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How many humans can our planet support?. Earth’s population today = 6.56 billion. How many people will Earth hold in our lifetimes?. How does energy consumption relate to population growth?. 85% of world’s commercial energy today from coal, oil and gas. What is the primary source of CO 2
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Earth’s population today = 6.56 billion How many people will Earth hold in our lifetimes?
85% of world’s commercial energy today from coal, oil and gas
What is the primary source of CO2 today? Is this going to change?
Historic world population and CO2 emissions Which is increasing at a faster rate today?
How is atmospheric CO2 projected to change in our lifetimes? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001 IS92a = “business as usual”
Greenhouse gas concentrations in atmosphere Dome Concordia Ice Core CH4 CO2 N2O T Siegenthaler et al., 2005
Without doubt human activities have changed atmospheric chemistry 280 ppmv in 1850 35% increase 275 ppbv in 1850 16% increase 1987 Montreal Protocol 730 ppbv in 1850 143% increase 0 pptv in 1850 550 pptv today CDIAC, 2006
What are human-induced changes in atmospheric chemistry going to do to our environment?
1 2 3 Earth’s Climate Components 4
Forcing Response 100’s of millions of yrs 40,000- 100,000 yrs 10,000s of yrs Decades to Centuries Hours to Weeks Hours to 10,000 yrs Hours to Centuries Days to 1,500 yrs Hours to Months ?????????
Tectonics Climate (Ice sheets) Time
Eruptions Climate (Ice sheets) Time Krakatoa, 1883 Pinatubo, 1991
Forcing = Slow, Response = Big Forcing = Fast, Response = Small Time 1) If a forcing is slow relative to a response, the system can reach equilibrium 2) If a forcing is fast relative to a response, the system does not reach equilibrium
How does human forcing act on the natural system ? Humans Climate Humans Climate
What allows Earth to support life? EARTH, 14 C
“Greenhouse Effect” EARTH, 14 C Earth’s own Greenhouse Effect is NATURAL and NECESSARY
“Greenhouse Effect” EARTH, 14 C MATH PROBLEM: Earth’s Natural Greenhouse + Human Additions = Temperature Increase
Northern Hemisphere temperature record The “Hockey Stick” of Global Mean Surface Temperature How accurately have we measured temperature? Mann et al., 1999
GREENHOUSE MATH PROBLEM Observed Temperature (1900-2000)
GREENHOUSE MATH PROBLEM Observed Temperature …minus… Natural Warming tectonic orbital millenial solar
GREENHOUSE MATH PROBLEM Observed Temperature …minus… Natural Warming …equals… Residual (Human Effects)
GREENHOUSE MATH PROBLEM Observed Temperature …minus… Natural Warming …equals… Residual (Human Effects) …looks a lot like… Carbon Dioxide Increase
Northern Hemisphere temperature record Most of this is caused by human activities What’s going to happen next? Mann et al., 1999
How is temperature projected to change in our lifetimes? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001 IS92a = “business as usual”
How is sea level projected to change in our lifetimes? IPCC projection includes only thermal expansion of seawater What’s missing?
Antarctica/Greenland = 10% of Earth’s surface 95% of Earth’s ice What happens when this melts?
Effect of sea level rise on Bangladesh Bangladesh
How many Iniki’s can our islands handle? $2.6 billion
Are human effects on the environment going to last? Humans A Problem Climate Humans Less of a Problem Climate
Lag time of climate components Is this realistic? IPCC, 2001
What is the trend in atmospheric CO2? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2001 IS92a = “business as usual”
Are human effects on the environment going to last? Humans Human timescale (YES) Climate Humans Geologic timescale (NO) Climate
Human/Climate Analogy What happens when you put a frog in a pot of boiling water? What happens when you put a frog in cold water then bring it to a boil?
Who owns the oil? 12x 5x 3x 3 year supply
Iraq Why is Hawaii particularly at risk in scenarios like this? Chechnya Kuwait