Essential Principals The atmosphere and humans are inextricably linked

1
Essential PrincipalsThe atmosphere and humans
are inextricably linked

• Breakout session 6c
• Recorder Mark McCaffrey

2
Initial Comments
3
Fundamental Concept 1

• The interconnected relationship between humans
  and the atmosphere is complex and difficult to
  isolate.

4
Fundamental Concept 2

• Human beings are dependent on Earths atmospheric
  processes. Humans evolved given particular
  atmospheric and climatic conditions.
• Humans breathe to inhale oxygen and release
  carbon dioxide and are dependent on water
  distributed through the hydrologic cycles which
  determine human activities.

5
Fundamental Concept 3

• Human activities alter the atmosphere, affecting
  human health and changing climate.
• Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels
  and increasing the amount and variety of
  chemicals released into the atmosphere, reducing
  the amount of forest cover, and rapidly expanding
  farming and industrial growth have changed
  Earths land, oceans, and atmosphere and altered
  Earths climate. Atmospheric contamination
  degrades human health.
• The increase in global average temperatures since
  the mid-20th century is very likely due to the
  observed increase in human-induced greenhouse gas
  concentrations in the atmosphere, primarily from
  fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. (Based
  on IPCC, 2007)

6
Fundamental Concept 4

• Weather and climate affect the viability,
  (quality) and character of individual lives and
  lifeways/societies/ cultures and impact economic
  dynamics.
• Impacts include agriculture, transportation,
  recreation and natural hazards. Atmospheric
  processes affect the availability of renewable
  energies from hydro, wind, biomass and solar
  sources.

7
Fundamental Concept 5

• Human planning and activities are based on
  short-term weather forecasts and long-term
  expectations of climate.

8
Essential Principle 2
9
Essential Principle 3
10
Essential Principle 4
11
Essential Principle 5
12
Essential Principle 6
13
Essential Principle 7
14
Concluding Remarks
15
Final Step

• At the end of the breakout session, the Recorder
  should save this file, using the following naming
  convention ascl_breakout_ltsession(2a, 2b,
  etc)gt.ppt eg., ascl_breakout_2c.ppt
• Once you have saved the file, please transfer it
  to your sessions OPL, who will upload it for use
  in the following plenary.