Earth System Science - University of...
Transcript of Earth System Science - University of...
Earth System ScienceEarth System Science
How does the Earth on which we How does the Earth on which we live function as a whole?live function as a whole?
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Key PointsKey Points
Human activities are affecting the Human activities are affecting the environment on global scaleenvironment on global scale
The impacts on human societies are The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknownpotentially substantial but largely unknown
We need a basic scientific understanding of We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting how the Earth functions as an interacting systemsystem
Human activities are affecting the Human activities are affecting the environment on a global scaleenvironment on a global scale
Burning fossil fuel is causing global warming and Burning fossil fuel is causing global warming and rising sea-levelrising sea-level
Emission of CFCs has caused the depletion of Emission of CFCs has caused the depletion of stratospheric ozonestratospheric ozone
Soil erosion is reducing agricultural productivitySoil erosion is reducing agricultural productivity Deforestation and habitat destruction threaten Deforestation and habitat destruction threaten
species diversityspecies diversity Pesticides, fertilizers are polluting water resourcesPesticides, fertilizers are polluting water resources Sulfate and nitrogen oxide emissions cause acid Sulfate and nitrogen oxide emissions cause acid
rainrain
The Probable Cause of Global The Probable Cause of Global WarmingWarming
• IPPC 1990 page xviIPPC 1990 page xvi
The Antarctic Ozone HoleThe Antarctic Ozone Hole
• http://www.http://www.atmatm..chch.cam.ac..cam.ac.ukuk/tour/tour_images/toms1091.gif/tour/tour_images/toms1091.gif
Acid RainAcid Rain
• http://http://odinodin.dep.no/.dep.no/mdmd//publpubl/acid/Erodes.html/acid/Erodes.html
Water ResourcesWater Resources
• http://www.http://www.orovilleoroville-city.com/-city.com/lakeviewlakeview.html.html
Soil DegradationSoil Degradation
• National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic Society
Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction
• http://www.panda.org/multimedia/http://www.panda.org/multimedia/photogalleryphotogallery//photogalleryphotogallery..htmhtm
A Mountain GorillaA Mountain Gorilla
Corel Professional Photos CD-ROM Sampler #200051Corel Professional Photos CD-ROM Sampler #200051
Key PointsKey Points
Human activities are affecting the Human activities are affecting the environment on global scaleenvironment on global scale
The impacts on human societies are The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknownpotentially substantial but largely unknown
We need a basic scientific understanding of We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting how the Earth functions as an interacting systemsystem
Impacts on human societies Impacts on human societies potentially substantial but potentially substantial but
largely unknownlargely unknown
Fundamental values Fundamental values and lifestyles may and lifestyles may be questionedbe questioned
It may be decades It may be decades before the effects before the effects become apparentbecome apparent
Remedial actions Remedial actions have indirect have indirect consequencesconsequences
– ESS p 8ESS p 8
Key PointsKey Points
Human activities are affecting the Human activities are affecting the environment on global scaleenvironment on global scale
The impacts on human societies are The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknownpotentially substantial but largely unknown
We need a basic scientific understanding of We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting how the Earth functions as an interacting systemsystem
We need a basic scientific We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth understanding of how the Earth
functions as an interacting systemfunctions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability Understand and distinguish natural variability
in climate and ecosystemsin climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the Include the interactions between the
atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biospherebiosphere
Examine the evidence from the pastExamine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activitiesDocument the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their Simulate future changes and assess their
probable consequencesprobable consequences
Last Glacial MaximumLast Glacial Maximum
xxxxxx
Signs of Past GlaciationSigns of Past Glaciation
xxxxxx
We need a basic scientific We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth understanding of how the Earth
functions as an interacting systemfunctions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability Understand and distinguish natural variability
in climate and ecosystemsin climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the Include the interactions between the
atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biospherebiosphere
Examine the evidence from the pastExamine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activitiesDocument the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their Simulate future changes and assess their
probable consequencesprobable consequences
Equatorial Pacific Sea Equatorial Pacific Sea SurfaceTemperatureSurfaceTemperature
El NinoEl Nino
NormalNormal
La NinaLa Nina
Dec 97
Dec 90
Dec 88 NOAA/PMELNOAA/PMEL
Measuring Ocean Winds Measuring Ocean Winds and Temperatureand Temperature
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
VegetationVegetation Stress Stress
El Nino (top)El Nino (top) La Nina (bottom)La Nina (bottom)
We need a basic scientific We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth understanding of how the Earth
functions as an interacting systemfunctions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability Understand and distinguish natural variability
in climate and ecosystemsin climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the Include the interactions between the
atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biospherebiosphere
Examine the evidence from the pastExamine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activitiesDocument the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their Simulate future changes and assess their
probable consequencesprobable consequences
Drilling Ice Cores in PeruDrilling Ice Cores in Peru Annual layers in the Annual layers in the
Quelccaya Ice CapQuelccaya Ice Cap Distant view of ice Distant view of ice
capcap
Lonnie Thompson
We need a basic scientific We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth understanding of how the Earth
functions as an interacting systemfunctions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability Understand and distinguish natural variability
in climate and ecosystemsin climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the Include the interactions between the
atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biospherebiosphere
Examine the evidence from the pastExamine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activitiesDocument the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their Simulate future changes and assess their
probable consequencesprobable consequences
Pipeline in British ColumbiaPipeline in British Columbia
– ©© http://corbis.com http://corbis.com 10585078.jpg10585078.jpg
We need a basic scientific We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth understanding of how the Earth
functions as an interacting systemfunctions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability Understand and distinguish natural variability
in climate and ecosystemsin climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the Include the interactions between the
atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biospherebiosphere
Examine the evidence from the pastExamine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activitiesDocument the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their Simulate future changes and assess their
probable consequencesprobable consequences
The The Intergovernmental Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Panel on Climate
ChangeChange
IPPC 1995IPPC 1995
Projected Projected Future Future WarmingWarming
For various For various emission scenariosemission scenarios
For high or low For high or low climate feedback climate feedback multiply by 1.8 or multiply by 1.8 or 0.6 0.6
IPPC 1995IPPC 1995
Key PointsKey Points
Human activities are affecting the Human activities are affecting the environment on global scaleenvironment on global scale
The impacts on human societies are The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknownpotentially substantial but largely unknown
We need a basic scientific understanding of We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting how the Earth functions as an interacting systemsystem
Earth System ScienceEarth System Science
Sources of InformationSources of Information
Earth System Science - Overview, NASA, Earth System Science - Overview, NASA, 1986 (ESS)1986 (ESS)
Climate Change 1995 , Intergovernmental Climate Change 1995 , Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC)Panel on Climate Change (IPPC)
Referenced web sites Referenced web sites