Climate Change

1. Climate Change ES20 – AH2 - Analyze the production, reliability and uses of geoscience data to investigate the effects of a changing climate on society and the environment. Recommended viewings: Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey – A World Set Free Bill Nye Saves the World: The Earth’s a Hot Mess

2. Introduction to Climate Change Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey – The World Set Free Bill Nye Saves the World: The Earth’s a Hot Mess What were points that stood out? • What were points that stood out? How do we fix it? What is a realistic solution?

3. Introduction to Climate Change Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey – The World Set Free Bill Nye Saves the World: The Earth’s a Hot Mess What were points that stood out? Wasn’t as well-paced.- Labs that act as metaphors (acidification of water from CO2, sea level rise from heat). Venice’s solution to rising sea levels was shown (tech to deal with climate change). Discussions about different energy sources • What were points that stood out?-Provided potential solutions/repercussions (hypothetical visuals)- Used Venus as a example of how climate change works (so much gas that it traps heat in)- Alternate energy sources will impact economy and use of said energy sources. How do we fix it? What is a realistic solution?

4. Arguments/Misconceptions about Climate Change • What are some arguments/misconceptions about climate change as a result of man-made global warming (can we debunk them)? • It’s difficult at times to question who spreads misinformation, because it’s easy to argue that people always have something to gain. • However, science as a whole is meant to be objective and not up for subjective bias. What does the data say?

5. Arguments/Misconceptions about Climate Change • What are some arguments/misconceptions about climate change as a result of man-made global warming (can we debunk them)? Climate is a cycle.Global warming – “but it’s cold outside” • It’s difficult at times to question who spreads misinformation, because it’s easy to argue that people always have something to gain. • However, science as a whole is meant to be objective and not up for subjective bias. What does the data say?

6. Misconceptions about Climate Change • Anything to address or clarify?

7. Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, FutureWhat questions do scientists ask? Can we answer them now? How? • What was/will be/currently is air quality like (what gases made up the atmosphere)? • What was/will be/currently is average temperature like? • What was/will be/currently is the climate like? • What organisms existed/exist/will exist in a particular environment?

8. Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, FutureWhat questions do scientists ask? Can we answer them now? How? • What was/will be/currently is air quality like (what gases made up the atmosphere)? Currently 21% oxygen, but in the past as low as 10% and high as 35%. • What was/will be/currently is average temperature like? 23 °C during Jurassic period, around 15°C today! • What was/will be/currently is the climate like? It was far different at different points in history! • What organisms existed/exist/will exist in a particular environment?Different things thrived in different climates! But rapid change can cause extinction as the change is more extreme.

9. How do we analyze climate?Examine different techniques that provide climate data • Satellite Imagery – • Ice core samples – • Dendrology – • Fossils/geology – • Disappearance of organisms – • NASA: Evidence of Climate Change

10. How do we analyze climate?Examine different techniques that provide climate data • Satellite Imagery – visuals of Earth’s content using different types of cameras (infrared) • Ice core samples – analyzing air pockets found in frozen ice from eons ago. • Dendrology – study of tree rings (larger rings = more CO2 more growth • Fossils/geology – organisms existing at different points in history give us inferences about the climate. • Disappearance of organisms – While climate may not be a direct cause, we can make inferences given effects or observations. • NASA: Evidence of Climate Change

11. Indicator Regions • In Saskatchewan we don’t see effects of man-made climate change as readily. • Certain regions however, serve as indicator regions of climate change, and give us a first-hand visual of impacts of climate change (Venice sea-level rise, arctic ice). • This includes impacts on traditional lifestyles of aboriginal people and greater effects at the northern latitudes (more radical change up north). • There is the argument that the climate changes anyway so we’d need to adapt – but not at this accelerated rate. Life has a harder time adjusting this quickly and maintaining biodiversity (ie. Flowering/migration).

12. Organizations and Politics of Climate Change • PARC and IPCC – organizations to gather research about climate change. What are they? • What are the socio-political implications of this? • Who do we vote for? What are our values? What do we compromise? How do we incorporate values and other ways of life in decision-making? • What do major political voices (conservative, democratic) say about climate change? What is the danger in misinformation-sharing online? ORWhat is the Kyoto Accord? Paris Agreement? What do they say?

13. Organizations and Politics of Climate Change • PARC and IPCC – organizations to gather research about climate change. What are they? Prairie Arctic Regional Council and IPCC are groups of scientistsand individuals promoting climate change policy. • What are the socio-political implications of this? They actively attempt to use evidence to influence governmental policy. • Who do we vote for? What are our values? What do we compromise? How do we incorporate values and other ways of life in decision-making? • What do major political voices (conservative, democratic) say about climate change? What is the danger in misinformation-sharing online? ORWhat is the Kyoto Accord? Paris Agreement? What do they say?

14. Scientific Community and Climate Change • The reality is, a majority (over 97%) of the scientific community agrees that anthropogenic factors are influencing climate change and global warming. • A large part of this is caused by consumption of fossil fuels for production and transportation. • Include three points that stood out from the video: • John Oliver: Paris Agreement • Language warning – and he would be a more democratic-leaning individual – so sift for fact and objectivity. • Science should transcend conspiracy theories – it is objective (regardless of your opinion, some things are more than likely accurate), despite subjectivities in its distribution.

15. Climate Data: Global TempInterpret Data – Important to Analyze Data – What does this data say? How does it compare?

16. Evaluating Climate DataInterpret Data – Important to Analyze Data – What does this data say? How does it compare? • Grab Chromebook (or use phone) - Go to the NASA: Evidence of Climate Change site. Email to me (Petlak.logan@prairiesouth.ca) answers to the following. • Find a visual for climate change data (include source - link). • What does this visual tell us (in general, and specifically)? • What does the specific data say (if you can access the sources, does it look reliable)? • Do you think this is a good visual representing climate change? Why?

17. Climate Data: Global TempInterpret Data – Important to Analyze Data – What does this data say? How does it compare?

18. El Nino and La Nina • Period of ocean warming. • Why is this important? • Where does this affect? • Period of ocean cooling. • Why is this important? • Where does this affect?

19. El Nino and La Nina • Period of ocean warming.El NinoNaturally occurring phenomenon made worse by climate change. • Why is this important? Ocean heating can lead to sea levels rising. Different organisms live at certain temperatures (migrate accordingly) • Where does this affect? How does this affect humans? Potentially dangerous animals could migrate in.Affect food chain. Local economies dependent on water/fishing.See this in Pacific Ocean – tropical portion • Period of ocean cooling. La Nina Is an opposite response to El Nino • Why is this important? Greater change in temperatures between La Nina and El Nino. • Where does this affect? Still Pacific Ocean – tropical region specifically affecting South/Central America

20. Ocean Acidification • Ocean acidification is an additional significant side effect of increased amounts of CO2in the ocean. • Coral Bleaching occurs as a result of CO2 being a secondary pollutant in water. • Great Barrier Reef - Declaration

21. Ocean Acidification • Ocean acidification is an additional significant side effect of increased amounts of CO2in the ocean. • Coral Bleaching occurs as a result of CO2 being a secondary pollutant in water.(It turns into an acid) • Great Barrier Reef - Declaration

22. Inter-system Effects of Climate Change • How do changes in air quality (atmosphere), affect water (hydrosphere)? • How does changes in precipitation (water), affect land (geosphere)? • How do changes on land, affect living things (biosphere)? Importance:

23. Inter-system Effects of Climate Change • How do changes in air quality (atmosphere), affect water (hydrosphere)? Contents of atmosphere can dissolve into water – affecting life within • How does changes in precipitation (water), affect land (geosphere)? Water falling as precipitation can cause nutrient run off into water bodies or deplete nutrients in soil. • How do changes on land, affect living things (biosphere)? Less nutrients in soil = less plants = less organisms to eat plants Importance: What happens in one “sphere” can affect others as evidenced by increasing atmospheric CO2

24. Climate Change in SK – Impact of Climate Change Consider how can climate change impact: • Agriculture • Energy • Transportation • Forestry • Tourism • Human Health

25. Climate Change in SK – Impact of Climate Change Consider how can climate change impact: • Agriculture: certain plants need certain temperatures/precipitation to grow properly, if the climate changes, so too does its ideal growing conditions. • Energy usage and production: if it’s getting hotter – our power usage in summer may increase in order to maintain cooler temperatures indoors. • Transportation: raising of temperatures could increase running temperature of vehicles  more breakdowns due to overheating! Transition in applicable vehicles as well. No snow? No snowmobiles. Airplane prices may increase with increased carbon taxation/ • Forest industry: higher temperatures can lead to drier conditions  this can lend itself to the risk of forest fires. Extreme weather (thunderstorms) can help start this. • Tourism: cold = change in desire for people to visit certain places… or if temperatures change or sea levels rise we may lose low-lying vacation spots. • Health:

26. Climate Change in SK – Strategies for Change • What are ways to combat climate change in SK?

27. Climate Change in SK – Strategies for Change • What are ways to combat climate change in SK? - Taxation on carbon emissions (Carbon tax) – controversial- Providing infrastructure for electric cars – less emission transportation- implement renewable energy- use power wisely (turn off lights when not in room).- have a more plant-heavy diet.

28. Climate Change in SK – Strategies for Change • What are ways to combat climate change in SK? • Vote/Support for Renewable Power – this doesn’t mean end oil. Buy solar panels? • Be energy efficient. • Buying locally-grown foods (why?) • Trim your waste (methane production) – Composting? • Fly less, green your commute. • Source

29. Climate Change in SK – Strategies for Change Context you live in is important. How many of these are realistic for us? Can they become realistic for us? Source

30. Climate Change in SK – Potential Effects • What could be the effects on population distribution in SK? • What are potential economic shifts (we’ve already discussed this a fair amount)? • How could this affect access to water?Changing climate in areas may increase/decrease our water supplies due to changes in precipitation (rain) or hotter temperatures leading to more evaporation.

31. Dystopian Future vs Ideal Future Through inaction, what might occur and what far-reaching impacts will this have on humanity? What are positives of the pursuit of initiatives to reduce climate change? New energy sources, economic impacts. Eco-awareness – more common to actively consider impact on environment through actions. Saves money! • Sea-levels rising, water shortages, extreme weather, flooding, ocean acidification? • We could see war/rebellion if resources become scarce. • Move to a new planet?

32. Major factors about climate • Greenhouse gases (CO2, Methane – CH4). • Climate is average weather patterns over time. • Extreme weather is caused by more energy in the atmosphere colliding (heat is energy). • Wind moves moisture and energy around the globe.

33. Greenhouse Effect • Contents of our atmosphere helps to insulate heat from the sun. • The earth’s surface absorbs some heat, some radiates back out to space. • Molecules of greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane absorb heat as well and warm the earth and it’s waters (a little bit of this is okay, it’s what makes our earth livable).

34. a. Examine the types of ques.ons that scien.stsa.empt to answer with respect to Earth’s climate and past, present and poten.al future climate changes. (STSE, A) • b. Examine how different techniques (e.g., satellite imagery, ice core samples and dendrology) provide scien.sts with a variety of data regarding climate change. (K, STSE) • c. Inves.gate the Arc.c as an indicator region of climate change, including the impact on tradi.onal lifestyles of northern peoples, given the general vulnerability to climate change effects at northern versus equatorial la.tudes. (K, STSE) • d. Examine how and why organiza.ons such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis and Prairie Adapta.on Research Collabora.ve (PARC) work to provide scien.fic research related to climate change and its poten.al environmental and societal implica.ons. (STSE)

35. e. Iden.fy the contribu.ons of Indigenous knowledge in policy decisions related to climate change. (K, STSE) • f. Examine the degree to which the scien.fic community has achieved consensus regarding the reality of anthropogenic climate change. (STSE) • g. Inves.gate poten.al environmental, economic and societal impacts of climate change in Saskatchewan on human health, popula.ondistribu.onand access to water and other resources. (STSE) • h. Interpret climate data (e.g., tables, maps, graphs, visualiza.ons and other representa.ons) to determine climate pa.erns and trends over specific periods. (S, STSE) • i. Inves.gate how climate models simulate important aspects of past and present climate and climate changes, and provide projec.ons about future effects of climate changes with varying degrees of complexity and reliability. (K, STSE, S) • j. Recognize how phenomena such as El Niño, La Niña and ocean acidifica.onprovide evidence of how the effects of climate change on one earth system (i.e., geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere) can produce effects across other earth systems. (K, STSE) • k. Inves.gate the adapta.on and mi.ga.on strategies developed to minimize the poten.al impacts of climate change on the agriculture, energy, forestry, transporta.on and/or tourism sectors in Saskatchewan. (K, STSE, S) • l. Hypothesize how life on earth might respond to a changing global climate given different scenarios change such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, water shortages, increased spread of disease, flooding and acidifica.onof the oceans. (K, STSE, S, A)