I.Central Case: Rising Temperatures and Seas May Take the Maldives Under

Global Climate Change

I.Central Case: Rising Temperatures and Seas May Take the Maldives Under

A.A nation of low-lying islands, or atolls, in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is known for its spectacular tropical setting, colorful coral reefs, and sun-drenched beaches.

B.Nearly 80% of the Maldives’ land:

C.The world’s oceans rose:

D.The island’s government:

E.The tsunami in December of 2004:

F.The tsunami was caused by an earthquake, but the rising sea level:

II. Earth’s Hospitable Climate

1.Global climate change:

A.The sun and the atmosphere keep Earth warm.

B.“Greenhouse gases” warm the lower atmosphere.

1.As Earth’s surface absorbs solar radiation:

2.Greenhouse gases:

3.Greenhouse effect:

C.Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas.

D.Other greenhouse gases add to warming.

1.Other greenhouse gases are increasing in the atmosphere.

a.We release methane:

b.Nitrous oxide:

c.Ozone concentrations:

d.Water vapor:

E.Aerosols and other elements may exert a cooling effect on the lower atmosphere.

F.The atmosphere is not the only factor that influences climate.

1.Milankovitch cycles:

2.Oceanic circulation also shapes climate.

a.El Niño:

b.In La Niña events:

c.Many scientists:

d.North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW):

III. Methods of Studying Climate Change

A.Proxy indicators tell us about the past.

1.Ice caps and glaciers:

2.Sediment beds:

3.Other proxy indicators include:

B.Direct atmospheric sampling tells us about the present.

1.Charles Keeling of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography:

2.Keeling’s data:

C.Coupled general circulation models help us understand climate change.

1.Coupled general circulation models (CGCMs):

2.Tests suggest that:

IV. Climate Change Estimates and Predictions

1.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):

A.The IPCC report summarizes evidence of recent changes in global climate.

1.Besides the data on increases in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, the 2001 IPCC report presented a number of findings on:

B.Sea-level rise and other changes interact in complex ways.

1.Warming temperatures are causing:

2.Higher sea levels lead to:

3.The record number of hurricanes:

C.The IPCC and other groups project future impacts of climate change.

1.In 2000, the U.S. Global Change Research Program issued a report:

2.Climate change will affect agriculture and forestry.

a.Some croplands:

b.U.S.forests:

3.Freshwater and marine systems.

a.Erosion and flooding:

b.Less precipitation:

4.Human health.

b.Alternatively:

V. Debate over Climate Change

1.Within the scientific community:

2.In the wider culture:

3.A third area of debate:

A.Scientists agree that climate change is occurring but disagree on many details.

1.In the summer of 2005:

B.Some challenge the scientific consensus.

1.The media:

C.How should we respond to climate change?

1.There is much debate:

VI. Strategies for Reducing Emissions

A.Electricity generation is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gases.

1.Conservation and efficiency:

2.Renewable sources of electricity:

B.Transportation is the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gases.

1.One-third:

2.The typical automobile:

3.Automotive technology:

4.Driving less and using public transportation:

C.Some international treaties address climate change.

1.In 1992:

a.In the U.S., greenhouse emissions increased by over ______in the 10 years following the Rio conference.

b.Germany and the United Kingdom both cut their greenhouse gas emissions by ______during the same period.

c.Kyoto Protocol.

D.The United States has resisted the Kyoto Protocol.

1.The Kyoto Protocol was to take effect when nations responsible for 55% :

2.The United States:

3.Proponents of the Kyoto Protocol point out:

VII. Conclusion