Human-Produced Greenhouse GasesHuman-Produced
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Methane (CH4)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)Ozone (O3)
Natural Phenomena
Upperatmosphereresearch satellite
Volcanicemissions?
Sea spray?
Directevidence
Directevidence
sunspots
Possible Impacts of Global Warming on Corals and Coral Reefs
Possible Impacts of Global Warming on Corals and Coral Reefs
• bleaching• eustatic sea level rise creating more
growth room for reefs• increased carbon dioxide may increase
reef primary productivity• increased storm damage• changes to patterns of terrestrial runoff• changes to ocean circulation patterns
• bleaching• eustatic sea level rise creating more
growth room for reefs• increased carbon dioxide may increase
reef primary productivity• increased storm damage• changes to patterns of terrestrial runoff• changes to ocean circulation patterns
Effect on Marine Life• Phytoplankton bloom due to light and
temperature cues• Changes will impact food web• Hypoxia may result
Some causes of coral bleaching
• Unusually high or low temperatures• Unusually high or low salinity• High amounts of visible or ultraviolet light• Sedimentation• High levels of nutrients (sewage, etc.)• High levels of toxins (pesticides, etc.)
CurrentsOceanic conveyor belt may change ocean currents • Currents carry plankton• Bring food and oxygen• Distribute eggs and larvae• Remove wastes and pollutants
CurrentsCurrents
Salinity• Animals have a narrow range of tolerance• Glacial melting inputs lots of freshwater
SalinitySalinity
Acidity• CO2 makes water acidic• Corals and other calcium carbonate species
can’t make skeleton• Impact on plankton development impacts food
web
Ocean AcidificationOcean Acidification
Temperature• Higher temperature results in less O2
- Results in hypoxia• Ice melting leaves no resting/hunting areas for
polar bears• Antarctic Krill impacts food web
TemperatureTemperature
Invasive Species• Algae smothers coral• Invasive species out-compete natives
Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species
Weather Events
More severe weather patterns• El Niño• Hurricanes • Mudslides• Forest Fires• Drought
Weather EventsWeather Events
Effects of Sea Level Rise on Human Populations
Effects of Sea Level Rise on Human Populations
Sinking Islands
Effects of Sea Level Rise on Human Populations
Effects of Sea Level Rise on Human Populations
Sinking Islands
Kiribati Tuvalu
Artificial Islands a Solution?
Consequences: Worst Predictions
4-6o F increase (2-3oC) in 20-30 years
End of the Ice Age: 1oC per 500 yearsNow: 1oC per 10 years
End of the Ice Age: 1oC per 500 yearsNow: 1oC per 10 years
Highest temperature in 2 million years
Temperature Rise
Melting: glacier & polar ice cap 11% in last 100 years
Sea temperature increase: 2oF increase = 2 ft (0.6 m) rise
http://www.glaciers.pdx.edu/Projects/LearnAboutGlaciers/ROMO/BasicsIceAges.htm l
Click on link
Global WarmingGlobal Warming
1 Meter Sea Level Rise Waikiki1 Meter Sea Level Rise Waikiki
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HMRG/FloodingOahu/index.phphttp://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/sealevel/waikiki.html
• Destroys coastal habitat (e.g. salt marshes, mangroves)
• Destroys human property• Increases pollution• Decreases freshwater supply
Sea Level RiseSea Level Rise
Absorption of Ultraviolet
Radiation by the Earth’s
Atmosphere
Absorption of Ultraviolet
Radiation by the Earth’s
Atmosphere
Cosmic RaysGamma Rays
X Rays Ultra-Violet
Visable Light
InfraredRadio Waves
Visable LightX Rays
Vacuum UV UVB
100 200 300 400
Shortwave UV (UVC) A bsor bed by oz one i n E ar th ' s atmospher e
M iddle- & L ongwave UV (UVB & UVA )V isibl e L ight & I nfrared
UVC UVA
Ultraviolet Radiation
“A threat to the continuation of life”2
Humans: DNA damageCancer
Crops: Productivity decreaseOcean plants: Death?
VisibleInfrared (IR) UV
Ultraviolet Radiation
stratosphericozone layer
CFCs: refrigerationelectronics
foam packagingspray propellants
destroy
UV
‘96: CFC decrease noticed2006: stabilization?
‘96: CFC decrease noticed2006: stabilization?
Antarctic Total Ozone Trend
400
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
300
200
100
0
To
tal o
zon
e (
Dob
son
uni
ts)
Ozone blocks UV
Size of the Antarctic ozone holeAverage Area: millions sq km
North AmericaNorth America
AntarcticaAntarctica
Prediction: 50 years to return to 1980 size
1979 2001
30
20
10
0
Sep. 2012
8.2 million miles2
Naturally Occurring Ozone Destroying
Chemicals
Naturally Occurring Ozone Destroying
Chemicals
• nitrogen from soils and the ocean• hydrogen from atmospheric
water vapor• chlorine from the ocean
• nitrogen from soils and the ocean• hydrogen from atmospheric
water vapor• chlorine from the ocean
Human Produced Ozone Destroying Chemicals
Human Produced Ozone Destroying Chemicals
• chlorofluorocarbons
• jet aircraft exhaust
• other industrial chemicals
• chlorofluorocarbons
• jet aircraft exhaust
• other industrial chemicals
Effects of UV on Living ThingsEffects of UV on Living Things• damage to DNA resulting in mutations
• damage to other biological molecules
– proteins: enzyme inactivation
– lipids: disruption of cell membranes and membrane transport systems
• damage to DNA resulting in mutations
• damage to other biological molecules
– proteins: enzyme inactivation
– lipids: disruption of cell membranes and membrane transport systems
Corals and UV RadiationCorals and UV Radiation• decreased growth
• decreased rates of calcification
• transplantation experiments (deep corals brought to the surface) demonstrate corals may be UV-sensitive (exhibit bleaching and increased mortality)
• coral sperm appears to be UV-sensitive (note spawning normally takes place at night)
• decreased growth
• decreased rates of calcification
• transplantation experiments (deep corals brought to the surface) demonstrate corals may be UV-sensitive (exhibit bleaching and increased mortality)
• coral sperm appears to be UV-sensitive (note spawning normally takes place at night)