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The Climate Change Challenge Sound Waters February 4, 2006

The Climate Change Challenge Sound Waters February 4, 2006. Dr. Richard Gammon Professor of Chemistry, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science (Adj) Co-Director, Program on the Environment University of Washington. CLIMATE COLLAPSE The Pentagon's Weather Nightmare.

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The Climate Change Challenge Sound Waters February 4, 2006

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  1. The Climate Change Challenge Sound Waters February 4, 2006 Dr. Richard Gammon Professor of Chemistry, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science (Adj) Co-Director, Program on the Environment University of Washington

  2. CLIMATE COLLAPSE The Pentagon's Weather Nightmare Extensive recent coverage in national weeklies and monthlies

  3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2001 Under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environmental Program > 100 Nations (Including all Industrialized Nations) have Accepted these Findings www.ipcc.ch

  4. Main Findings of IPCC • Climate change is underway and the early impacts are already visible. • Climate impacts over the next 100 years will be much more significant than over the past 100 years. • Natural systems are the most vulnerable because of their sensitivity to climate and limited capacity to adapt.

  5. Physical signal: observed changes in ice and snow cover South Cascade Glacier, 1928 and 2000 • Duration ofice cover on rivers and lakes has decreased by 2.5 weeks over the last century in mid- & high latitude areas • Arctic sea ice loss in area (10 - 15%) and thickness (40%) over the last half century. • Decline in snow cover (10%) for N hemisphere since 1960 • World-wide retreat in alpine glaciers over last century • Widespread changes in permafrost IPCC

  6. Source: OSTP

  7. Main Findings of IPCC • More frequent, intense weather extremes and severe impacts expected. “Surprises” are possible. • Developing countries and poor communities in developed countries are most vulnerable. • Adaptation can reduce impacts, but it’s costly and some damages are inevitable. • Win-win options exist, if action is swift.

  8. Observed vs. modeled temperature rise since 1860 IPCC

  9. Projected Changes in Annual Temperatures for the 2050s The projected change is compared to the present day with a ~1% increase per year in equivalent CO2 Source: The Met Office. Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research

  10. Ocean Shores, WA Sea-Level Rise • Thermal expansion and glacier/icecap melting • 4 to 8 inches over the last century • IPCC projects 4 to 35 inches this century • Erodes beaches and wetlands, inundates low-lying areas

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