44.5 Climate and the Effects of Global Climate Change
3 min read•june 14, 2024
change is reshaping our world. From rising temperatures to extreme , human activities are driving long-term shifts in global climate patterns. like CO2 trap heat, amplifying the natural that keeps Earth habitable.
The sparked a surge in CO2 emissions from burning . Natural factors like Earth's orbit and solar output also influence climate, but human-caused warming is now the dominant force. Understanding these drivers is key to addressing climate change.
Climate and Global Climate Change
Global climate change drivers
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- Long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns
- Changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation trapping heat
- (CO2), (CH4), (H2O), (N2O)
- Human activities increase GHG emissions
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
- and land-use changes
- Agricultural practices (livestock production, fertilizer use)
- Positive feedback loops amplify the effects of climate change
- Melting of Arctic sea ice reduces Earth's leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further warming
- help predict future climate scenarios and inform policy decisions
Industrial Revolution's CO2 impact
- Late 18th century shift from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing
- Widespread use of fossil fuels (coal, oil) to power machines and factories
- Burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere
- CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to the warming of Earth's surface
- Atmospheric CO2 levels have increased significantly since the start of the Industrial Revolution
- Pre-industrial CO2 levels: around 280 parts per million (ppm)
- Current CO2 levels: over 410 ppm (as of 2021)
- Rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 levels primarily attributed to human activities particularly fossil fuel combustion
- Individual and collective efforts to reduce can help mitigate climate change
Natural factors in climate patterns
- Variations in Earth's orbit and axis tilt ()
- : shape of Earth's orbit around the sun (100,000-year cycle)
- : tilt of Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane (41,000-year cycle)
- : wobble of Earth's axis (23,000-year cycle)
- Solar output and variability
- Changes in the sun's energy output can affect Earth's climate
- (1645-1715), period of reduced solar activity, coincided with the
- Volcanic eruptions release ash and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere
- SO2 forms sulfate aerosols which reflect sunlight and have a cooling effect on Earth's surface
- Eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 led to a temporary global cooling of about 0.5°C
- Ocean circulation patterns like (the "ocean conveyor belt") redistribute heat and nutrients globally
- Changes in ocean circulation can affect regional and global climate patterns
Greenhouse effect for temperature regulation
- Natural process that warms Earth's surface
- Greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface trapping heat in the atmosphere
- Essential for maintaining Earth's habitable temperature range
- Without the greenhouse effect, Earth's average surface temperature would be about -18°C (0°F)
- Main greenhouse gases and their contribution to the greenhouse effect:
- Water vapor (H2O): 36-70%
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): 9-26%
- Methane (CH4): 4-9%
- (O3): 3-7%
- Human activities have increased the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere intensifying the greenhouse effect
- Enhanced greenhouse effect is the primary driver of current global warming and climate change
Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation
- due to thermal expansion of oceans and melting of land-based ice
- caused by increased absorption of CO2, threatening marine ecosystems
- Increased frequency and intensity of (e.g., hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves)
- Transition to sources to reduce GHG emissions and combat climate change
Key Terms to Review (32)
Albedo: Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface, defined as the ratio of reflected radiation from the surface to incident radiation upon it. In the context of environmental science, albedo plays a crucial role in understanding how different surfaces, such as land and water, interact with sunlight, affecting temperature and climate patterns. Surfaces with high albedo, like ice and snow, reflect most sunlight, while those with low albedo, like forests or oceans, absorb more heat.
Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced by the respiration of living organisms and the combustion of organic matter. It plays a crucial role in various biological and environmental processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and climate regulation.
Carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide, that are emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, usually expressed in equivalent tons of CO2. It serves as a measure of the impact of human activities on the environment, particularly in relation to climate change and global warming.
Clathrates: Clathrates are compounds where gas molecules, like methane, are trapped within a lattice of water ice. They are found in ocean sediments and permafrost and can impact global climate by releasing greenhouse gases.
Climate: Climate is the long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular area, including temperature, precipitation, and wind. It is influenced by various factors such as latitude, altitude, and proximity to water bodies.
Climate models: Climate models are complex mathematical representations of the Earth's climate system that simulate interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. These models help scientists predict future climate conditions based on various scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and other human activities, providing crucial insights into the potential impacts of global climate change.
Deforestation: Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, resulting in the conversion of forested land to non-forest uses such as agriculture, urban development, or mining. This process significantly impacts ecosystems and biodiversity, contributing to climate change and the loss of plant species, which play crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance.
Eccentricity: Eccentricity refers to the measure of how much an orbit deviates from being circular, specifically indicating the shape of an orbit in astronomy. It ranges from 0 to 1, where a value of 0 represents a perfect circle and values closer to 1 indicate more elongated, elliptical orbits. This concept is crucial for understanding how celestial bodies interact with gravitational forces and how changes in eccentricity can influence climate patterns on Earth.
Extreme Weather Events: Extreme weather events refer to unusual or severe weather patterns that can cause significant damage, disruption, or impact on the environment and human activities. These events, including hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves, are becoming more frequent and intense due to the ongoing effects of global climate change, which alters traditional weather patterns and increases the severity of atmospheric conditions.
Fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are natural resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, buried and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years. These energy-dense resources, which include coal, oil, and natural gas, play a significant role in modern society as primary sources of energy. The extraction and burning of fossil fuels contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, thus impacting climate change and global warming.
Global climate change: Global climate change encompasses long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other aspects of Earth's climate system. It is primarily driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Greenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thus warming the planet. This process is essential for maintaining a temperature that supports life, but human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, have intensified this effect, leading to global climate change.
