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GEO 002: LECTURE 1
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Seasonality
in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere is driven by the cycle of
photosynthesis
and
respiration.
The
natural
range
of CO2 in the atmosphere over the last several hundreds of thousands of years was approximately
180-280
ppm.
Glacial ice
forms when
snow
accumulates over many years and
compacts
under its own
weight.
Arctic sea ice
forms when sea water
freezes
and
expands
, and it does not affect sea level the same way as
glaciers.
Important human sources of CO2 include
fossil fuel combustion
,
cement production
, and
deforestation
(land use changes)
To find CO2 levels similar to those observed today, one must go back to
Earth history.
The world was very different at times when
CO2 levels
were
similar
to those observed today.
CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere today are approximately
410
ppm.
Dramatic anthropogenic increases
in
atmospheric CO2
began around
1950.
Existing evidence for the consequences of global warming includes the relationship between
global warming
and
sea level
and
pH
in the
oceans.
Recent successes in battling anthropogenic environmental problems include the
ozone
,
water
quality,
smog
/
air
quality, and
plastics.
The
ozone hole
is a problem caused by human activities, it is bad for the
environment
, and it is being
fixed.
CO2 and temperature scenario predictions depend on
future human actions.
Humans
are trying to fix
climate change
problems.