Classic GFD Papers This page contains a number of papers of historical interest concerning large-scale dynamics and the general circulation of the atmosphere and ocean. (I dug many of them up while researching a book on atmospheric and oceanic dynamics.) With time, this page will become more complete and more organized and be arranged thematically, and more of the papers will be annotated. If you would like to contribute a paragraph or short article discussing a particular paper and setting it in context, or would like to suggest the inclusion of a particular paper, or would like to hear about periodic updates to this site, please email me by clicking here. or by parsing g dot vallis at exeter.ac.uk. If you click on the headings below you will find papers on the history of the circulation, on atmospheric circulation, on ocean circulation, and on dynamics in general. History of Circulation or Dynamics Atmospheric Dynamics This section contains papers on atmospheric dynamic and circulation. Oceanic Dynamics
Arctic Warming is Altering Weather Patterns, Study Shows EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published April 3. Given recent news that Arctic sea ice set a record low, it's a reminder that changes in the Arctic can affect the U.S. and Europe. By showing that Arctic climate change is no longer just a problem for the polar bear, a new study may finally dispel the view that what happens in the Arctic, stays in the Arctic. The study, by Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University and Stephen Vavrus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, ties rapid Arctic climate change to high-impact, extreme weather events in the U.S. and Europe. The study shows that by changing the temperature balance between the Arctic and mid-latitudes, rapid Arctic warming is altering the course of the jet stream, which steers weather systems from west to east around the hemisphere. The jet stream, the study says, is becoming “wavier,” with steeper troughs and higher ridges. The strong area of high pressure shunted the jet stream far north into Canada.
Effects | Facts We already see effects scientists predicted, such as the loss of sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, sea level rise, and more intense heat waves. Scientists predict global temperature increases from human-made greenhouse gases will continue. Severe weather damage will also increase and intensify. Our Trajectory Earth Will Continue to Warm and the Effects Will Be Profound Global climate change is not a future problem. Effects that scientists had long predicted would result from global climate change are now occurring, such as sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heat waves. "The magnitude and rate of climate change and associated risks depend strongly on near-term mitigation and adaptation actions, and projected adverse impacts and related losses and damages escalate with every increment of global warming." Some changes (such as droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall) are happening faster than scientists previously assessed. Future Effects in the U.S.
What is global warming, facts and information? Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are dying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It has become clear that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are higher now than at any time in the last 800,000 years. We often call the result global warming, but it is causing a set of changes to the Earth's climate, or long-term weather patterns, that varies from place to place. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts. What will we do—what can we do—to slow this human-caused warming? Understanding the greenhouse effect The "greenhouse effect" is the warming that happens when certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat. Aren't temperature changes natural? Why does this matter?
A Skeptics Guide to Climate Change A Serious (but not Solemn) Conversation about Global Warming PDF version Okay, so you're not a climate scientist. Maybe you're a climate skeptic, or even a politician, and you don't know whether to believe what climate scientists say. How can you climate scientists predict anything when we don't know the laws of nature? Unfortunately for your argument, string theory, whether it's right or wrong, won't change anything that affects our climate. Well, all right. Okay, a bit better. My scientist neighbor says that science doesn't progress through consensus; it's the maverick who makes science advance, like that bald fellow at MIT. Hmm. What scientists seem to be saying is that if we burn coal and oil we add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and the planet warms. Good try! Ah, but even I know that correlation does not imply causation! I'm impressed. Yes, but then there's the little Ice Age. Not really. Come on. Here, my friend, you are dead wrong and you've lost all your brownie points.
The scientific consensus on global warming « Later On From the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the preeminent scientific organization in the US. Note that this article is not based on a mere count of articles, but rather looks at statements from various scientific organizations. Science 3 December 2004: Vol. 306. no. 5702, p. 1686 DOI: 10.1126/science.1103618BEYOND THE IVORY TOWER: The Scientific Consensus on Climate ChangeNaomi Oreskes*Policy-makers and the media, particularly in the United States, frequently assert that climate science is highly uncertain. Consequences and Effects of Global Warming - What is the Impact? Eight degrees Fahrenheit. It may not sound like much—perhaps the difference between wearing a sweater and not wearing one on an early-spring day. But for the world in which we live, which climate experts project will be at least eight degrees warmer by 2100 should global emissions continue on their current path, this small rise will have grave consequences, ones that are already becoming apparent, for every ecosystem and living thing—including us. According to the National Climate Assessment, human influences are the number one cause of global warming, especially the carbon pollution we cause by burning fossil fuels and the pollution-capturing we prevent by destroying forests. More frequent and severe weather Higher temperatures are worsening many types of disasters, including storms, heat waves, floods, and droughts. Higher death rates Today's scientists point to climate change as "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century." Dirtier air Higher wildlife extinction rates
global warming | Definition, Causes, & Effects Global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s climate has changed over almost every conceivable timescale since the beginning of geologic time and that the influence of human activities since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution has been deeply woven into the very fabric of climate change. Giving voice to a growing conviction of most of the scientific community, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Climate Change Facts & FAQs What are solutions to climate change? In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says we must reduce carbon emissions to the point where we hold global warming to no more than an additional 1.5 °C (~3 °F). To do that, we must as a planet commit ourselves to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is no small feat and will require a range of solutions applied together, to reach the goal. Our research also shows that proper land management of forests and farmlands, also called natural climate solutions, can provide up to one-third of the emissions reductions necessary to reach the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of aiming to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees (or nearly 3 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. It is particularly important that we help the most vulnerable communities adapt to climate change impacts.
Climate Change, Deforestation, Biomes and Ocean Currents, Plankton, Endangered Species - Earth Web Site Click for more detail Thermohaline Change Evidence is growing that the thermohaline current may be slowed or stopped by cold fresh water inputs to the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. This could occur if global warming is sufficient to cause large scale melting of arctic sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet. Such a change in the current may be gradual (over centuries) or very rapid (over a few years). Either would cause planet wide changes in climate. "Diatoms (a kind of phytoplankton) are estimated to "scrub" roughly as much CO2 from the atmosphere each year as all the world's rainforests. "Net primary productivity is the mass of plant material produced each year on land and in the oceans by photosynthesis using energy from sunlight. Biodiversity is the variety of life found at all levels of biological organization, ranging from individuals and populations to species, communities and ecosystems. Click for more detail What are they? Ecosystem and Biodiversity Text Sources: 1.
Top 10 things you can do about climate change - David Suzuki Foundation 10. Get politically active and vote Although it’s important to take action to reduce our individual carbon footprints, we also need to focus on changing the larger system. That’s where we have the greatest opportunity to reduce emissions. Vote for leaders at all levels of government who take climate change seriously. They should commit to setting science-based targets to reduce harmful carbon emissions, implementing clear plans to reach those targets, adapting to climate change and shifting to a clean-energy economy. Make sure you are registered to vote and then get informed for all elections — not just the ones that get the most media attention. If you’re too young to vote, encourage your class or school to join a Student Vote program, which provides students the opportunity to experience participation in the election process. Upcoming elections: Ontario – provincial – June 2, 2022 Quebec – provincial – October 3, 2022 The first step is registering to vote.