Understanding Global Climate Change
Greenhouse Gasses

http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Climate/Week1.html



The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect 
  https://history.aip.org/climate/co2.htm
The Discovery of Global Warming 
  https://history.aip.org/climate/index.htm

  In the 19th century, scientists realized that gases in the
  atmosphere cause a "greenhouse effect" which affects the
  planet's temperature. These scientists were interested
  chiefly in the possibility that a lower level of carbon
  dioxide gas might explain the ice ages of the distant past.
  At the turn of the century, Svante Arrhenius calculated that
  emissions from human industry might someday bring a global
  warming. In 1938, G.S. Callendar argued that the level of
  carbon dioxide was climbing and raising global temperature,
  but most scientists found his arguments implausible. It was
  almost by chance that a few researchers in the 1950s
  discovered that global warming truly was possible. 

  In the early 1960s, C.D. Keeling measured the level of carbon
  dioxide in the atmosphere: it was rising fast. Researchers began
  to take an interest, struggling to understand how the level of
  carbon dioxide had changed in the past, and how the level was
  influenced by chemical and biological forces. They found that the
  gas plays a crucial role in climate change, so that the rising
  level could gravely affect our future.

  


Atmospheric Transmission
  

    

Earth's Energy Imbalance (Radiative Forcing)
  The earth is absorbing more energy from the sun than it's
  giving up due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
  The excess energy that the planet is absorbing is enormous.
  The total energy imbalance is now greater than 3.1 W/m^2.






  
  From the Laws of Thermodynamics earth must warm until it
  reaches a new equilibrium (Ein = Eout) at higher temperature.
  Given current concentrations of greenhouse gasses, the earth
  will continue to warm for centuries.

James Hansen (2012): Why I must speak out about climate change
  https://www.ted.com/talks/james_hansen_why_i_must_speak_out_about_climate_change/
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWInyaMWBY8   (17+ min)

In 2006, Methane levels began to rapidly increase in Earth's 
atmosphere and haven't showed signs of slowing down. What is 
causing this mysterious spike? Are humans to blame or can 
this be attributed to the planet entering a ice age 
termination event?
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCt2MhOzWVE  (17 min)
Greenhouse CH4 Monitoring
  https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends_ch4/

  



Climate Change Indicators
  https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/products/
  http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
  https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/weather-climate



IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
  https://www.ipcc.ch
  https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/  <==
  https://www.ipcc.ch/ar6-syr/  <==

  Leading climate scientists have given their starkest warning
  yet-that we are rushing to the brink of climate catastropheâ
  In a landmark report last Monday. The Intergovernmental
  Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its sixth
  assessment report, a comprehensive review of the world's
  knowledge of the climate crisis and how human actions are
  altering the planet. It shows in detail how close the world
  is to irreversible change.

  One of the key action points for policymakers is a warning
  that methane is playing an ever greater role in overheating
  the planet. The carbon-rich gas, produced from animal
  farming, shale gas wells, and poorly managed conventional
  oil and gas extraction, heats the world far more effectively
  than carbon dioxide-it has a "warming potential" more than
  80 times that of carbon dioxide-but has a shorter life in
  the atmosphere, persisting for about a decade before it
  degrades.


UNDRR -- GAR Special Report on Drought 2021
  https://www.undrr.org/publication/gar-special-report-drought-2021

Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5)
  https://nca2023.globalchange.gov

  The Fifth National Climate Assessment is the US GovernmentÕs
  preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and
  responses. It is a congressionally mandated interagency
  effort that provides the scientific foundation to support
  informed decision-making across the United States.
  
  The more the planet warms, the greater the impacts. Without
  rapid and deep reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions
  from human activities, the risks of accelerating sea level
  rise, intensifying extreme weather, and other harmful
  climate impacts will continue to grow. Each additional
  increment of warming is expected to lead to more damage and
  greater economic losses compared to previous increments of
  warming, while the risk of catastrophic or unforeseen
  consequences also increases. 


Good News for Young People About Climate Change and a Thank You
  https://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2023/GoodNews.28December2023.pdf

  
  
Tutorial: Evaluating and Explaining Climate Science
  https://scienceofdoom.com
  


Skeptical Science: Climate Myths sorted by taxonomy 
  https://skepticalscience.com/argument.php?f=taxonomy


Summary
  o The greenhouse gas effect is well understood
  o Human activity is increasing greenhouse gas concentration 
  o Resulting warming is changing weather, ecosystems, and life

  
  
  


 
    sam.wormley@gmail.com