Humans and Ecology:

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Humans and Ecology What are we doing, what
should we do, what can we do, and does it matter?
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Why are species going extinct?
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The complex molecules that comprise organisms are
based on carbon
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Fig 55.14
Carbon cycle
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Solar energy incoming and outgoing
http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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CO2 and other greenhouse gases keep heat from
radiating back into space
http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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CO2 levels in Hawaii and average global temp.
Fig55.21
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Aren't these temperature increases just because
of increased urbanization?
Fig55.21
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Aren't these temperature increases just because
of increased urbanization?
http//science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast15nov_1
.htm
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http//www.cabq.gov/albuquerquegreen/images/urban_
heat_island.jpg/image
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A poorly sited temperature sensor in Marysville,
California. The sensor is situation right next to
an asphalt parking lot, instead in the middle of
a grassy field, as it is supposed to be. The
sensor is also adjacent to several several air
conditioners that blow their exhaust into the air
nearby.
http//www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comme
nt.html?entrynum1419
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Annual average maximum and minimum unadjusted
temperature change calculated using (c) maximum
and (d) minimum temperatures from good and poor
exposure sites (Menne 2010).
http//www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comme
nt.html?entrynum1419
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Poor sites showed a cooler maximum temperature
compared to good sites.
http//www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comme
nt.html?entrynum1419
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For minimum temperature, the poor sites were
slightly warmer.
http//www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comme
nt.html?entrynum1419
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The net effect was a cool bias in poorly sited
stations
http//www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comme
nt.html?entrynum1419
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http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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Gases trapped in ice core bubbles can tell us
about past climate conditions.
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http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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http//www.esr.org/outreach/climate_change/basics/
basics.html
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Recent increases in global temperature have
reversed a slight cooling trend
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Vikings in Greenland in the 1200-1400s
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(No Transcript)
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As the climate cooled, the Vikings were forced to
abandon their outposts
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370
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Effects of global warming are already visible
http//www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glac
iers.html
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Relative contributions to Global Warming
500 m people
300 m people
2.5 b people
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Humans and Ecology What are we doing, what
should we do, what can we do, and does it matter?