Climate change: a. Go to the timeline on the "Discovery of Global Warming" Web page of the American Institute of Physics (http://aip org/history/climate/timeline.htm). When did scientists first suspect that \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) produced by humans might affect Earth's temperature? When were other anthropogenic greenhouse gases identified? When did scientific opinion about global warming start to converge? Click on "Venus \(\&\) Mars"; how did observations of these planets add to an understanding of global climate change? Click on "Aerosols"; how do these contribute to "global dimming"? b. Go to the website for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (www.giss.nasa.gov), click on "Datasets \(\&\) Images," and select "GISS Surface Air Temperature Analysis." The graphs are updated every year. Note that the temperature is compared to a baseline of the average temperature in \(1951-80 .\) What has happened with the temperature in the last few years? If the annual mean decreased, does that change the trend? What does the 5-year running mean show? How much warmer is it on average now than in \(1880 ?\) c. Go to NOAA's "Trend in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide" Web page on carbon dioxide levels at the observatory on Mauna Loa (http://esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/ mlo.html). What is the current level of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) ? How does this compare with the level from 1 year ago? Scroll down the page and click on "A description of how we make measurements at Mauna Loa." Why is this a good site for measuring \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) ? What exactly is measured? Are the numbers cross-checked with other measurements?

Step by step solution

01

Visit the Provided Website for Part (a)

Go to the 'Discovery of Global Warming' webpage at the American Institute of Physics (http://aip.org/history/climate/timeline.htm) and examine the timeline for climate change-related discoveries.

02

Determine when scientists first suspected human-produced \(\text{CO}_{2}\) might affect Earth's temperature

Find the year when scientists first suspected that CO2 from human activities could influence Earth’s temperature. Record this date.

03

Identify the periods when other anthropogenic greenhouse gases were discovered

Locate on the timeline when other greenhouse gases caused by human activities were identified. Record these dates.

04

Determine when scientific opinion on global warming started to converge

Find the period in the timeline when the scientific community began to form a consensus about global warming and record this date.

05

Analyze Observations of Venus and Mars

Click on the 'Venus & Mars' section on the timeline. Understand and explain how planetary observations contributed to the understanding of global climate change.

06

Understand the Contribution of Aerosols

Click on the 'Aerosols' section and explain how aerosols contribute to ‘global dimming’.

07

Visit NASA's GISS Website for Part (b)

Go to the NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies website (www.giss.nasa.gov), click on 'Datasets & Images,' and select 'GISS Surface Air Temperature Analysis.' Review the latest temperature graphs.

08

Analyze Temperature Trends

Examine the graphs to understand the temperature trends over the last few years. Identify if there have been any decreases and if they affect the overall trend.

09

Evaluate the 5-year Running Mean

Look at the 5-year running mean on the graphs to understand longer-term trends in temperature change.

10

Compare Current Temperature with 1880

Determine how much warmer the current average temperature is compared to the average temperature in 1880.

11

Visit NOAA's CO2 Trends Webpage for Part (c)

Go to NOAA's 'Trend in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide' Web page (http://esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/mlo.html) to examine current CO2 levels.

12

Note Current \(\text{CO}_{2}\) Levels

Record the current level of CO2 as shown on the webpage.

13

Compare \(\text{CO}_{2}\) Levels to Previous Year

Compare the current CO2 levels to those from one year ago to see the change.

14

Understand Measurement Methods at Mauna Loa

Scroll down the page and click on 'A description of how we make measurements at Mauna Loa.' Read and describe why Mauna Loa is an ideal site for CO2 measurements, what exactly is measured, and if the numbers are cross-checked with other measurements.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases produced by human activities trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming. The primary anthropogenic greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide \(CO_2\), but others include methane \(CH_4\) and nitrous oxide \(N_2O\). CO2 was first suspected to affect Earth's temperature back in the late 19th century. As the industrial revolution progressed, science identified other gases contributing to the greenhouse effect. The accumulation of these gases causes a blanket effect, enhancing the natural greenhouse phenomenon.

Some sources of these gases include

• burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)
• deforestation
• agriculture and livestock

Understanding these gases' impact helps devise ways to mitigate climate change.

Global Warming Timeline

The journey to understanding global warming has spanned centuries. Early suspicions about the impact of human activities on the climate began in the 1800s. By the mid-20th century, as more greenhouse gases were discovered, scientific consensus started forming.

The timeline includes key breakthroughs like:

• the establishment of the greenhouse effect concepts in the late 1800s
• the identification of additional gases like methane in the mid-1900s
• the increasing alignment within the scientific community about the dangers of global warming from the 1980s onward

These milestones marked the growing awareness and response to climate change challenges.

CO2 Measurement Methods

Accurate measurement of atmospheric CO2 levels is crucial for monitoring climate change. One renowned site for such measurements is Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. The reasons for its accuracy include its remote location, away from direct human and industrial influences, ensuring that background levels of CO2 are measured.

The techniques used include

• infrared gas analyzers for continuous monitoring
• flask sampling to validate the continuous data

Such measurements help scientists track CO2 trends over time and validate findings with other global monitoring sites for a comprehensive understanding.

Temperature Trends Analysis

Analyzing temperature trends is essential to understand the progress of global warming. NASA's GISS Surface Air Temperature Analysis provides detailed graphs comparing current temperatures to historical baselines (e.g., 1951-1980). This allows scientists to observe fluctuations and long-term trends.

Recent data shows:

• an overall increase in temperatures
• yearly fluctuations that do not negate the long-term warming trend
• the 5-year running mean smoothing out short-term variations

On average, today's temperatures are markedly warmer than those in 1880, highlighting the trend of increasing global temperatures.

Planetary Observations

Studying other planets, like Venus and Mars, provides crucial insights into climate science. Observations of Venus, with its thick CO2-rich atmosphere leading to extreme heat, show the potential consequences of uncontrolled greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, Mars, with its thin atmosphere, illustrates how a lack of greenhouse gases results in a colder planet.

These planetary comparisons help scientists:

• understand the greenhouse effect's scope
• predict climate trends on Earth
• enhance climate models

By learning from other planets, we gain valuable perspectives on managing our climate to ensure a stable future.