Earth System Science: Earth System Science How does the Earth on which we live function as a whole? PowerPoint 97 To download: Shift LeftClick Please respect copyright on this material


Key Points: Key Points Human activities are affecting the environment on global scale The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknown We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system


Human activities are affecting the environment on a global scale: Human activities are affecting the environment on a global scale Burning fossil fuel is causing global warming and rising sea-level Emission of CFCs has caused the depletion of stratospheric ozone Soil erosion is reducing agricultural productivity Deforestation and habitat destruction threaten species diversity Pesticides, fertilizers are polluting water resources Sulfate and nitrogen oxide emissions cause acid rain


The Probable Cause of Global Warming: The Probable Cause of Global Warming IPPC 1990 page xvi


The Antarctic Ozone Hole: The Antarctic Ozone Hole http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/tour_images/toms1091.gif


Acid Rain: Acid Rain http://odin.dep.no/md/publ/acid/Erodes.html


Water Resources: Water Resources http://www.oroville-city.com/lakeview.html


Soil Degradation: Soil Degradation National Geographic Society


Habitat Destruction: Habitat Destruction http://www.panda.org/multimedia/photogallery/photogallery.htm


A Mountain Gorilla: A Mountain Gorilla Corel Professional Photos CD-ROM Sampler #200051


Key Points: Key Points Human activities are affecting the environment on global scale The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknown We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system


Impacts on human societies potentially substantial but largely unknown: Impacts on human societies potentially substantial but largely unknown Fundamental values and lifestyles may be questioned It may be decades before the effects become apparent Remedial actions have indirect consequences ESS p 8


Key Points: Key Points Human activities are affecting the environment on global scale The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknown We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system


We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system: We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability in climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biosphere Examine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their probable consequences


Last Glacial Maximum: Last Glacial Maximum xxx


Signs of Past Glaciation: Signs of Past Glaciation xxx


We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system: We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability in climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biosphere Examine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their probable consequences


Equatorial Pacific Sea SurfaceTemperature: Equatorial Pacific Sea SurfaceTemperature El Nino Normal La Nina Dec 97 Dec 90 Dec 88 NOAA/PMEL


Measuring Ocean Winds and Temperature: Measuring Ocean Winds and Temperature National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Vegetation Stress: Vegetation Stress El Nino (top) La Nina (bottom)


We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system: We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability in climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biosphere Examine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their probable consequences


Drilling Ice Cores in Peru: Drilling Ice Cores in Peru Annual layers in the Quelccaya Ice Cap Distant view of ice cap Lonnie Thompson


We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system: We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability in climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biosphere Examine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their probable consequences


Pipeline in British Columbia: Pipeline in British Columbia © http://corbis.com 10585078.jpg


We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system: We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system Understand and distinguish natural variability in climate and ecosystems Include the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, ice, and biosphere Examine the evidence from the past Document the effects of human activities Simulate future changes and assess their probable consequences


The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPPC 1995


Projected Future Warming: Projected Future Warming For various emission scenarios For high or low climate feedback multiply by 1.8 or 0.6 IPPC 1995


Key Points: Key Points Human activities are affecting the environment on global scale The impacts on human societies are potentially substantial but largely unknown We need a basic scientific understanding of how the Earth functions as an interacting system


Earth System ScienceSources of Information: Earth System Science Sources of Information Earth System Science - Overview, NASA, 1986 (ESS) Climate Change 1995 , Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) Referenced web sites