www.acs.org/climatescience 1American Chemical Society

The

Industrial Revolutionand

Climate Science

Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

www.acs.org/climatescience 2American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement?

1830: George Stephenson'slocomotive, The Rocket

"Watt and Stephenson whispered in the ear of mankind their secret, that a half ounce of coal will draw two tons a mile …"

The Conduct of Life, "Wealth"Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1860

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Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

www.acs.org/climatescience

The Industrial Revolution: A future of limitless human achievement?

Achievements unimagined byEmerson require unimaginable amounts of energy.

What else was unimagined?

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

3American Chemical Society

Source: Wikipedia

Source: Matt Lemmon

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

4American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWhy is the climate changing?

Source: Skeptical Science

Source: Skeptical Science

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

5American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWinters are getting milder

Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

6American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesLand and sea ice are disappearing

Source: NOAA

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 1940

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier Nat'l Park, 2006

Source: NOAA

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

7American Chemical Society

Earth’s climate controlsEnergy balance: solar energy in = Earth radiant energy out

Source: American Chemical Society

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

8American Chemical Society

Earth’s climate controlsEnergy balance: effect of atmospheric gases

Source: IPCC

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

9American Chemical Society

Earth’s climate controls have changedAtmospheric carbon dioxide–past and present

Source: Wikipedia

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

10American Chemical Society

Cause of Earth’s climate changesPresent dependence on fossil fuel burning

Source: IPCC

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

11American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: unintended consequencesWhy is the climate changing?

Source: Skeptical Science

Source: Skeptical Science

www.acs.org/climatescience

Industrial Revolution and Climate Science

12American Chemical Society

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that enormously benefits man.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with an enormous energy price tag mostly paid for in burning fossil fuel.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that comes with the unintended consequence that carbon emissions are changing the Earth's climate in disturbing ways.

The Industrial Revolution: A boon that requires the Watts and Stephensons of the 21st century to develop ways to use energy more efficiently, to produce alternative non-carbon-emitting sources, and to reduce the impact of carbon-emitting sources.

Source: IPCC