Unit 6 Lecture 33

Question 1

What are some arguments from climate change skeptics?

Answer 1

1. Still cold in water
2. Ice sheets are increasing
3. Climate always fluctuates
4. Current climate changes due to natural variation in sun
5. Scientists in it for the money

Question 2

By what summer do we think the arctic will be melted by?

Answer 2

2040

Question 3

When was the last glacial maximum

Answer 3

20,000 years ago

Question 4

Ice covered __ % of the earth compared to the __% today

Answer 4

8%
3%

Question 5

When was the Eemian (interglacial period) and when did humans show up

Answer 5

• Eemian happened around 150,000 years ago
• Homo sapiens were present 300,000 years ago

Question 6

Historically, volcano activity and solar irradiation cause increase/decrease in temperature

Answer 6

Decrease

Question 7

Which statement about climate change is TRUE:
A) Climate has been cycling over long periods of time
B) Climate change is linked to atmospheric concentration of carbon
C) 9 out of 10 warmest years on record (since 1911) have happened since year 2000
D) B and C
E) All of the above

Answer 7

E

Question 8

What are some of the predicted consequences over the next century for the US if we do nothing for economy and food production?

Answer 8

• 10% loss of GDP
• loss of labor
• midwest farms –> 25% reduction in corn
• Oceans - $230 million loss in shellfish industry
• .6% to 1.35% lower milk production
• increased heat stress for livestock

Question 9

What are some of the predicted consequences over the next century for the US if we do nothing for human health?

Answer 9

• midwest: additional 2000 premature deaths
• West nile cases double by 2050
• More cases of disease spread by mosquito and ticks
• Asthma and allergies will be worse
• Increased food borne

Question 10

What are some of the predicted consequences over the next century for the US if we do nothing for weather events?

Answer 10

• Wildfire burn up to 6x more area annually
• Access to dependable safe water threatened
• Energy systems: more blackouts and power failures
• Depend on access to water for cooling
• Sea levels rise

Question 11

How could an ice age happen?

Answer 11

If we dump enough fresh water (like from land ice) into the ocean, it could shut down the hot and warm ocean currents

If the currents get shut down, climate could go backwards and could go into an ice age