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Global Warming The problem of scale

Explore the vast scales of global warming, from minuscule times to immense distances, highlighting human perception limits and the planet's scale. Delve into powers of ten in length and time scales to grasp the phenomenon's magnitude.

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Global Warming The problem of scale

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  1. Global WarmingThe problem of scale

  2. The imperceptible and the vast (1) As human beings we can judge: • temperatures • close to ‘normal’ • weights • in the range a few grammes to a hundred kilogrammes • distances. • from a few kilometres to less than a millimetre • times • from a fraction of a second to periods of a few years.

  3. The imperceptible and the vast (2) As human beings we cannot judge: • temperatures • more a few degrees away from ‘normal’ • weights • beyond a few tonnes or less than a gramme • distances • beyond a few kilometres or much less than a millimetre. • times. • much less than a second or greater than a fraction of a lifetime

  4. The imperceptible and the vast (3) Quantities and qualities that extend beyond our range of familiarity seem either: imperceptible or vast • It is important to retain an ability to quantitatively assess quantities we perceive as imperceptible or vast • Becoming familiar is an important part of understanding • But then we can become too familiar!

  5. The Planet Earth Diameter: 12,800 km Deepest hole: 10 km Atmosphere: Scale Height 8.4 km

  6. The Sun Earth Diameter: 1,390,800 km

  7. Powers of Ten 1 1018 1024 10-18 10-12 1030 1036 Very Very Small Very Very Large 10-15 10-9 1021 1027 1033 100 0.000001 10-6 1000000 106 1012 10-3 0.001 1000 103 109 1015

  8. Powers of Ten 1 metre 1000000000000 m 0.000000000001 m 10-18 10-12 1012 Very Very Small Very Very Large 10-15 10-9 1018 1024 10-6 106 1012 1030 1036 10-3 103 109 1015 1021 1027 1033

  9. Powers of Ten (Global Warming)Length scale in metres Distance to the Sun Diameter of the Earth Microbes Human Relationships 1018 1024 10-18 10-12 10-6 100 106 1012 1030 1036 Very Very Small Very Very Large 10-15 10-9 10-3 103 109 1015 1021 1027 1033 The phenomenon of global warming involves physical processes with length scales spanning 20 powers of 10! Tallest Mountain Deepest Trench Atoms & Molecules

  10. Powers of Ten (time)Time scale in seconds Electoral Cycle 1 Year the Earth moves once around the Sun Deep Ocean Current Circulation time Time for a molecule to jiggle 1 second 1018 1024 10-18 10-12 10-6 100 106 1012 Milankovitch Cycles Very Very short Very Very Long 10-15 10-9 10-3 103 109 1015 1021 Age of the Earth A human lifetime The phenomenon of global warming involves physical processes with time scales spanning 25 powers of 10! Typical survival time of a civilisation End of last ice age

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