Greenhouse gases: Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that trap heat from the Earth's surface, contributing to the greenhouse effect, which warms the planet. This process is vital for maintaining a habitable climate, but an excess of these gases due to human activities can lead to global climate change, disrupting weather patterns and affecting ecosystems.
Haze-effect cooling: Haze-effect cooling is the reduction in Earth's surface temperature due to the scattering of sunlight by aerosols and particulate matter in the atmosphere. This phenomenon can offset some of the warming caused by greenhouse gases.
Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution was a transformative period that began in the late 18th century, characterized by a shift from agrarian economies to industrialized ones, marked by the rise of factories, mechanization, and new technologies. This revolution significantly changed how goods were produced and had profound effects on social, economic, and environmental landscapes, contributing to the ongoing global climate change crisis through increased fossil fuel consumption and industrial emissions.
Little Ice Age: The Little Ice Age was a period of cooler temperatures that lasted from roughly the 14th century to the mid-19th century, significantly impacting global climate and ecosystems. This climatic event is characterized by a series of colder decades that led to harsher winters and cooler summers, influencing agricultural practices, population dynamics, and social structures in various regions, particularly in Europe and North America.
Maunder Minimum: The Maunder Minimum refers to a period of significantly reduced solar activity that occurred from about 1645 to 1715, characterized by a notable decrease in sunspots. This phenomenon is crucial to understanding the interplay between solar cycles and climate variability, particularly during the Little Ice Age, when cooler temperatures were prevalent in Europe and North America.
Methane: Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that is the primary component of natural gas and a significant greenhouse gas. It is produced through both natural processes, such as the decomposition of organic matter in anaerobic conditions, and human activities, including fossil fuel extraction and agriculture. As a potent greenhouse gas, methane contributes to climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere at a rate much higher than carbon dioxide.
Milankovitch cycles: Milankovitch cycles refer to the long-term variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that affect climate patterns over thousands of years. These cycles include changes in eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession, which influence the distribution and intensity of sunlight received by Earth, ultimately impacting global temperatures and climate systems. Understanding Milankovitch cycles is crucial for grasping how natural factors contribute to climate change and the historical context of glacial and interglacial periods.
Nitrous Oxide: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a colorless gas with a slightly sweet odor, commonly known as laughing gas. It is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change and has significant impacts on the atmosphere, particularly in terms of its ability to trap heat and deplete the ozone layer. In addition to its use in medical and dental procedures as an anesthetic, nitrous oxide is also produced during agricultural practices and industrial processes, making it an important focus in discussions about global climate change.
Obliquity: Obliquity refers to the angle between the Earth's rotational axis and its orbital plane around the sun. This axial tilt is crucial in influencing seasonal variations and climate patterns on Earth. Changes in obliquity can affect the distribution of solar energy received by different parts of the planet, playing a significant role in long-term climate changes and shifts over geological time scales.
Ocean acidification: Ocean acidification refers to the process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from human activities, leading to a decrease in pH levels of seawater. This change in the ocean's chemistry has significant implications for marine life, ecosystems, and biogeochemical cycles, affecting biodiversity and overall ocean health.
Ozone: Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms (O₃) that plays a crucial role in Earth's atmosphere. It forms a layer in the stratosphere that absorbs the majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting living organisms on the planet. However, ozone can also be found at ground level as a pollutant, resulting from chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants like vehicle emissions, which has negative effects on human health and the environment.
Permian extinction: The Permian extinction was a mass extinction event that occurred approximately 252 million years ago, marking the end of the Permian Period. It is considered the Earth's most severe extinction event, with around 90-96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct.
Phenology: Phenology is the study of periodic biological events in organisms as they relate to climate and seasonal changes. It examines how plant and animal life cycles are affected by environmental variations.
Precession: Precession refers to the gradual shift or change in the orientation of an astronomical body's rotational axis, primarily influenced by gravitational forces. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in understanding long-term climate patterns on Earth, as it affects the timing of seasons and the distribution of solar energy received at different latitudes. Consequently, precession is a key factor in climate cycles and can contribute to global climate change over extended periods.
Renewable energy: Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources that are replenished constantly, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. This type of energy is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, as it offers sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. By harnessing these resources, renewable energy helps to mitigate the adverse effects of global climate change and contributes to a cleaner, healthier environment.
Sea level rise: Sea level rise refers to the increase in the average level of the world's oceans due to various factors, primarily linked to climate change. This phenomenon is driven by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers and the thermal expansion of seawater as it warms. Sea level rise poses significant threats to coastal ecosystems, human settlements, and infrastructure, making it a critical issue in understanding climate change's impacts.
Solar intensity: Solar intensity is the measure of solar energy hitting a given area per unit time. It influences climate patterns and the distribution of ecosystems globally.
Thermohaline circulation: Thermohaline circulation is a global system of ocean currents driven by differences in temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline), which together influence water density. This circulation plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by redistributing heat and nutrients across the oceans, impacting weather patterns and marine ecosystems. Changes in thermohaline circulation can significantly affect global climate, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change, leading to potential disruptions in weather systems and sea level rise.
Water vapor: Water vapor is the gaseous state of water, formed when liquid water evaporates or when ice sublimates. It plays a crucial role in Earth's climate system, influencing weather patterns, temperature regulation, and the greenhouse effect, which is essential in understanding global climate change.
Weather: Weather describes the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a specific time. It includes temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility.