MET 112 Weather and Climate: Lecture 17

1
MET 112 Weather and Climate Lecture 17

• Energy and Emissions
• Dr. Eugene Cordero

• Outline
• CO2 emissions
• Energy use

2
Energy and Climate Change
Thus, energy use, and the continuing demand
for energy are central to the challenges of
climate change.
3
Energy and Climate Change
Obviously, one of the main issues related to
climate change is the burning of fossil
fuels Thus, energy use, and the continuing
demand for energy are central to the challenges
of climate change.
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Tons of CO2 emitted per person
7
US CO2 Emissions

• Total emissions 7,000 million metric tons
• 24 metric tons per person
• Industry
• Transportation
• Residences
• Commercial
• 2,300 million metric tons due to personal use
  (33)

8
US CO2 Emissions

• Total emissions 5,788.5 million metric tons
• 22 metric tons per person
• Industry 35
• Transportation 33
• Residences 18
• Commercial 14
• 1,600 million metric tons due to personal use
  (33)

9
Average US Personal Energy Use (Per Person)

• Automobile fuel 38 gallons per month Natural
  Gas 15 therms per month
• Electricity 190 Kilowatt-hours per month
• Airline Miles flown  147 miles per monthTotal
  13,632 lbs of CO2 emitted per year
• Underestimate (consumption patterns)
• Kyoto allowance (for US)
• To stabilize climate (550ppm)

10
Average US Personal Energy Use (Per Person)

• Automobile fuel 38 gallons per month Natural
  Gas 15 therms per month
• Electricity 190 Kilowatt-hours per month
• Airline Miles flown  147 miles per monthTotal
  13,632 lbs of CO2 emitted per year
• 6.2 metric tons of CO2
• Underestimate (due to consumption patterns)
• Latest estimate 17,600 lbs of CO2
• Kyoto allowance (for US)
• 11,000 pounds (5 metric tons) per person
• To stabilize climate (550ppm)
• 4,700 pounds (2.1 metric tons)

11
US CO2 Emissions (2)

• Based on personal use, the average American is
  responsible for approximately
• Another way of measuring emissions is based on
  Carbon equilivant.
• So, if the average American emits 17,000 lbs of
  CO2 for personal use,

12
US CO2 Emissions (2)

• Based on personal use, the average American is
  responsible for approximately
• 17,000 lbs of CO2 emitted each year.
• Another way of measuring emissions is based on
  Carbon equivalent.
• The conversion between CO2 and C (carbon
  equilivant) is to multiply CO2 by 12/44.
• So, if the average American emits 17,000 lbs of
  CO2 for personal use,
• that is (17,000 12/44) 4,636 lbs of Carbon
  equivalent.

13
US CO2 Emissions (3)

• then the total per capita (person) emissions is
  about 46363 14,000 pounds of Carbon equivalent
• Or 6.3 MTCE (metric tons of carbon equivalent)
• Note 1 metric ton 2200 lbs
• Conversion from CO2 to Carbon is because
• Atomic weight of Carbon 12
• Atomic weight of Oxygen16
• CO2 12(16)2 44
• C 12

14
US CO2 Emissions (3)

• If personal use contributes approximately 1/3 of
  the total US emissions,
• then the total per capita (person) emissions is
  about 46363 14,000 pounds of Carbon
  equivalent.
• Or 6.3 MTCE (metric tons of carbon equivalent)
• Note 1 metric ton 2200 lbs
• Conversion from CO2 to Carbon is because
• Atomic weight of Carbon 12
• Atomic weight of Oxygen16
• CO2 12(16)2 44
• C 12

15
(No Transcript)
16
(No Transcript)
17
Questions

• What percentage of electricity generation comes
  from the burning of natural gas?
• What percentage of transportation energy comes
  from natural gas burning?
• What percentage of transportation energy use
  comes from coal?
• If you buy an electric car, what is the mostly
  likely source of energy?
• Where does most residential energy come from?

18
US CO2 Emissions
http//www.nationmaster.com/graph-T/env_co2_emi
19
(No Transcript)
20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22
The US magically moves down the list
Source US EIA
23
(No Transcript)
24
Science of Fiction?

• The movie has the following scientific elements
• Massive ice shelf breaking off of Antarctica
• Shut down of the North Atlantic Circulation
• Rapid Climate Change triggers (Tornados in LA,
  Massive storm surge in New York)
• Climate change triggers ice age and instant
  freezing

25
Ice Melting
Warmer global temperatures are responsible for
rapid melting of higher latitudes, as recently
seen. http//www.dayaftertomorrowfacts.org/video
/LarsenB.mov
26
Science of Fiction?

• Massive ice shelf breaking off of Antarctica
• Shut down of the North Atlantic Circulation
• Rapid Climate Change triggers (Tornados in LA,
  Massive storm surge in New York)
• Climate change triggers ice age and instant
  freezing

27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
Shut down of North Atlantic Circulation

• Possible Some model predictions suggest this
  may happen
• Melting of Arctic ice changes ocean salinity
• Salinity change alters ocean circulation
• North Atlantic circulation is weakened

30
Science of Fiction?

• Massive ice shelf breaking off of Antarctica
• Shut down of the North Atlantic Circulation
• Rapid Climate Change triggers (Tornados in LA,
  Massive storm surge in New York)
• Climate change triggers ice age and instant
  freezing

31
Rapid Climate Change
May have happened in the past But not as fast
as the movie Movie week to 10 days Geologic
record 10-20 years Predictions of a warmer
world include more intense weather...but not that
wild!
32
Science of Fiction?

• Massive ice shelf breaking off of Antarctica
• Shut down of the North Atlantic Circulation
• Rapid Climate Change triggers (Tornados in LA,
  Massive storm surge in New York)
• Climate change triggers ice age and instant
  freezing

33
Shut down of North Atlantic Circulation
If the North Atlantic circulation did weaken or
shut down... Northern Europe would experience
cooler weather...but only slightly cooler. Rest
of the world would still experience warming
(global warming) There is no evidence to that
such an event could trigger an ice age.
34
Instant freezing...
Instant freezing is a theory of Hollywood. When
air sinks (downward motion), it warms (adiabatic
warming) as it encounters high pressures.
Thus, even though the air in the upper
troposphere is quite cool, when the air is
quickly brought down to the surface, it warms on
the way down.
35
Activity 11 Question
In the movie the day after tomorrow, what
factors contribute to the triggering of the ice
age and how realistic is this?