Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

Environmental Impacts:Environmental Impacts:A Review and ReflectionA Review and Reflection

What should we worry about the most?

What should we tell our students?What should we tell our students?

• Most important?

• Most personally relevant?

• Most dramatic?

We’ve seen the data:We’ve seen the data:

•

Modern COModern CO22 Measurements Measurements

Source: OSTP

We’ve seen the data:We’ve seen the data:

is the increased greenhouse effect; I'd bet the mortgage it       

Mark Serreze, NSIDC

  • • ARCTIC SEA ICE

EXTENT - SEPTEMBER TREND, 1978-2005

The area covered by sea ice

We have relevant stories for our We have relevant stories for our students: students:

MSNBC.com• It’s official: January was warmest on record

U.S. forecasters say it was 8.5 degrees warmer than normal• The Associated Press• Updated: 4:38 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2006•

  • WASHINGTON - January was a fair-weather friend.• Recording the warmest January on record allowed Americans to

save on their heating bills. But like all good things, last month’s mildness seems to have been too good to last.

• The country’s average temperature for the month was 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 8.5 degrees above average for January, the National Climatic Data Center said Tuesday. The old record for January warmth was 37.3 degrees set in 1953.

We have relevant stories for our We have relevant stories for our students:students:

• Global Warming Lending Strength to HurricanesWarmer waters fueling more powerful storms   

WASHINGTON, September 2, 2005 — Because rising global temperatures have warmed the oceans, and warm oceans fuel hurricanes, many people have asked whether hurricane Katrina is connected to global warming. UCS

                      

We have “Early Warning Signs”We have “Early Warning Signs”

•

Changes in Flowering DateChanges in Flowering Date

Mismatch of Bird Nesting & Food Mismatch of Bird Nesting & Food AvailabilityAvailability

Let’s think outside our immediate Let’s think outside our immediate realm of human experience:realm of human experience:

What about the oceans?What about the oceans?

Evolutionary PerspectiveEvolutionary Perspective

• The living history of our planet spans 3.5 billion years.

• Life arose in our oceans about 3.5 bya

• For the first 3 billion years, life was solely aquatic

Evolutionary PerspectiveEvolutionary Perspective

• Photosynthesis was invented in the oceans (by cyanobacteria)

Photosynthesis produces oxygen gas (by splitting water molecules)

O2 makes complex life possible

O3 makes terrestrial life possible

Even Today…Even Today…

• Ocean life accounts for over 90% of planet’s photosynthetic activity.

OceansOceans

• Represent the “cradle of life”

• What are the consequences of “messing with your mother”?

Oceans are warming:Oceans are warming:

• Effect on coast-line?

• (Aside: DDN articles)

How many gallons of water in the How many gallons of water in the ocean?ocean?

1966 2006

Area of Pacific ocean (sq mi)

63,800,000 64,186,000

Ave. depth of Pacific ocean (ft)

14,050 14,049

% of Earth’ surface covered by water

71% 71%

Gallons of H20 in oceans

361 quintillion(3.61 x 10 20)

Source:Facts & Figures

Source:US Navy

Reference for volume of oceanReference for volume of ocean

• http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/educate/neptune/trivia/earth.htm

Lethal Effects ofLethal Effects ofClimate Change-Climate Change-Coral BleachingCoral Bleaching

Global Warning / Coral ReefsGlobal Warning / Coral Reefs

• Color Blindness By Susan McGrath

The brilliant beauty of coral reefs has begun to disappear before our eyes, along with the incredible variety of marine life that surrounds them. It has taken only a slight increase* in sea-surface temperatures to unravel one of the earth’s most ancient ecosystems.

*SSTs rise just two degrees Fahrenheit above normal summer high temperatures for a period of just two weeks

http://magazine.audubon.org/features0312/color_blindness.html

Temperature increase in OceanTemperature increase in Ocean

• Not discrete isolated event

• Coastline

• Weather/climate patterns effects

• Marine, ultimately terrestrial ecosystems effects

Peak OilPeak Oil

• Economic crisis?

• Ecologic Opportunity?