The realities of climate changeThe realities of climate change
S. MulkeyJune 2006
Stephen Mulkey, PhDDirector, Research & Outreach/ExtensionSchool of Natural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Florida
Presented at the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, 6/14/2006www.GainesvilleKiwanis.us
The realities of climate changeThe realities of climate change
The balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate. IPCC 2nd Assessment Report, 1996.
There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activity. IPCC 3rd Assessment Report 2001
The balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate. IPCC 2nd Assessment Report, 1996.
There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activity. IPCC 3rd Assessment Report 2001
S. MulkeyJune 2006
Presented at the Kiwanis Club of Gainesville, 6/14/2006www.GainesvilleKiwanis.us
Mechanism of atmospheric forcing
The greenhouse gases
Relative importance
Trends through 2002
The scientific consensus
June 2005
Observed warming
Hansen Model predicted the effect of Pinatubo
• Global temperatures rose 1.1oF over the 20th Century.
• Models predict temperature to increase 2.5-10.5oF between 1990 and 2100.
Hansen Interview – Click below
Greenhouse gases are higher now than in 650,000 years
Future shock
Consequences: temperatures will rise 1.5 - 6.0oC
Washington DC will change from having about 35 days above 90o F to over 85 days per year by 2050.
Temperature change by 2050Click the US map to start the movieClick the US map to start the movie
Consequences: redistribution of precipitation
Green • = increasing
Brown • = decreasing
Consequences: Consequences: extreme extreme weatherweather
2004 - 1,717 tornados
Consequences: increased hurricane intensity
Annual power dissipation (PDI) by tropical cyclones compared to September sea surface temperature (SST). Emanuel [Nature, 2005]
When North America was colonized by Western Europeans, Glacier National Park contained more than 120 glaciers. Presently there are 23 glaciers, and by 2050 there will be none.
Consequences:decrease in terrestrial ice
Consequences: decreasing polar ice
• The Northwest Passage will become reality by 2050.
• Decreasing ice amplifies warming
Consequences: amplification from defrosting the permafrost
• Official climate projections do not include CO2 and CH4 emissions from melting permafrost.
• Because of this carbon release, warming will be faster than predicted. (Davidson & Janssens Nature 2006)
IPCC 4th assessment preview: Expect a global 3.0oC minimum increase by 2100. Recent papers put the average closer to 4.0oC
Consequences: Sea level rise
Data adjusted for population growth
Consequences: infectious disease
Consequences: shifting agricultural productivity
Consequences: global species extinction
On the basis of mid-On the basis of mid-range climate-warming range climate-warming scenarios for 2050, scenarios for 2050, 15-37% of species will 15-37% of species will be “committed to be “committed to extinction”extinction” - - Thomas et al. Thomas et al. NatureNature 2004. 2004.
Business as usual: the world in 2075
• Sea level 0.25 meters (about 10 inches) higher
• Millions of human ecological refugees - sea level rise & disasters
• Agricultural productivity will shift up to 10o North in N. America
• Up to 40% of existing biodiversity extinct
• Loss of most coral reefs - ocean warming & acidification
• Increased infectious disease - 800 million with malaria
• Over a third of the Amazon basin progressing to savanna
• Major ecosystems in transition from their present form
• 400 million people living with water shortage
• Increasing severe weather and intensity of tropical storms
[The effects of global warming] “would emerge as if someone had subtly, but progressively, loaded a pair of dice.” - Kerry Emanuel 2005
Rapid climate change: tipping points & uncertainties
• How fast will Greenland melt?
• Will the Antarctic ice shelf come unplugged?
• When will the Atlantic conveyor belt slow down and stop?
• What is the ocean capacity to absorb heat and CO2?
• What is the extent of amplification due to permafrost & sea ice melting?
“The greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
- Senator James Inhofe. 2005
“The global environmental effects of the industrial era will cast a long shadow on future generations everywhere, for all time.”
David Orr. 2005. The Last Refuge.
Links• National Center for Atmospheric Research• Citizens for Affordable and Renewable Energy• NASA - Global Warming and Climate Change P
olicy Websites Master List