Basic Graph #4

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Although sea levels have been rising since the end of the last glaciation (nearly 11,000 years), the rate of rise has increased over the past 200 years as average global temperatures have increased. The rise is due to two factors, the freshwater being added to the oceans from ice melt in the cryosphere , and the thermal expansion of the oceans due to rises in sea temperature.

The contribution from Antarctica melt water is uncertain, and there is a distinct possibility of surprises from this southern region. The floating ice shelves, notably the Wordie and Larsen A and B shelves, broke up very rapidly during the 1990s, after rapid regional warming. Climate, like other complex systems do not always vary in a smooth fashion, and sudden changes can occur over wide areas. Critical levels, or thresholds may be reached in a system whereupon drastic, and perhaps disastrous results occur.

Threshold events in this case include the complete or partial shutdown of the ocean thermohaline circulatory system, disintegration and melting of Antarctica and Greenland Ice Sheets (the polar caps) , and major changes in the carbon cycle, due to biospheric effect."

The EPA website has more information on the causes and implications of sea level rise due to climate change.

Basic Graph #3

This diagram shows the processes that make up the planet’s energy budget. The earth’s surface absorbs shortwave radiation (red arrows) and re-radiates longwave infrared radiation (blue arrow). The numbers are percentages: For example, 30% of the solar radiation shining on the earth is reflected away.

The earth receives a tremendous amount of energy from the sun. The land, sea, and air absorb some of this energy and reflect some of it back into space. The overall description of this process is called the earth’s energy budget.

Basic Graph #2

The measurements show the steady rise of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere over a forty-seven-year period (1958-2005). Regular wobbles reflect the inhalation and exhalation of the Earth as plants grow, absorbing carbon in the summer and spring, and decay, releasing carbon in the fall and winter.

The measurements shown in this curve represent the world’s longest continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide and were the first to confirm the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels. As such, this is considered to be among the most important time-series data sets for the study of global climate change.

The data were collected at the Mauna Loa Observatory, perched 3,397 meters (11,140 feet) above sea level on the northern slopes of Earth’s largest volcano, away from dense vegetation or human population that might skew the measurements.

For more information, click here.

Basic Graph #1

First in the series of basic climate science graphs, this is the basic temperature acceleration over time graph. As you can see, there is some disparities between scientists, but the overall trends are exactly the same.

"We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine."

Abraham Lincoln

Rising Sea Level: Say Goodbye to Coastal Cities

These images are of Charleston, SC now and then what it is expected to look like in the near future due to sea level rise. It won't take much rise to eradicate coastal areas and even entire island nations such as the Maldives.
Read more.

Climate Change and Health

As there have been many large natural disaster occuring lately, I thought it would be a good time to start looking at the increase in massive storms that will occur due to climate change and how that will affect the global community. First, I want to look at public health.

"A warming climate already contributes to disease and early deaths worldwide, as populations experience greater risks from extreme weather events, poor air quality and infectious disease.

The World Health Organization estimates that 150,000 people die every year from the effects of climate change, and millions more suffer from illness, malnutrition and other health problems due to a warming planet."

This is from a report done by the Environmental Defense Fund. The report also looks at how prepared the United States is for such disasters and their consequences. The findings show that even the U.S. is nowhere near prepared for numerous, large scale disasters, just look at Hurricane Katrina. If the U.S. is not prepared, how well do you think the rest of our world is doing?

Environmental Defense Fund: Coping with Looming Health Dangers