I. Climate – determining factors (see chap 6 p. 101-110)

• overview and comparison of climate with weather
  

A. latitude

B. air circulation

C. water circulation - see also fig. 21-12

D. local geography (such as rain shadows)

II. Greenhouse effect and global warming

B sure you are familiar with atmospheric structure

• overview of atmospheric composition and description of the layers (troposphere, stratosphere, etc)
• explanation of the temperature variations between layers
• global air circulation influences climate
  

A. how the greenhouse effect warms the earth (fig. 21-9) | view an animation | carbon cycle animation

B. climate has cycled naturally throughout history (fig. 21-2)

• How do we know?  (NOAA Paleoclimatology project)
  

C. probable causes of an enhanced (unnatural) greenhouse effect

1. primary greenhouse gases: CO2, methane, CFC’s, NOx (see table 21-1)

2. rise in CO2 emissions this century – see fig. 21-5

• where are the emissions coming from?  Check out this interactive map
• Vulcan project at Purdue measures CO2 emissions.  Find out the top US counties/regions
• Compare CO2 emissions of states
  

3. rise in atmospheric carbon has been less than the emissions – where is it going??

4. temperatures have risen slightly (more in some areas than others) in the past 100 years

5. CO2 and temperature are historically linked (fig. 21-4)

6. CO2, fossil fuel use, and temperature are linked in recent decades

D. evidence that the climate is currently warming

• sea ice changes in the Antarctic, Greenland, and Alaska – fig. 21-6 (note – see levels have cycled historically with the ice ages – fig. 21-8)  Check out a NASA satellite image/animation
  
• changes in timing of migration
  
• vegetation changes
• check out more info on the basics of climate change and recent trends measured by the National Center for Atmospheric Research
• National Geographic special from September 2004
• NY Times story - click on the multimedia links on the left
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that warming is occurring
• Analysis of Michael Crighton's recent novel, which features climate change
• RealClimate is a site that collects articles and commentary on global warming
• CO2 is absorbed by phytoplankton in the ocean; this process can be measured from space.  Check out the link for a movie explaining the process
• Too Hot Not to Handle (HBO documentary)
• An Inconvenient Truth -- check out the documentary narrated by Al Gore
• National Snow and Ice Data Center - charts changes in the artic
• Recent research documents changes in flowering times and spring migration in New England by comparing modern observations with detailed records kept by Thoreau
• Overview of the evidence: What's up with the weather (NOVA)
• How to talk to a climate skeptic (excellent site with detailed responses to dozens of common "skeptic" arguments)
• Ocean buoys measure the temperature of the Eastern Pacific Equatorial Current | National Buoy Data Center
  

E. global warming and its impact (fig. 21-13 and 14)

• Air pollution may be reducing the effects of climate change - see Nova's Dimming the Sun
• Interactive map of global warming "early warning signs" - changes already taking place
• interactive map of potential changes
  

1. climate shifts

• melting mountains is a site that explores some of the possible consequences for glaciers/mountain resorts/etc
• impacts of a warming acrtic
• changes to ocean circulation - fig. 21-12
• A recent report in the New Yorker suggests that additional CO2 absorbed by the ocean will lead to pH changes (acidification) that will affect the availability of CaCO3 for marine organisms and therefore have significant effects on marine food webs
• changes in the gulf stream
  

2. changes in forest cover and farming (fig. 21-15 – beech trees)

3. increased severe weather

4. droughts and floods (sea level rise/melting of ice caps) (predictions – fig. 21-16) | check out flood maps to see which areas might be flooded

• sea level rise predictions for the Chesapeake

5. oceans are becoming acidic as they absorb more CO2.  This reduces the availability of CaCO3, with significant negative impacts on corals.  More here.

6. positive benefits to crop growth and other possible benefits (fig. 21-14)

• predicting the changes is very complicated because of feedback systems – see spotlight p. 456.
  
