Lesson 1Greenhouse Gases

What are greenhouse gases?

• Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation from the sun and trap heat in the atmosphere– Carbon Dioxide (CO2)– Methane (CH4)– Water vapor (H2O)– Nitrous Oxide (N2O)– Ozone (O3)– Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)

• Scientists are concerned with an increase in greenhouse gases in the environment

Where do these greenhouse gases come from?

• Natural Causes– Volcanic eruptions– Forest fires

• Human Activity– Burning of Fossil Fuels

• Industry• Transportation• Electricity Production

– Deforestation– Large Scale Agriculture

Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector in 2011

So What’s the Problem?

Potential Risks?

Lesson 6:Will the Sun stop shining?

Do Now: If we ran out of oil, coal and gas, how will we power our society?-Make a list of possible resources

RENEWABLE RESOURCES NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES

- What are some renewable and nonrenewable resources?- Write a Pro/Con for each.

Waste Management• Innovative usage of waste as a energy resource• WTE: (Waste to Energy) Combustion of municipal trash to

generate electricity• Local example: Covanta (L.I.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwy0M5PSsFg (Covanta)• Methane gas- CH4 can be harnessed from landfills for energy

(EPA)

Lesson 7: Is the Earth warming or cooling?

Do Now: What is some extreme weather you have experienced?

Past Climate from Ice Cores

(Sigman and Boyle 2000)

- Earth goes through natural cycles glacial & interglacial periods

- We are currently in the Holocene epoch, an interglacial period.

- CO2 levels are lower during glacial periods than during interglacial periods

Solar Insolation

Milankovitch cycles- interplay of Earth’s tilt (23.5°), eccentricity and precession (spin) affects the long term climate variations Perihelion- Earth is closer to the Sun (Winter in N. Hemisphere) Aphelion- Earth is further away from the Sun (Summer in N. Hemisphere)Albedo- the reflectivity of Earth’s surfaces

Atmospheric CO2 and solar insolation

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/abrupt/images/data2-dome-fuji-lg.gif

What correlations does this graph present?

Which surface has higher albedo?

Will asphalt or a lawn have higher albedo?

Lesson 8: Mitigation Projects and RegulationsDo Now: •The Green Machinehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMmkkmZojq8

Heat island effect- Urban areas with more industrial activity tend to have more stagnant warm air acting as a lid over the area compared to rural areasGreen-roofs- One method of reducing heat is by introducing plants and other horticulture in urban areas. -Plants minimize the carbon dioxide in the air by using it for photosynthesis-Green-roofs vs. Traditional roofs- heat adsorption-Green-roofs are efficient rain collection systems, and the collected rain water can have multiple uses (watering plants, redirected to be used to flush toilets) Ex. Condé Nast building in NYC certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building

Highline Park (NYC)•Urban planning- transformation of an abandoned space and utilizing it as a green space

•Use of xeriscaping- a form of gardening that minimizes the need for irrigation

•Should all homeowners be required to install cool roofs to decrease greenhouse gases?

Urban Green Space

Brooklyn Grange• Rooftop garden/farm

• Similar characteristics as green roofs

• Economical in generating moneyfrom produce that is cultivated

• Will plants cultivated in urban areas be safe for consumption?

International Mitigation Projects

Kyoto Protocol- (1997-2012) an international agreement through the United Nations committed to reducing emissions responsible for climate change signed by different countries

Cap-and-trade- an environmental policy in which there are legislated limits on emissions but credits may be traded or purchased.

Cap-n-trade?

Should more developed be allowed to purchase carbon emission credits from less developed countries that do not use up their emission allowance?

• If green roofs are not a viable option for you, what are some other ideas for alleviating human-caused greenhouse effect?

• If you see green roofs as an option, how might you alter the system in order to improve its function?

Vancouver Public Library (Nat Geo 2009)