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SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE - Coggle Diagram
SCIENCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Greenhouse Effect
proposed by Svante Arrhenius in 1896
gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapor have stable bonds that bend to absorb heat and are increasing in concentration in our atmosphere
first article predicting climate events written by Hansen in 1988
correctly predicted that climate events would be three standard deviations greater in the 90s than in the 50s
correctly predicted increased frequency of extreme events such as storms, floods, and droughts
correctly predicted increasing CO2
plants bring CO2 down each growing season, but it always bounces back a little higher than before in an escalating cycle
Results of Climate Change
phenology
permanent alteration to the seasonal change of behavior in organisms
Japanese cherry blossoms bloom earlier and earlier each year, disrupting relationship with pollinators
Western Pine Beetles able to have two life cycles per year instead of one, creating exponential population growth and decimation of pines
increased frequency of fire
fires are breaking out fourfold the number of times areas are adapted to such events
species distributions
trees incapable of handling heat move north or go extinct, for example
tropical cyclones
a result of increasing ocean surface temperature
increases every decade
perma ice melting
glacier national park running out of glaciers
Success stories
acid deposition--Clean Air Act (1970)
legislation successfully has made air the cleanest it has been in modern times
lead was once added to gasoline to improve its efficiency, but this has been addressed by clean air act
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) addressed by Montreal Protocol
CFCs used for coolants, foam products, but cause breakdown of protective ozone layer
Montreal Protocol cause international reduction and near-elimination of CFC production