1 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Jerry A. Bell Simmons College (emeritus) American Chemical Society (retired) Wisconsin Initiative for Science

1Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013

Jerry A. BellSimmons College (emeritus)American Chemical Society (retired)Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy

Energy Now and Forever?


Energy: Now and Forever?

The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement?

1830George Stephenson'slocomotive, The Rocket

"Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret, that a half ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile …"

The Conduct of life, "Wealth"Ralph Waldo Emerson

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2008A modern diesellocomotive.

Trains can move a ton of freight nearly 450 [revenue ton-] miles on a single gallon of fuel. CSX advertisement


Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013

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Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013


Achievements unimagined by Emerson require unimaginable amounts of energy. What else was unimagined?



The concentration of atmospheric CO2 is increasing, due mainly to the burning of fossil fuels.

Earth’s temperature increases as more CO2 and other greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere.

Increasing temperature and CO2 bring about changes in the Earth’s climate.



What do you know about climate change?

What would you like to know?

What would your students like to know?

What would your friends like to know?



Thoreau

Winters are getting milder Spring is coming earlier

Date of first flowering of plants at Walden Pond recorded by Thoreau and more recently.



Ice is melting.

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat’l Park1940

2006



CO2 has varied naturally over time. Human-caused change is larger and faster than any time in at least the past million years.



Where is the global warming? Almost entirely in the oceans.



Sea level is rising as glaciers and ice sheets melt and the oceans warm.



Oceans dissolve CO2 and become more acidic.



14American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that enormously benefits man.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with an enormous energy price tag mostly paid for in burning fossil fuel.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with the unintended consequence that carbon emissions are changing the Earth's climate in disturbing ways.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that challenges the Watts and Stephensons of the 21st century to develop ways to use energy more efficiently, to produce alternative non-carbon-emitting sources, and to reduce the impact of carbon-emitting sources.



Energy: Now and Forever!

Why understanding and teaching climate change are so important.

• Those future Watts and Stephensons are in your classrooms.

• Global climate change is a vital issue for life on Earth and involves many processes and concepts related to chemistry.

• Engaging with this issue in deliberative discourse requires understanding the fundamental science that determines Earth’s climate. See ACS Climate Science Toolkit available at www.acs.org/climatescience.

• As chemists and teachers, we have a responsibility to use our knowledge to communicate with others about climate change.


What's next? Browse the Toolkit to see what can be useful to you. Integrate climate change science in your regular course

curriculum. See Science_of_Climate_Classroom.pptx. Engage your friends and colleagues in deliberative discussion

on the science of global climate change. Set an example and encourage others to adopt personal

choices that decrease the undesired consequences of climate change.

Take a public stand on the issues related to the undesired consequences of climate change and the need for mitigation and adaptation. Encourage and support your local and national governmental representatives to do the same.

Energy: Now and Forever!



Documents

1 Connections to Chemistry, 16 October 2013 Jerry A. Bell Simmons College (emeritus) American Chemical Society (retired) Wisconsin Initiative for Science