Chapter 20

Growing number of scientists and engineers do not agree that drastic actions to reduce CO2 emissions are needed CO2 concentrations have followed temperature changes long before man started pumping CO2 into the atmosphere For the past 10 years temperature increases have not kept up with CO2 emissions increases No link between mans release as % of temperature increase

Global mercury emissions could grow by 25% by 2020 Global warming could add to problem by releasing mercury stores in permafrost or ice sheets. Polar bears, beluga whales, and seals have shown elevated levels of mercury

Remitted infrared radiation absorbed bY the atmosphere Moderates day/night temperature swings & makes earth habitable

Water vapor and particles (97% of total greenhouse warming) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane ( CH4) Chlorofluorocarbons Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Process of trapping heat in the atmosphere Amount of sunlight earth receives Amount of sunlight of earth reflects Retention of heat by atmosphere Evaporation and condensation of water proof

Stimulated algae growth could absorb CO2 Stimulated growth of plants ditto Increased precipitation/polar snow/ reflection Cloudier conditions

Increased evaporation from the oceans Melting permafrost/ release of methane Darker surfaces deuce reflectivity (albedo) More air-conditioning/fossil fuels/CO2

Algae Terrestrial vegetation Polar regions Cloud cover

Increased evaporation Melting permafrost Reduction in summer snowpack Urban islands

Milankovitch cycles Solar cycles Atmospheric transparency Albedo (reflectivity) affects Climate forcing Oceans Carbon sink/source Currents El Niño