Week 10 - Climate Change Methods PDF

SC253: Ecology and Environmental Problems November 4, 2024 Prof. Amy L. Frick  Agenda Lecture: Carbon: the carbon cycle, greenhouse effect, positive feedback loops contributing to climate change, etc....

SC253: Ecology and Environmental Problems November 4, 2024 Prof. Amy L. Frick  Agenda Lecture: Carbon: the carbon cycle, greenhouse effect, positive feedback loops contributing to climate change, etc. Group activity: ways to reduce atmospheric carbon  Housekeeping ( 1. You will participate in a ~20 minute panel presentation on November 18 or November 25. Topics have been randomly assigned (see (/Content/Panel Discussions) for details). On the day that you’re not presenting, you will write a thoughtful peer-review of a classmate’s presentation. If you’re a no-show on the day of the presentation, you will get a 0 and will not be allowed to make it up. 2. An [optional] extra credit assignment has been added to Brightspace. See (/Content/Optional assignment: HumanProgress.org commentary) for details.  Schedule October 28: Evolution, biological magnification, mesocyclops, et al. November 4: Carbon, climate change November 11: Water; nitrogen November 18: Presentations - Day 1. November 25: Presentations - Day 2. December 2: Final exam December 9: Last day to submit overdue assignments  Climate change “New York Times - climate change” in (Content/Reading materials/Articles) MIT's Climate Primer Earth’s energy budget  Greenhouse effect (natural) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-overview/  Greenhouse effect (enhanced by humans) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-overview/  Greenhouse effect https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/global-warming-overview/  Global greenhouse gas emissions Greenhouse gas emissions by sector https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases https://ourworldindat a.org/emissions-by- sector  The biological carbon cycle This will be on the final.  The biological carbon cycle This will be on the final. Cute cartoon of carbon cycle How Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Affect the Atmosphere Greatly enhanced risk to humans as a consequence of empirically determined lower moist heat stress tolerance Climate change could affect global agriculture within ten years Climate change = positive feedback loops [ + feedback loop] Healthy, abundant plants Nutrient-rich soil Lots of organic matter Abundant bacteria that decompose organic matter Climate change = positive feedback loops Reduced Albedo effect Melting permafrost What is the tundra? Melting permafrost Warming wetland peat Melting permafrost & warming wetland peat - a positive feedback loop Climate change = positive feedback loops Amazon rainforest die-off Deforestation -> increased atmospheric carbon FACTS (Normal conditions): 1.) The ocean “inhales” and “exhales” (due to photosynthetic organisms in the water (i.e. CO2 is exchanged with the environment) 2.) There is carbon sequestered deep in the ocean 3.) Cold water absorbs more CO2 than warm water 4.) Salty water is more dense than fresh water Supplemental resources: Ocean-climate.org Ocean currents 1.) Surface level: driven by wind patterns, resulting in up- and downwelling 2.) Deep level: cooler water sinks at the north and south poles 3.) Cold water absorbs more CO2 than warm water NASA: Perpetual ocean Ocean currents 1.) Surface level: driven by wind patterns, resulting in up- and downwelling 2.) Deep level: cooler water sinks at the north and south poles 3.) Cold water absorbs more CO2 than warm water The marine carbon cycle explained https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/co2/story/Ocean+Carbon+Uptake https://ocean-climate.org/en/awareness/the-ocean-a-carbon-sink/ CLIMATE CHANGE: 1. Increased atmospheric carbon -> more carbon absorbed by ocean -> lowers pH levels (makes ocean more acidic); disrupts ecosystems (including photosynthetic organisms) 2. Increased ocean temperature -> disrupts the natural pattern of cold water sinking/warm water moving to replace it, (due to decreased temperature differences between surface and deep water) -> disrupts ocean currents. Also results in less carbon sequestration by deep ocean. OVERALL: increased CO2 release > increased absorption (which increases atmospheric carbon, which increases heat…) Supplemental resources: Ocean-climate.org  Methods of addressing growing levels of atmospheric carbon Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) Direct air capture Carbon mineralization Coastal blue carbon and seaweed cultivation Reforestation See (/Content/Week 10 (November 4/Supplemental information/) for helpful information  Group activity Each group will teach one method of addressing growing levels of atmospheric carbon (3-4 minutes per group). Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) Direct air capture Carbon mineralization Coastal blue carbon and seaweed cultivation Reforestation 1.) Describe and explain your topic. 2.) Create a slide that illustrates your topic. You may copy/paste from other figures. 3.) Upload your slide into the shared Google folder so that other students can view it later. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) Read more about BECCS. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) Read more about BECCS.  Direct air capture Read more about direct air capture.  Carbon mineralization Read more about carbon mineralization (pg 249)  Blue carbon and seaweed cultivation Read more about blue carbon. Mangrove forests are a blue carbon ecosystem Read more about blue carbon.  Reforestation Read more about reforestation.  Housekeeping (recap) ( 1. You will participate in a ~20 minute panel presentation on November 18 or November 25. Topics have been randomly assigned (see (/Content/Panel Discussions) for details). On the day that you’re not presenting, you will write a thoughtful peer-review of a classmate’s presentation. If you’re a no-show on the day of the presentation, you will get a 0 and will not be allowed to make it up. 2. An [optional] extra credit assignment has been added to Brightspace. See (/Content/Optional assignment: HumanProgress.org commentary) for details.  Supplemental links Human Progress Inside the Megafire (PBS) Climate feedback loops I (Supplemental) Climate feedback loops II (Supplemental) Achieving net zero - interactive