RA: The Science of Climate Change
The Science of Climate Change
This lecture will explore how CO2 traps heat and warms the earth’s surface and atmosphere. The life of CO2 in the atmosphere is regulated by its absorption by plants and the ocean. Excessive emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels are accumulating in the atmosphere because the oceans cannot possibly absorb it fast enough. The oceans absorb 25% of the CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. However, this is causing the oceans to become more acidic and slow down the absorption rate of CO2 from the atmosphere. The acidity of the oceans plays a big part in managing all emissions of CO2, including natural emissions. The increasing atmospheric concentration of CO2 is also causing the average global temperatures to increase at a greater rate than in any period in past history. We will explore the role of photosynthesis in converting CO2 absorbed by terrestrial plants and ocean plankton to oxygen. We will also discuss the difference between anthropogenic CO2 and natural CO2 and the role of the earth’s astronomical orientation in climate changes. Instructor: Ken Soltys
Thursday, December 7th
10am – 11:30am
$20 per person
Please call 239-425-3272 or 239-434-4737 to RSVP
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