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The Science of Climate Change |
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Atmoshere and CO2 The composition of the earth’s atmosphere is: 78% Nitrogen Some gasses are called Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) because their molecules are able to absorb infrared light—the invisible, high-energy part of light from the sun. The most common GHG is carbon dioxide. When light from the sun hits the earth, it is bounced back out to space in the form of infrared light. The very small amount (.03%) of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, along with even smaller amounts of the other GHGs, absorb some of this infrared light energy, and then radiate it out as heat, warming our atmosphere.
Simply put, a photon—essentially a small “chunk”—of infrared light energy hits the gas molecule and makes it vibrate. This vibration is heat energy, which warms the surrounding atmosphere. This mechanism is responsible for maintaining the Earth at a temperature that is suitable for life. Without GHGs, our planet would have an average temperature of 0° Fahrenheit (-18° Celsius); because of their warming influence, the earth has a relatively balmy average temperature of 57° Fahrenheit (14° Celsius). Greenhouse Gases
When we talk about the impact of GHGs, we usually speak in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents or “CO2e”. CO2e is a way of expressing the impact of all the GHGs in terms of CO2 by multiplying out their Global Warming Potential. For example: Human-caused GHGs are often referred to as anthropogenic (anthropo = man, genic = created) GHGs and they come from many sources.
Carbon Dioxide [CO2] 84% of US GHGs 74% of Global GHGs By far, the most common GHG, CO2 is emitted naturally through the carbon cycle from sources such as volcanoes and through human activities like the burning of fossil fuels – which have increased the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere by 35% since the 1700s. Methane [CH4] 8.6% of US GHGs 16% of Global GHGs Methane is emitted from a variety of both human-related and natural sources. In the United States, the largest methane emissions come from the decomposition of wastes in landfills, ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. It is estimated that more than 60 percent of global methane emissions are related to human-related activities (IPCC, 2007:a). Natural sources of methane include wetlands, gas hydrates, permafrost, termites, oceans, freshwater bodies, non-wetland soils, and other sources such as wildfires. Nitrous Oxide [N2O] 5.4% of US GHGs 9% of Global GHGs N2O (also known as “laughing gas” from its use in dentistry as an anesthetic) is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced by both natural and human-related sources. Primary human-related sources of N2O are agricultural soil management, animal manure management, and sewage treatment,. Nitrous oxide is also produced naturally from a wide variety of biological sources in soil and water, particularly microbial action in wet tropical forests. High GWP Gases (Halocarbons) Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (e.g. CFCs, HCFCs, etc.). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”). There are three major groups or types of high GWP gases: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). These compounds are the most potent greenhouse gases. In addition to having high global warming potentials, SF6 and PFCs have extremely long atmospheric lifetimes, resulting in their essentially irreversible accumulation in the atmosphere once emitted. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) HFCs are man-made chemicals, many of which have been developed as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODS) for industrial, commercial, and consumer products such as automobile air conditioning and refrigeration. The global warming potentials of HFCs range from 140 to 11,700. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Primary aluminum production and semiconductor manufacture are the largest known sources of two man-made perfluorocarbons – CF4 (tetrafluoromethane) and C2F6 (hexafluoroethane). The GWP of CF4 and C2F6 emissions is equivalent to approximately 6,500 and 9,200 tonnes, respectively. PFCs have extremely stable molecular structures and are largely immune to the chemical processes in the lower atmosphere that break down most atmospheric pollutants. Not until the PFCs reach the mesosphere, about 60 kilometers above Earth, do very high-energy ultraviolet rays from the sun destroy them. This removal mechanism is extremely slow and as a result PFCs accumulate in the atmosphere and remain there for several thousand years. The estimated atmospheric lifetimes for CF4 and C2F6 are 50,000 and 10,000 years respectively. Sulfur Hexafluoride The global warming potential of SF6 is 23,900, making it the most potent greenhouse gas the IPCC has evaluated. SF6 is a colorless, odorless, nontoxic, nonflammable gas with excellent dielectric properties. SF6 is used for insulation and current interruption in electric power transmission and distribution equipment, in the magnesium industry to protect molten magnesium from oxidation and potentially violent burning, in semiconductor manufacturing to create circuitry patterns on silicon wafers, and as a tracer gas for leak detection. Like the other high GWP gases, there are very few sinks for SF6, so all man-made sources contribute directly to its accumulation in the atmosphere. Measurements of SF6 show that its global average concentration has increased by about 7% per year during the 1980s and 1990s (IPCC, 2001). IS THERE “CONSENSUS among scientists about whether global climate change is being caused by human action? A survey published by Kendall Zimmerman [2008] shows that 82% of all scientists, responding believed that “human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures”. This percentage went to 89%, if the respondent was a climatologist or was an active publisher of papers on any topic. If the respondent was a climatologist who published frequently on the topic of climate change, the percentage of consensus was 97.4%. Is there consensus? The simple answer seems to be an overwhelming “yes”. Climate History
CO2 Fluctuations
The rhythmic fluctuation of CO2 between 170 ppm and 300 ppm that has been in place for over half a million years, began to change after 1775, with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution brought on by James Watt’s invention of the steam engine. This invention—powered by burning coa—made it possible for machines to do the work of thousands and gave rise to railroads, steamships, and most of the technological advances we enjoy, today. The energy that has made possible the incredible advances in human technology over the last 200 years has been provided by the burning of fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the burning of these fuels releases large amounts of CO2 which have artificially increased the concentration of this gas in the atmosphere. Until recently, the highest level of CO2 reached in the atmosphere over the past 647,000 years has been 300 ppm. The current level is 387 ppm and is rising quickly. FEEDBACK One of the most powerful forces driving climate change is what is referred to as a “feedback loop”. There are several feedback loops at work in the warming of our atmosphere:
These feedback loops can greatly magnify the effects of any changes and, as you can see, above, magnify each other. The Effects of Climate Change
Melting Glaciers More Intense Storms
Increased Flooding & Deserification
REQUIRED ACTION
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The data from these core samples show that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has fluctuated between 170 ppm (parts per million) and 300 ppm on an approximately 100,000-year schedule over the last 649,000 years. This fluctuation in concentration level has been paralleled by a similar fluctuation in atmospheric temperature. Low atmospheric levels of CO2 correspond with Ice Ages; high levels with warming periods. 
Climate scientists at NCAR (The National Center for Atmospheric Research) studying hurricanes documented a 35-year warming trend in ocean surface temperature and linked it to larger hurricanes. The increase has been 1 degree Fahrenheit, resulting in four percent more atmospheric water vapor and six to eight percent more rainfall. Though global warming does not guarantee that each year will see record-strength hurricanes, the long-term ocean warming should raise the baseline of hurricane activity. 