Earth's Energy Imbalance
The earth is absorbing more energy from the sun than it's
giving up due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
The excess energy that the planet is absorbing is enormous.
The total energy imbalance now is 0.58 ± 0.15 W/m^2.
From the Laws of Thermodynamics earth must warm until it
reaches a new equilibrium (Ein = Eout) at higher temperature.
Given current concentrations of greenhouse gasses, the earth
will continue to warm for centuries.
Discovery of Global Warming - February 2016 version
https://www.aip.org/history/climate/index.htm#contents
The Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect
http://www.aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm
In the early 1960s, C.D. Keeling measured the level of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: it was rising fast.
Researchers began to take an interest, struggling to
understand how the level of carbon dioxide had changed in
the past, and how the level was influenced by chemical and
biological forces. They found that the gas plays a crucial
role in climate change, so that the rising level could
gravely affect our future.
One of the first and most-recognized indicators of society's
impact on climate is the "Keeling Curve," a measurement of
CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere began by Charles David
Keeling, a geochemist at Scripps Institution of
Oceanography, UC San Diego. Keeling set up ultraprecise
measurement devices atop Hawaii's Mauna Loa and in March
1958 made a reading of 311 parts of carbon dioxide per
million of air. That was already elevated from an average
concentration of 280 ppm before the onset of the Industrial
Revolution.
Watch and outline the major point of Hansen's TED Talk
James Hansen: Why I must speak out about climate change (17+ min)
http://www.ted.com/talks/james_hansen_why_i_must_speak_out_about_climate_change.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWInyaMWBY8
The Greenhouse Gas Effect (sources and amplification)
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Climate/Week1.html
Ocean Acidification, Ocean Temperature
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Climate/Week2.html
Effects of Warming (rate of change)
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Climate/Week3.html
Steps to Reduce/Reverse Climate Change
http://edu-observatory.org/olli/Climate/Week4.html
Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), Volume I
https://science2017.globalchange.gov
Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4), Volume II
https://nca2018.globalchange.gov
IPCC
http://www.ipcc.ch
sam.wormley@gmail.com