4. Climate Crisis

Question 1

What are erratics and what do they show?

Answer 1

1. Scratches in rock surfaces in Austria and Scotland that seem to have been caused by moving boulders
2. These are transported by glaciers over one mile thick
3. Suggests ice and ice free periods that can be reconstructed
4. Study associated with 19thC
5. Shows global climate has never been stable and warming is relatively minor

Question 2

What are the theories behind fluctuations of ice ages?

Answer 2

1. Solar theory - sun temperature fluctuates
2. Volcanic eruptions - sulfur from eruptions blocks sun, which triggers ice age, which reflects radiation so more ice
3. there have been four ice ages in the last 600 000 years

Question 3

Describe the consideration of the greenhouse effect that began in the 19thC.

Answer 3

1. Considered from a natural point of view
2. Joseph Fourier (1824) - atmosphere keeps earth warm
3. John Tyndall (1862) - gases absorb and emit heat, concentration controls climate
4. Arvid Hogbom (1894) - carbon dioxide released by humans comparable to geological force
5. Questioned if European coal use contributed to and spread and across atmosphere
6. Water and carbon dioxide absorb reflected heat from ground so heat stays in atmosphere
7. Worldwide coal production has increased since this time

Question 4

In what ways were early views on global warming positive?

Answer 4

1. In 19th/20thC, people were afraid of ice age
2. Arrhenius (1896) - believed coal production would prevent this
3. Nils Ekholm (1901) - coal allows climate regulation
4. Arrhenius (1905) - increased carbon would be noticeable in atmosphere in a few centuries

Question 5

How and why did concern for the climate grow in the early 20thC?

Answer 5

1. 1920s and 30s had the depression, so no environmental policy or movement
2. Some wanted resource conservation to allow continued economic growth
3. Alfred Lotka (1925) - we are disrupting the carbon cycle and could have huge atmospheric impact

Question 6

Who was Guy Stewart Callender and what did he do?

Answer 6

1. First person to quantify impact of carbon dioxide
2. Highlighted huge increase in carbon dioxide production in 1938 and 1949 works
3. Considered how this relates to temperature
4. Reconstructed temperature of past and found 1.22 degree increase corresponded to fossil fuel use
5. Believed this would have a positive impact, as it extends agricultural zone, reduces winter fuel consumption and so creates saving opportunities

Question 7

Who was Milankovitch and what did he do?

Answer 7

1. Challenged anthropogenic warming
2. Said climate fluctuations can be accounted for by orbital theory
3. Three factors combine to create ice age ie. eccentricity, tilt and time
4. Confirmed by some geological evidence

Question 8

Describe the disagreements about global warming that continued into the 1940s.

Answer 8

1. Reichelderfer of the American Weather Bureau was concerned climate change could damage business.
2. Seasonal shifts could damage agriculture
3. Seasonal shifts are expensive - don’t know what to expect so can’t prepare
4. Landsberg (1946) did not think future climate predictions should be based on seasonal changes

Question 9

Describe actions caused by the growing concern over climate change post-WWII.

Answer 9

1. Continuing warming trend, thought it could be down to carbon dioxide
2. Academic, sporadic research into the carbon cycle
3. 1950s - pressure to monitor carbon dioxide
4. David Keeling given funds to build a lab on Hawaii, free from local atmospheric influence, to find base level of carbon dioxide
5. 1957 - International Geophysical Year - all nations collaborate to measure everything
6. Government and military support provided eg. USA and Russia weather modifications in 50s (cloud seeding)
7. Revelle and Suess (1957) - this is a one of a kind experiment
8. Keele’s lab found an increase in carbon dioxide over forty years, but he was unsure if this was a problem or trend

Question 10

Why were the no policy changes based on global warming until late in the 20thC, despite evidence?

Answer 10

1. Uncertainty - all modelling and stats
2. Research was on short-term weather predictions
3. Climatology (secular climate change) focused on natural causes
4. Weak, insecure funding
5. Stable and growing supply of energy due to contemporary policies eg. crude oil supply to West
6. People more interested in short term problems

Question 11

Describe the factors that led to the birth of environmentalism in the 1960s.

Answer 11

1. Public concern from nuclear fallout
2. Pesticide concern
3. Urban air pollution eg. smog concern in USA and Europe
4. Plastic society
5. Elrich’s 1968 ‘Population Bomb’ - concern of overpopulation leading to civil war

Question 12

What events in the 1970s lead to widespread environmental concerns?

Answer 12

1. 1972 - El Nino, Sahel drought and famine, USSR drought, coffee failure, fisheries and grain, political tensions
2. OPEC oil crisis
3. Timothy Mitchell - combination of demography and resources would lead to poor growth
4. This becomes a security issue due to the way people lived
5. Grain shortages in USA and USSR used as Cold War tool
6. Companies concerned that they won’t make it unless they’re sustainable, so change
7. Attitudes changed

Question 13

Describe opposing views to the approach to climate change in the 1970s.

Answer 13

1. Weiner - experts frantic but couldn’t sound so

2. Stephen Schneider (1989) advocated catastrophising to the public so they would take it seriously

Question 14

Why is energy consumption still increasing?

Answer 14

1. Hockey stick curve - famous data showing sharp temperature increase in 20thC
2. the discount rate for climate change is lower than for businesses, so we continue to consume energy
3. We need to find an alternative energy source
4. Carbon dioxide also produced from industry, agriculture, forestry but fewer people focusing on them