Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Study Notes

Learning Outcomes: Students should be able to understand the interaction between science and technology throughout history.

Climate: The typical weather conditions at a location over a long period. Includes averages for temperature, humidity, wind, cloudiness and precipitation.
Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place; includes temperature, pressure and humidity.
Components of Earth's Habitable Environment:
- Atmosphere: The air surrounding the Earth, significantly impacting conditions.
- Hydrosphere: Oceans and other bodies of liquid water, crucial for moisture and gas exchange.
- Landmasses: Impacting atmospheric and ocean flow via morphology, hydrology and radiative properties.
- Cryosphere: Ice (on land and in oceans). Plays a role in Earth's radiation balance.
- Biota: All living organisms. Through biological processes, affects atmospheric and water composition

Mechanism: Short-wavelength visible light from the sun passes through a transparent medium, is absorbed and re-emitted as longer-wavelength infrared radiation, but the infrared radiation is trapped, leading to higher temperatures.
Examples: Heating of automobiles by sunlight, greenhouses.
Greenhouse Gases: Gases with three or more atoms (water vapor, ozone, carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons) absorb outgoing infrared radiation, warming the planet.

Observation: Continuous increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii.
Causes: Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.
Consequences: Global warming.

Definition: Gradual increase in Earth's average temperature and ocean temperature.
Current Consensus: Scientists agree the planet is warming, effects to date are substantial and increasing rapidly, and human activity is a major driver.
Observed Impacts: More frequent and intense heat waves, costly health impacts, heavier precipitation and flooding.

Mitigation: Reducing the intensity of climate change by reducing sources of greenhouse gasses or increasing sinks that store them.
Examples: Using fossil fuels more efficiently, switching to renewable energy, replanting forests.
Adaptation: Adjusting to the effects of climate change, reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and preparing for future climate changes.
Examples: Planting mangroves for coastal protection, diversifying livelihoods, developing drought-resistant crops

Global Temperature Rise: Significant warming since 1880, particularly since the 1970s.
Warming Oceans: Ocean temperatures are rising; a significant portion of the excess heat is absorbed by the oceans.
Sea Level Rise: Significant increase in the last century with accelerated rate in the last decades.
Ocean Acidification: Increased acidity of ocean surface waters due to absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Shrinking Ice Sheets: Loss of mass in both Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.
Declining Arctic Sea Ice: Dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice, both in extent and thickness.
Glacial Retreat: Retreating glaciers around the globe.
Extreme Events: Increased numbers of extreme heat and rainfall events.