uk.businessinsider Earth Revealed Due to licensing agreements, online viewing of the videos for this resource is restricted to network connections in the United States and Canada. 1. Down to Earth Surface conditions of the planets Venus and Mars are compared with those of Earth, and scenes of Earth's living landscapes lead into a discussion of how unique Earth truly is. Major topics addressed in the series, including plate tectonics, natural resources, seismology, and erosion, are introduced in this program. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. businessinsider The world is getting warmer and that's already causing disasters that will devastate lives and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Those problems are only getting worse, as shown by recent reports from the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) and the White House, among others. The greenhouse gas emissions that drive warming "now substantially exceed the highest concentrations recorded in ice cores during the past 800,000 years," the IPCC said. Last month, world leaders convened at the UN Climate Summit 2014 to discuss plans to reduce carbon emissions — though there were some notable absences. We've gathered some of those terrible consequences of climate change below. Unless otherwise noted, each effect assumes a temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) by 2100, a number the IPCC has suggested we are "more likely than not" to exceed, and a sea level rise of 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) by 2100, about the average of all the IPCC's most recent climate scenarios.
Greenhouse effect A representation of the exchanges of energy between the source (the Sun), the Earth's surface, the Earth's atmosphere, and the ultimate sink outer space. The ability of the atmosphere to capture and recycle energy emitted by the Earth surface is the defining characteristic of the greenhouse effect. Another diagram of the greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions. Solar radiation at the frequencies of visible light largely passes through the atmosphere to warm the planetary surface, which then emits this energy at the lower frequencies of infrared thermal radiation. If an ideal thermally conductive blackbody were the same distance from the Sun as the Earth is, it would have a temperature of about 5.3 °C. Earth’s natural greenhouse effect makes life as we know it possible. History Mechanism Greenhouse gases Role in climate change Real greenhouses
Sea level rise, storm risk, denial, and the future of coastal cities The world’s present coastal land use is unsustainable in the face of sea level rise and storm surges induced by climate change. This is true of urban, suburban, and—to some degree—recreational use of coastal land, but it is especially true of the urban infrastructure that serves our economic activities and livelihoods. Hurricane Sandy was only one example of what the future holds; such events will occur with greater frequency and severity as the level of the ocean rises as much as 6 feet by the end of this century. Therefore, architects, engineers, designers, urban planners, developers, infrastructure operators, and decision makers in the private and public sectors must start planning now the best ways to minimize the increased flood hazards that threaten the built environment.
The Greenhouse Effect | A Student's Guide to Global Climate Change If it were not for greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere, the Earth would be a very cold place. Greenhouse gases keep the Earth warm through a process called the greenhouse effect. Play the video to learn more » (<a href="../.. The Earth gets energy from the sun in the form of sunlight. Learn more about radiation. (<a href="greenhouse-effect-popup1-alt.html">Alternative version</a>) Learn where the term “greenhouse effect” comes from. (<a href="greenhouse-effect-popup2-alt.html">Alternative version</a>) Greenhouse gases keep the Earth warm through a process called the greenhouse effect. What Is Radiation? You might hear the word radiation and think that it's a bad thing. These types of radiation are all part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which means they involve energy traveling in the form of a wave. What's in a Name? A greenhouse is a building made of glass that allows sunlight to enter but traps heat inside, so the building stays warm even when it's cold outside. Top of page
The Science of Climate Change | ClimatePath At ClimatePath, we are concerned about misinformation and doubts regarding the threat and causes of climate change. The following is a brief summary of the science, based primarily on "Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)". Please feel free to pass this summary on. Conclusions about climate change are based on science. "The Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change is the leading body for the assessment of climate change, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences. Fossil fuel and agriculture have drastically increased greenhouse gasses (GHG). The radiant forces of increased GHG is warming the planet. Don't some scientists disagree?
Southern California no place for nuclear waste dump In a bold and ominous initiative, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently proposed storing large amounts of highly radioactive nuclear waste on site at nuclear power plants for 60 years after a plant closes and perhaps centuries after that. San Onofre began producing nuclear waste back in 1968, and if the NRC has its way it will remain there until 2074 or possibly centuries longer. The NRC calls this time frame “short-term storage.” The plan assumes that someday there will be a permanent national repository. The NRC plan is called the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). The short history of the GEIS plan is quite revealing. The long history of nuclear power is even more troubling. The second major problem was the deadly radioactive waste.
Climate change Current rise in Earth's average temperature and its effects Climate change has an increasing impact on the environment. Deserts are expanding, while heat waves and wildfires are becoming more common.[6] Amplified warming in the Arctic has contributed to thawing permafrost, retreat of glaciers and sea ice decline.[7] Higher temperatures are also causing more intense storms, droughts, and other weather extremes.[8] Rapid environmental change in mountains, coral reefs, and the Arctic is forcing many species to relocate or become extinct.[9] Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some effects will continue for centuries. Climate change threatens people with increased flooding, extreme heat, increased food and water scarcity, more disease, and economic loss. Strategies to phase out fossil fuels involve conserving energy, generating electricity cleanly, and using electricity to power transportation, heat buildings, and operate industrial facilities. Terminology Modelling
lifornia State Water Project- Have you ever wondered where the water you drink and use comes from? To reach many of us, water must travel long distances through complex delivery systems such as the California State Water Project. The SWP is the nation's largest state-built water and power development and conveyance system. Planned, designed, constructed and now operated and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources, this unique facility provides water supplies for 25 million Californians and 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland. Scope The California State Water Project is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, powerplants and pumping plants. The Project makes deliveries to two-thirds of California's population. The Project is also operated to improve water quality in the Delta, control Feather River flood waters, provide recreation, and enhance fish and wildlife. Size Financing Annual Costs Annual payments by SWP contractors total about $600 million per year (1996).
Why is climate important? Scenes of flooding and storms show us just how much weather and climate can affect our lives. Understanding and predicting what the coming winter might bring, or predicting how climate will change over the next century is of vital importance - both for our economy and for society. Climate can be thought of as the average or typical weather conditions we experience. In NCAS-Climate, scientists are investigating how natural and human factors are affecting climate and what this means for the future. The big research questions that we are addressing: How does the climate system work? NCAS-Climate scientists carry out research to understand the fundamentals of how the climate system works. How and why does climate vary naturally? Climate varies naturally on a whole range of timescales and these variations can have profound impacts on weather conditions around the world, such as storms and heavy rainfall. How are people affecting climate? How will changes in climate affect our lives?