Climate Change

Question 1

IPCC

Answer 1

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Est. 1988, 195 countries
Reasons for concern
-risks to unique/threatened systems
-risks of extreme weather events
-uneven distribution of climate change impacts
-aggregate impacts and damages
-risks of large scale discontinuities and disruptions

Question 2

Risks to unique and threatened systems

Answer 2

Irreversible losses to physical and biological systems

Coral bleaching = loss of intracellular symbionts (which are needed for photosynthesis/energy) from water temperature rise/acidification –> coral loss, fish biodiversity loss, loss of physical barriers (–> tides/tsunamis)

Biodiversity loss like decline of warm/dry-sensitive amphibian species (pathogens/shell-less eggs) from climate change, like the blotched tiger salamander

Question 3

Risks of extreme weather events

Answer 3

Tropical cyclones

• since 1970, only 11 category 5 cyclones (2 in the past year)
• three category 4 at the same time in 2015
• five cyclones formed out of the Pacific cyclone system

Question 4

Uneven distribution of climate change impacts

Answer 4

Regions/countries/cultures/economic classes affected differently

Sea level rise affects coastal populations/islands/vulnerable countries
Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Indians on Isle of Jean Charles need to relocate

Question 5

Aggregate impacts and damages

Answer 5

Agriculture
Coastal infrastructure
Health
Ecosystem services

Question 6

Large scale discontinuities and disruptions

Answer 6

Melting of glaciers/ice sheets
Ocean acidification
Permafrost melt
Ocean currents

All = positive feedbacks with tipping points

Question 7

Lines of evidence

Answer 7

Greenhouse gases and CO2 from the Industrial Revolution

Methane: created by digestion/anaerobic processes (50% of excess from livestock)

Temperature: rapidly increasing

Question 8

Paleoclimatology

Answer 8

Proxy/substitute indicators of atmosphere composition/temperature

• Ice cores (concentration of greenhouse gases in bubbles)
• lake/ocean sediments
• tree rings

Unsourced fluctuations = natural (sunspots, axis wobble, volcanic activity)
Forced fluctuations = human caused

Question 9

What to do?

Answer 9

Fly less (tons of CO2 per person per flight)
Drive less
Waste less (home insulation, efficient light bulbs)
Eat less meat, especially beef (deforestation, methane emissions)
Use renewable electricity like Uruguay