Global Climate Change

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Global Climate Change

• Fact Fiction

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True - False

• The Greenhouse Effect is GOOD for life on
  planet Earth

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Question

• What exactly are fossil fuels?

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Word Game

• Put these words into two appropriate groups
• Infrared rays (IR) Ozone
• Visible light CO2
• Ultra-violet Greenhouse Eff.

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BIG QUESTION

• What are the scientific FACTS regarding the
  Greenhouse Effect/Global Climate change????

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FACT 1

• The Carbon Cycle (See board)
• ? Humans DO engage in activities which affect
  the atmospherics CO2 through combustion of
  Fossil fuels, deforestation, lowering rates of
  photosynthesis
• ? Not in dispute!!

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Fact 2

• Greenhouse Effect
• ? Verified by
• Actual greenhouses
• Hot car/ cold day phenomenon
• Greenhouse gasses on Earth and other planets
• ? Not in dispute!!

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Fact 3

• Does life on planet Earth benefit from the GE?
• Would life on planet Earth benefit from an
  enhanced GE?

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Fact 4

• IF carbon dioxide levels rise, more heat (IR)
  will be trapped
• ? Not in dispute!

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Fact 5

• Carbon dioxide levels ARE rising..
• ? therefore..
• ? Not in dispute

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Hawaii Data Global CO2 levels!

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More heat IS being trapped

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Fact 6

• Carbon dioxide is increasing at a RATE higher
  than any natural cycle ever recorded
• Current levels of CO2 are higher than in all of
  recorded history

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Long term Ice Core Data
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Fact 7

• Climates are determined by atmospheric and
  oceanic convection currents
• ? Not in dispute!

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Fact 8

• If you increased the amount of IR (heat) being
  trapped, you will alter the convection currents
• ? Not in dispute!

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Uncertainties 1-4

• How MUCH will the convection currents be altered?
• What areas of the globe will be
  hotter/colder/wetter/drier?
• How MUCH of the ice sheets will melt?
• How HIGH will sea level rise due to thermal
  expansion melting ice?

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Fact 9

• The global climate IS changing!
• And this is called the THEORY of Global Climate
  Change because the evidence is so diverse..
• For example, area of Arctic Ice cap

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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
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Data Changes in Flowering Dates
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Data Mismatch of Bird Nesting Food Availability
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We have Early Warning Signs

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Uncertainties 5 - 8

• What can individuals do?
• What can our government do?
• Which actions are BEST to take?
• What are the consequences of inaction???

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