

San Francisco Chronicle front page headline fromSeptember 8, 2007

Global warming threatens countless species who will be unable toadapt to warmer temperatures, reduced habitats, and altered food sources. Polar bears face Endangered Species status and possible extinction as a result of melting Arctic sea ice.

Reusable plastic andstainless steel waterbottles

While recycling practices are gaining in popularity, we can reduce waste and fossil fuels used in recycling by avoiding purchasing disposable plastic water bottles. Instead, reusable stainless steel or plastic water bottles can be filled with tap water and enjoyed indefinitely!

Flyer on Upper Sproul Plaza, September 8, 2007

While a huge majority of scientists agree that global warming is a real phenomenon caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, skeptics claim that there is no scientific consensus. No more time can be wasted contesting the scientific evidence of climate change. We need to act now.

BART train, 2007

An advertisement on a BART train, encouraging people to take public transit to work instead of driving. You can save money and spare the air!

Lan’s birthday gift! (Aug. 07’)

If you do not have access to a camera, you can still show off your artistic talent with this photo journal.

Assignments

Survey your friends about global warmingHow well is public educated about GW?

Play with a climate modelWhat is the warming trend regionally and globally? What governs such trends?

Calculate your carbon footprintWhat is your carbon contribution and what can you do to reduce that?

Assignments

Plant a Tree (extra credit & FUN!)On two weekends we will partner up with either Friends of the Urban Forest (SF) or Urban Releaf (Oakland) to plant some trees in the city neighborhood. Participation is voluntary but strongly encouraged; this will be a fun-filled event as well as a great learning experience.

Evaluation Procedure

AttendanceNo more than two absences allowed

AssignmentsMust be turned in on time so to stay active with class material and discussion

Participation

Expectation

Respectallow everyone to have the right to speak; engage in peaceful and respectful debates

Good work ethics

keep your works original

Genuine interestbe interested; come in with a positive attitude

SurveyINTERVIEWEE INFORMATION Age group: Occupation:

<20 20-30 30-40 40-50 >50 _____________________________ When did you first hear the term “global warming”?

>20 years ago >10 years ago > 5 years ago A couple of years ago This year Never heard of it I have heard of “global cooling”

What is your main source of information about global warming?

Scientific articles / magazines General news media (specify: _____________________) Friends / family Classroom (what institute: ___________________________ ) Others (specify: ________________________ )

1. 20th century global warming is (Check all that apply):

The natural variation of the earth’s surface temperature due to Earth’s orbit around the sun A warming trend of temperature increase due human input of greenhouse gases Propaganda by environmental hippies (or a hoax)

2. What are some examples of greenhouse gases (GHGs)? How important do you think they are to the Earth’s surface temperature? (Check all that apply)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane (CH4) Chloroflorocarbons (CFCs) Water Vapor (H2O) Oxygen gas (O2) Nitrogen gas (N2) – 78% of atmosphere GHGs are extremely important to maintain a sustainable temperature (can’t live without it) GHGs are moderately important; might be a little cooler without it, but we’ll do GHGs are bad for the environment; we should completely get rid of them!

4. What are some direct consequences of global warming? (Check all that apply)

Rising sea level Retreating glaciers More sunspots Population growth Redistribution of precipitation Ice age (“Day After Dying polar bears Increased volcanic activity Tomorrow”)

3. What is the IPCC?

The Initiative to Prevent Climate Catastrophe The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The International Partnership for Carbon Consumption

5. Which of the following is not powered by fossil fuels?

Television Gas stove Automobile All are powered by fossil fuels.

6. What are some possible ways to reduce your carbon footprint (to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Application

Name __________________ SID _____________Year _______ Major__________Contact Phone # ____________ E-mail ______________

Taking the class as Geography 98 or 198? (You get 2 units for either one) _________

1. Why do you want to take this class? What do you hope to learn from this class?Note: It’s perfectly fine if you currently do not know anything about global warming.

2. List any class or organization-based experience you have had with environmental issues such as global warming.

¿Questions?

Something to chew on…

If we cannot predict the weather for more than 10 days, why should believe in models that predict our climate 50 years from now?