Climate Change

The Earth is warming.

What influences Earth’s Temperature?

• Solar radiation

  • Every 11 years, the sun's core flips, producing more radiation.

    Milankovitch cycles: 3 parts - Eccentricity, Obliquity, Precession

• Eccentricity-

  • Changes every 95,000 years.

  • Elipse, Earth is farther away from the sun.

  • Orbit Shape

• Obliquity-

  • Every 42,000 years.

  • Earth’s tilt.

• Precession-

  • 21,000 years

  • Different star consolation

  • Earth’s wobble

*Responsible for the ice ages.

The Greenhouse Effect: Trapping heat trying to escape.

1. CH4

2. N2O

3. O2 and O3

4. CO2

5. H2O

Sources:

• Agriculture

• Factories

• Cars

• Cows

• Fossil Fuels

• Burning forests

• Decomposing organic matter

Sinks:

• Rain

• Trees

• Oceans

Occur to Slowly for Climate Change

• Eruptions and Asteroids- Temporary cool behaviors.

  • Asteroids- break apart, hitting molecules in the air, and stay in the atmosphere for decades.

  • Eruptions- They hardly occur but release chemicals as it does.

• Plate tectonics and Ocean current.

Effects of Climate Change

Why is the ocean rising?

Thermal Expansion: The ocean is getting warmer, causing sea levels to rise.

• Warmer ocean= more energy (strength for hurricanes)

• Loss of cold habitat

Melted Ice: Ice on the surface melting into the ocean. (Glaciers)

Problems with sea level rising-

• Destruction of property

• Loss of natural habitats

• Flooding from surges farther inland

• Saltwater intrusion

• Loss of islands

Coral bleaching: Relationship with algae. Algae are kicked out when coral is stressed, water pH changes, etc., therefore turning white/ dying.

Ocean acidification: Co2- carbon dioxide is being absorbed into the ocean more than needed, resulting in less carbonate ions needed to help corals build their skeletons.

Increase in average temperature: longer hot days, shorter cold days,/

Changes in precipitation (water falling in a solid or liquid state): Extreme one-day precipitation events.

Problems:

• Flash flooding.

• More wildfires.

• Extended, shrinking, or shift ranges.

• Changes in seasonal timing

Global Policies

Kyoto Protocol 1997

• 93 countries signed/agreed

• Developed countries reduce admissions

• Developing countries excused

• Goal to achieve below 15

Developing countries: Focus on getting individuals to higher living.

Copenhagen Accord 2009

• 111 countries agreed

• Set new targets for 2020

• Reduction based on a year

Paris Agreement 2015

• All countries set goals to reduce emissions

• Money was given to developing countries

• The goal is to keep the temperature below 2 degrees Celsius increase.

Why is Climate Change Difficult to Deal with?

Ozone depletion- easily fixed because it was man-made chemicals that were banned.

Climate change: Natural sources (fossil fuels) everywhere. Need to develop technology to replace it.

Lobbyist: Talk to representatives about influencing or denying laws. Legal bribing- buying votes.

The Misinformation Campaign: companies lying. propaganda.

Thinktank: a group of smart people coming up with ideas.

Algae: Certain algae produce oil, taking out carbon. Still in the works.

Methods to Reduce

Carbon tax: Products containing more carbon/greenhouse gases to produce = more tax on product. Tax break.

Cap and Trade: The government puts “caps” on companies to limit carbon/greenhouse gas emissions. In return, companies earn credits. Credits = more emissions. Can sell their credits to other companies.

Federal Policies

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Tax Credits

• 30% cost for solar on houses

• 1,200 for insulations

• 7,500 for new electric vehicle

• 4,000-8,000 for heat pumps/efficient appliances

GDP: Gross Domestic Product

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (California)

• 15.6b- transportation including E.V. charging and electric buses

• 2.3b- clean energy, building, and manufacturing

• 1.5b- climate change reliance

State Polices

2045, California wants to be carbon neutral.

Carbon capture: capturing carbon and storing it somewhere it cannot escape.