2. First, some climate change terminology: Greenhouse Effect: The insulating effect of atmospheric greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) that keeps the Earth's temperature about 15 º warmer than it would be otherwise. Greenhouse Gas (GHG): Any gas that contributes to the "greenhouse effect." Global Warming: The progressive rise of the Earth's average surface temperature caused by increased concentrations of GHGs in the atmosphere. Carbon Sinks: Processes that remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release. Both the terrestrial biosphere and oceans can act as carbon sinks. Positive feedback loop: natural processes that can amplify the magnitude of the warming eg, as temperatures rise, ice melts, more dark sea water is exposed, absorbing more heat, causing more ice to melt…
21. A pteropod shell exposed to carbonate ion-depleted seawater with acid levels set to the pH of ocean water expected in 2100. The shell dissolved after 45 days. Rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere, directly correspond to increasing acidity of seawater.
30. Effects summarized: Water – too much…too little Animals – in trouble Weather – hotter & stormier Disease – diseaseier Food – less Fire – more $$$ - less
33. Tips for Cutting Automobile Emissions Take it easy: Aggressive driving wastes fuel. Driving like a moron can burn an extra 125 gallons of gas per year! Don't idle: Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more gas than restarting your car. A/C: Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12% in stop-and-go traffic, so consider cracking the windows. Keep up the pressure: Low tire pressure wastes over two million gallons of gasoline in the U. S.— every day! Skipthe drive thru! – instead of letting your car run as you inch toward the pick-up window…turn it off, get out, and pick it up yourself
34. A gas powered lawn mower running for 1 hour emits as much pollution as driving 1000 km in a 1992 model automobile
35. Zero CO2 Zero V.O.C.s (volatile organic compounds…a.k.a. pollution)
36. Half a million trees would be spared if every U.S. household replaced a 500-sheet roll of tree fibre toilet paper with one made from recycled paper…so quit flushing trees down the toilet!
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39. fun fact! Seventy percent of the levelled rain forest in the Amazon is used to raise animals for meat consumption….so eat less meat!
40. Solar power! Hours for Earth to receive the same energy from the sun as humans consume in a year: 1