Paleoclimatology is the study of climate prior to the availability of recorded data. It is studied similar to that of archeologists, but instead of using dinosaur and fossils, this data is collected through footprints left by the environment about past climates and climate trends over the years. It is important to study mainly, because we need to learn if the climate changes that we have been able to study are due to natural variations over time or whether we as humans are affecting the climate negatively.
Sources used:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/primer.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Paleoclimatology/paleoclimatology_intro.php
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Response to "Missing Heat" article
SOURCE : https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5OYZdqOzxSLdjZ6X0R4S0ZfX1E/edit
This article is interesting and points toward ocean temperature shift in the tropical pacific as being a main factor for the cooling period between 1940-1975. They point to the effects of El Nino and La Nina to explain that the cooling and warming in these regions coincide with the periods of global warming and cooling on the Earth. This source does not seem as reliable as the other one, because this one says there are also skeptics and also points to the aerosol's as another possible reason for cooling and heating. As for the hiatus after 1998 this article points towards warming in the deep ocean during this period and that we seen warmer surface temperatures during periods of extreme heating. Jeff Tollefson covers climate, energy, and the environment for Nature, which is the article described above.
This article is interesting and points toward ocean temperature shift in the tropical pacific as being a main factor for the cooling period between 1940-1975. They point to the effects of El Nino and La Nina to explain that the cooling and warming in these regions coincide with the periods of global warming and cooling on the Earth. This source does not seem as reliable as the other one, because this one says there are also skeptics and also points to the aerosol's as another possible reason for cooling and heating. As for the hiatus after 1998 this article points towards warming in the deep ocean during this period and that we seen warmer surface temperatures during periods of extreme heating. Jeff Tollefson covers climate, energy, and the environment for Nature, which is the article described above.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Response to SkepticalScience Post on Mid 20th Century Cooling
SOURCE : http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-cooling-mid-20th-century-advanced.htm
This source seems to make a reasonable point about the direct and indirect effects of aerosol's on our atmosphere, but I cannot be a good judge of reliability unless I hear many others saying the same thing. It mentions that the release of sulfates into the atmosphere during that period is most likely the cause of the cooling effect, being the largest period in which they were released into the atmosphere. This article is only about 3 and 1/2 years old, which can have changes in a period like that. One thing that stands out to me is that we see a similar plateau after 1998 when there was an agreement to stop releasing these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The effect seems to be similar, but the causes are very different, one period a massive increase in sulfates and aerosols and the other an attempt to phase out and decrease all pollutants and greenhouse gases.
This source seems to make a reasonable point about the direct and indirect effects of aerosol's on our atmosphere, but I cannot be a good judge of reliability unless I hear many others saying the same thing. It mentions that the release of sulfates into the atmosphere during that period is most likely the cause of the cooling effect, being the largest period in which they were released into the atmosphere. This article is only about 3 and 1/2 years old, which can have changes in a period like that. One thing that stands out to me is that we see a similar plateau after 1998 when there was an agreement to stop releasing these greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The effect seems to be similar, but the causes are very different, one period a massive increase in sulfates and aerosols and the other an attempt to phase out and decrease all pollutants and greenhouse gases.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Climate Change Survey Questions and Responses
Link to the Survey questions for "Science of Climate Change"
Link to responses of questions for "Science of Climate Change"
Link to responses of questions for "Science of Climate Change"
Response to "Climate Bathtub" Carbon Dioxide cycle model
The "Climate Bathtub" is an important visual tool in understanding how the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is transferred in as well as flowing outward. The image really puts into perspective the basic idea that there is a flow inward of carbon from natural sources, such as respiration and decay of plants and human causes like burning of fossil fuels. Then, compared to the outward natural flow in processes such as, photosynthesis and dissolving into oceans reflects the amount of Carbon dioxide floating around in the atmosphere. One of the underlying concepts is that there is an uneven flow of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere, because there is the one natural source causing a rise balances with the natural causes that release carbon dioxide. Except, when including the human causes that add to the rising levels and create an imbalance, causing more inflow than outflow. Some of the excess can be absorbed by the plants and oceans, but there is such a increase from humans that we should seriously look at our impacts. An important thing to notice throughout all of these examples is that there is always an increase of Carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as long as humans continue to add to the levels, but if we can somehow have no inclusion in adding to the carbon dioxide levels then there is a hope to avoid reaching an overflow that can drastically harm the atmosphere and humans health.
Link to the "Climate Bathtub"
Link to the "Climate Bathtub"
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