Post on 18-Jan-2016
www.acs.org/climatescience 1American Chemical Society
The
Industrial Revolutionand
Climate Science
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
www.acs.org/climatescience 2American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement?
1830: George Stephenson'slocomotive, The Rocket
"Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret, that a half ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile …"
The Conduct of Life, "Wealth"Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1860
Sou
rce:
Wik
iped
ia
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
www.acs.org/climatescience
The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement?
Achievements unimagined byEmerson require unimaginable amounts of energy.
What else was unimagined?
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
3American Chemical Society
Source: Wikipedia
Source: Matt Lemmon
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
4American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWhy is the climate changing?
Source: Skeptical Science
Source: Skeptical Science
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
5American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWinters are getting milder
Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
6American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesLand and sea ice are disappearing
Source: NOAA
Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 1940
Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 2006
Source: NOAA
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
7American Chemical Society
Earth’s climate controlsEnergy balance: solar energy in = Earth radiant energy out
Source: American Chemical Society
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
8American Chemical Society
Earth’s climate controlsEnergy balance: effect of atmospheric gases
Source: IPCC
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
9American Chemical Society
Earth’s climate controls have changedAtmospheric carbon dioxide–past and present
Source: Wikipedia
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
10American Chemical Society
Cause of Earth’s climate changesPresent dependence on fossil fuel burning
Source: IPCC
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
11American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWhy is the climate changing?
Source: Skeptical Science
Source: Skeptical Science
www.acs.org/climatescience
Industrial Revolution and Climate Science
12American Chemical Society
The Industrial Revolution: A boon that enormously benefits man.
The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with an enormous energy price tag mostly paid for in burning fossil fuel.
The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with the unintended consequence that carbon emissions are changing the Earth's climate in disturbing ways.
The Industrial Revolution: A boon that requires the Watts and Stephensons of the 21st century to develop ways to use energy more efficiently, to produce alternative non-carbon-emitting sources, and to reduce the impact of carbon-emitting sources.
Source: IPCC