• Changes are likely to be gradual; even gradual changes could require significant costs
• a recent economic analysis suggests that the effects of "inaction" on solving the problem will be significant "Climate Change Fight Can't Wait"
• Check out some projections for future emissions and temperature changes
• local/regional effects: report on climate change and the Chesapeake
  

F. solutions (fig. 21-17)

1. various approaches to action – p. 477-478 - precautionary; wait and see; act now with no regrets

2. Kyoto conference/treaty and current US opposition

• a coalition of US cities has signed an alternative agreement: the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement | more here and here
• many states are also acting, partly because the federal government has failed to act
• official positions on climate change adopted by various professional science organizations
• An Inconvenient Truth -- check out the DVD narrated by Al Gore
• Stop Global Warming (an activist's site)
  

3. decreasing CO2 emissions - fig. 21-17

• changes in tax structure to encourage conservation
  
• encouraging use of non-emitting electricity and transportation
  
• changes in farming practice – fig. 18-22
  
• individual actions – fig. 21-19
• the PEW center for global climate change looks at progress in this area
• A business/industry group in the Northeastern US has united to offer solutions.  The Sustainable Energy Institute also discusses solutions
• calculate your own CO2 emissions | another site for calculating your CO2 emissions | this one allows you to estimate how many trees should be planted to offset your emissions - and gives you the opportunity to donate $$ toward planting trees | one more "carbon calculator" | and another greenhouse gas calculator -- the 10% challenge | Your Carbon Diet - interactive shows how to reduce CO2 emissions in homes | another calculator from "Low Carbon Diet" | And one from the EPA | overview of various carbon calculators from Sierra Club (Sept. 08)
• EPA estimates of carbon emissions from the various states
• the Clinton Global Initiative is also working on the problem
• Climate-neutral skiing
• Cool House tour and things you can do
• Rocky Mountain Institute does research to promote the use of renewable energy and other "green" technologies
• Craig Branson of Virgin Group, recently announced a plan to invest $3 billion into helping solve the climate crisis.
• Google.org is a new for-profit philanthropic venture which aims to fight climate change
• The Fix: Sierra Club proposal for reducing CO2 emissions (Jan. 2007)
• Sports Illustrated: The Greening of Sports (3-6-07)
• Various programs allow you to purchase renewable energy or "offset" your contribution to non-renewable sources by investing in cleaner options: Green Tags | Clean currents | Carbonfund.org | CarbonCounter | Terrapass.com | Native Energy | Cooling Creation
• Green resources of many varieties
• Chesapeake Climate Action Network
• a plan for a power plant in Georgia was denied recently because of global warming concerns.  The state of Kansas has also denied permits for new coal-fired power plants recently.
• Greenhouse gas equivalences calculator (how much is a metric ton of CO2?)

4. sequestering CO2 in trees and the ocean – fig. 21-18

• climate-neutral travel
  

5. evidence of progress – p. 482

• The EPA maintains a list of state and local actions/plans that have been made to reduce global warming
  

                    6. Disaster preparedness: a "doomsday" seed storage facility was completed in Norway in 2008

               Caution -- Global warming is not the cause of every problem!!

III. Ozone

A. the ozone “layer” and its importance (stratospheric ozone)

B. ozone depletion – causes and its extent

1. the history of CFC’s and their uses

2. how CFC’s destroy ozone in the stratosphere – fig. 21-21

3. documenting the changes (fig. 21-22 and 23)

4. other ozone-depleting chemicals

• NOx (more details)
  

C. impact of ozone depletion

1. potential problems – fig. 21-24

• EPA UV Index page - forecasts
  

2. focus on skin cancers – fig. 21-25

D. solutions

1. Montreal Protocol – 1987

• analysis of how skeptics slowed down the response to this threat, and how similar obstruction might be occurring regarding climate change.
• fig. 21-27
  

2. CFC substitutes are being phased in

3. protecting yourself from the sun

Q&A about sunscreens and UV light from the CDC

EPA site on sun safety

fig. 21-26