Desonie D. Climate

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CLIMATE

Causes and Effects of Climate Change

OUR FRAGILE PLANET

atmosphere

Biosphere

climate

Geosphere

Humans and the Natural environment

Hydrosphere

Oceans

Polar Regions

CLIMATE

Causes and Effects of Climate Change

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DANA DESONIE, PH.D.

Climate

electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval

systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact:

Chelsea House

An imprint of Infobase Publishing

132 West 31st Street

New York NY 10001

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Desonie, Dana.

Climate : causes and effects of climate change / Dana Desonie.

p. cm. — (Our fragile planet)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978–0-8160–6214–0 (hardcover)

ISBN-10: 0–8160–6214–5 (hardcover)

1. Climatic changes. 2. Global warming. 3. Climatology I. Title. II. Series.

QC981.8.C5D437 2007

551.6—dc22

007027825

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Cover design by Ben Peterson

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Cover photograph: © AP Images

Contents

  Preface vii

  Acknowledgments ix

  Introduction x

Part oNe

Climate Change 1

 1. HowClimateWorks 3

 2. NaturalCausesofClimateChange 24

 3. HumanCausesofClimateChange 33

 4. HowScientistsLearnAboutPast,Present,

andFutureClimate 39

 5. ClimateChangeThroughEarthHistory 49

 6. ClimateNow 62

Part tWo

Visible effects of Climate Change 73

 7. EffectsofClimateChangeontheAtmosphere

andHydrosphere 75

 8. EffectsofClimateChangeontheBiosphere 91

Part three

a Warmer Future 107

 9. FutureConsequencesofGlobalWarming 109

 10. TheTippingPoint 121

Part Four

approaching the Climate Change Problem 135

 11. HumanResponse 137

 12. MitigationandAdaptation 146

  Conclusion 170

  Glossary 175

  FurtherReading 189

  Index 193

Preface

vii

he planet is a marvelous place: a place with blue skies, wild

storms, deep lakes, and rich and diverse ecosystems. The tides

ebb and flow, baby animals are born in the spring, and tropi-

cal rain forests harbor an astonishing array of life. The Earth sustains

living things and provides humans with the resources to maintain a

bountiful way of life: water, soil, and nutrients to grow food, and the

mineral and energy resources to build and fuel modern society, among

many other things.

The physical and biological sciences provide an understanding of

the whys and hows of natural phenomena and processes— why the sky

is blue and how metals form, for example— and insights into how the

many parts are interrelated. Climate is a good example. Among the

many influences on the Earth’s climate are the circulation patterns of

the atmosphere and the oceans, the abundance of plant life, the quan-

tity of various gases in the atmosphere, and even the size and shapes of

the continents. Clearly, to understand climate it is necessary to have a

basic understanding of several scientific fields and to be aware of how

these fields are interconnected.

As Earth scientists like to say, the only thing constant about our

planet is change. From the ball of dust, gas, and rocks that came

together 4.6 billion years ago to the lively and diverse globe that orbits

the Sun today, very little about the Earth has remained the same for

long. Yet, while change is fundamental, people have altered the envi-

ronment unlike any other species in Earth’s history. Everywhere there

are reminders of our presence. A look at the sky might show a sooty

cloud or a jet contrail. A look at the sea might reveal plastic refuse,

climate

viii

oil, or only a few fish swimming where once they had been countless.

The land has been deforested and strip-mined. Rivers and lakes have

been polluted. Changing conditions and habitats have caused some

plants and animals to expand their populations, while others have

become extinct. Even the climate—which for millennia was thought to

be beyond human influence—has been shifting due to alterations in

the makeup of atmospheric gases brought about by human activities.

The planet is changing fast and people are the primary cause.

ur Fragile Planet is a set of eight books that celebrate the

wonders of the world by highlighting the scientific processes behind

them. The books also look at the science underlying the tremendous

influence humans are having on the environment. The set is divided

into volumes based on the large domains on which humans have had

an impact: Atmosphere, Climate, Hydrosphere, Oceans, Geosphere,

Biosphere, and Polar Regions. The volume Humans and the Natural

Environment describes the impact of human activity on the planet and

explores ways in which we can live more sustainably.

A core belief expressed in each volume is that to mitigate the

impacts humans are having on the Earth, each of us must understand

the scientific processes that operate in the natural world. We must

understand how human activities disrupt those processes and use

that knowledge to predict ways that changes in one system will affect

seemingly unrelated systems. These books express the belief that sci-

ence is the solid ground from which we can reach an agreement on the

ehavioral changes that we must adopt—both as individuals and as a

society—to solve the problems caused by the impact of humans on our

fragile planet.

Acknowledgments

I

would like to thank, above all, the scientists who have dedicated

their lives to the study of the Earth, especially those engaged in

the important work of understanding how human activities are

impacting the planet. Many thanks to the staff of Facts On File and

Chelsea House for their guidance and editing expertise: Frank Darm-

stadt, Executive Editor; Brian Belval, Senior Editor; and Leigh Ann

Cobb, independent developmental editor. Dr. Tobi Zausner located

the color images that illustrate our planet’s incredible beauty and the

harsh reality of the effects human activities are having on it. Thanks

also to my agent, Jodie Rhodes, who got me involved in this project.

Family and friends were a great source of support and encourage-

ment as I wrote these books. Special thanks to the May ’97 Moms,

who provided the virtual water cooler that kept me sane during long

days of writing. Cathy Propper was always enthusiastic as I was writing

the books, and even more so when they were completed. My mother,

Irene Desonie, took great care of me as I wrote for much of June 2006.

Mostly importantly, my husband, Miles Orchinik, kept things moving

at home when I needed extra writing time and provided love, support,

and encouragement when I needed that, too. This book is dedicated

to our children, Reed and Maya, who were always loving, and usually

patient. I hope these books do a small bit to help people understand

how their actions impact the future for all children.