Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
01:16What is Climate?
Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.
01:27Microbes and Climate Change
Microorganisms are pivotal agents in Earth's biogeochemical cycles, significantly influencing climate dynamics through their metabolic activities. These microbes modulate the levels of key greenhouse gases by both contributing to and helping mitigate climate change.Microbial Contributions to Greenhouse Gas EmissionsRising global temperatures accelerate microbial metabolism, which, in turn, speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) through...
01:14The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
00:59Uncertainty: Overview
In analytical chemistry, we often perform repetitive measurements to detect and minimize inaccuracies caused by both determinate and indeterminate errors. Despite the cares we take, the presence of random errors means that repeated measurements almost never have exactly the same magnitude. The collective difference between these measurements - observed values - and the estimated or expected value is called uncertainty. Uncertainty is conventionally written after the estimated or expected value.
02:44Heating and Cooling Curves
When a substance—isolated from its environment—is subjected to heat changes, corresponding changes in temperature and phase of the substance is observed; this is graphically represented by heating and cooling curves.
For instance, the addition of heat raises the temperature of a solid; the amount of heat absorbed depends on the heat capacity of the solid (q = mcsolidΔT). According to thermochemistry, the relation between the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance, q, and its...
For instance, the addition of heat raises the temperature of a solid; the amount of heat absorbed depends on the heat capacity of the solid (q = mcsolidΔT). According to thermochemistry, the relation between the amount of heat absorbed or released by a substance, q, and its...
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PLANETARY SCIENCE: Beating Up on a Young Earth, and Possibly Life.
Science (New York, N.Y.)·2007
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Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions
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GREENHOUSE WARMING: Dueling Models: Future U.S. Climate Uncertain.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 31, 2007
Summary
A U.S. national assessment confirms the United States will warm, impacting water resources and seasonal foliage. However, current regional climate science limits detailed predictions for policymakers.
Area of Science:
- Climate Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- National climate assessments utilize model predictions to forecast future climate changes.
- Understanding regional impacts is crucial for policy development and adaptation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the projected warming trends across the United States.
- To identify the limitations of current regional climate science in providing detailed predictions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of U.S. national climate model predictions.
- Evaluation of the granularity of regional climate change impacts.
Main Results:
- The United States is projected to experience significant warming.
- Detailed, localized climate change impacts remain uncertain due to the current state of regional climate science.
Conclusions:
- While national warming trends are evident, precise regional projections are not yet feasible.
- Further advancements in regional climate science are necessary to inform detailed policy decisions.