The study of climate is one topic that involves all disciplines of science. Climate study is able to show how the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and biosphere are all connected. Climate also involves astronomy and chemistry. To understand climate and climate change you need to understand the difference between weather and climate. Weather is the daily or hourly change in atmospheric conditions with an immediate impact. Climate is the long term change that not only includes weather but also seasonal changes. People from cold climates travel to other parts of the country in winter to go to a warmer climate. Climate has influenced all cultures. Cultures change due to climate and some cultures have disappeared due to climatic changes. What happened to the Anasazi culture? They suddenly vanished. At present scientists think the climate changed and the culture was lost. Where ever people live their lives are determined by the type of climate they experience. The climate of an area dictates the type of homes people live in, the type of agriculture and crops to be planted, the weather and the severity of the seasons. Climate also effects the biodiversity of both flora and fauna. Migration of birds, whales, and reproductive cycles of organisms are influenced by climate patterns. The issues of global warming and greenhouse effect are constantly news items. Our students need to understand the difference between good science and tabloid science. A lot of misleading information concerning climate is published
and broadcast. As teachers we need to use digital sites that have accurate science information. Living in Wisconsin we do not notice any climate change. Our seasonal weather patterns have not dramatically changed. Our culture has remained intact and not changed due to global warming issues. Living in Wainwright on the Chukchi Sea the Inupiat people are seeing firsthand the affects to global warming and climate change. The culture of the arctic slope depends on hunting, migratory patterns of the Bowhead whale and caribou, and the conditions of ice. The people of the village that I have interviewed all expressed concern about ice conditions, the warmer temperatures and hunting. (the photo above shows the lack of ice on the Chukchi Sea on Nov. 18)The thinning of the ice will force a change in whale hunting. If the whales are too far out due to lack of ice whaling techniques will have t
o change. As climate changes occur tundra plant life can change. If the plant life that is necessary for caribou changes, the caribou mi
gration patterns could change. For thousands of years the people of the arctic have survived. During that time the climate has changed. The people survived the ice age and are surviving in today's climate. Part of nature is change. Our climate will always change over time. If global warming continues to change the arctic the people will adapt as they have done in the past.Climate change is caused by geological changes, atmospheric changes and from organisms in the biosphere ranging from soil microbes to mankind. Plate tectonics in the past have caused landmasses to change locations. At one time Wisconsin was located on or near the equator. Not only was Wisconsin at the equator but 10000 yr ago an ice sheet one mile thick covered most of the state. Fossil fuels are found in the Arctic and Antarctica. Evidence of glaciers is found in the Saraha Desert. These are examples of totally different climates that we see today. As landmasses change latitude due to plate tectonics the prevailing climates also changed. The organisms that were alive at the time changed or perished. Today our biosphere is adding to climate change and global warming. Since the beginning of the industrial age we have been adding greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. The greenhouse gases include CO2, CH4 and water vapor. These gases block the infrared radiation from leaving earth's atmosphere, causing a continuous increase in the planets temperature. Soil microbes are adding these gases also through the decomposition of organic matter. In the arctic the soil microbes are part of a positive feedback loop. As the microbes digest the decomposing matter they release the greenhouse gases and increase nutrients in the soil. The nutrients in the soil allow new plants to grow which in turn hold more snow. The snow acts as an insulator keeping the soil warm and the microbes active into winter. Creating more greenhouse gases and nutrients. The gases add to the warming of the atmosphere and the nutrients allow more plants to grow. More heat, more active microbes, more gases released, more nutrients, more plants, and holding more insulating snow, the cycle continues. The main element for life and global warming is carbon. Ca
rbon is a unique element which can form bonds with itself. Carbon is the basis of life. Carbon forms starches, sugars, lipids, proteins, which create amino acids essential for life. Our DNA is carbon based. Carbon along with all other elements is created in the supernova explosions of stars. We could say that our greenhouse gases are born of the stars. New stars are created go through a stellar evolution. Some stars become red giants and white dwarfs like our sun. The more massive stars destroy themselves in supernova explosions. So much energy is released that the atomic particles undergo fusion creating our elements. These explosions release so much energy that some are seen from earth. Some famous supernova are the Crab Nebula(Chandra image left), Cassiopeia, and Tycho's Star. We see the remnants of these st
ellar explosions in various nebula and stellar nurseries.(Chandra image of the Eagle Nebula to the right) The image shows clouds of gases and the colored lights show new stars forming. There is lots of carbon in our universe. Our early earth had an atmosphere of CO2. The simple life forms along with volcanic eruptions released oxygen into the air creating a poisonous atmosphere to most life forms. With oxygen increasing and CO2 decreasing climate change was taking place. The earth was cooling and new life forms were evolving. As time went on a balance was reached between photosynthesis and respiration. Respiration uses O2 and releases CO2 by oxygen breathing organisms and plants absorbing CO2 and releasing O2. The carbon from decomposing organisms of both plants and animals over time were converted into the fossil fuels we use today. In the arctic there is an abundance of fossil fuels and as stated above were created and deposited during a different climate. Today these fossil fuels are adding CO2 to our atmosphere increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming. We all have a carbon footprint. Industry has given us a high standard of living. P
eople who live in the arctic need fuel for heat, electricity, snow machines and cars/trucks. Today scientists are looking at ways of reducing the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Our oceans a carbon sink can no longer keep absorbing the CO2 at the present rate. The organisms in the ocean can convert the CO2 into various carbonates. Our students need to understand the cycles of nature. They need to understand photosynthesis, respiration,the rock cycle and the carbon cycle. Not only understand the basic science but also to understand how each is related to each other. Our climate will change. Geology, biology,and chemistry all play a part. In the arctic the climatic changes are now here. The natives tell me how the ocean used to be frozen in September, how the winters are now warmer and how the ice does not extend far enough out to sea. As the climate changes in the arctic animal behavior will change. Polar bears, walrus and seals are moving further inland creating problems for some villages. Our earth is getting warmer and climate change will take place. Today as scientist study tree rings, ice cores, Devonian age coral reefs and man's impact we can learn about past climates and about our changing present day climate. The climate on earth will always change whether through geologic activity, deforestation, industry and through other effects of both man and nature.
rbon is a unique element which can form bonds with itself. Carbon is the basis of life. Carbon forms starches, sugars, lipids, proteins, which create amino acids essential for life. Our DNA is carbon based. Carbon along with all other elements is created in the supernova explosions of stars. We could say that our greenhouse gases are born of the stars. New stars are created go through a stellar evolution. Some stars become red giants and white dwarfs like our sun. The more massive stars destroy themselves in supernova explosions. So much energy is released that the atomic particles undergo fusion creating our elements. These explosions release so much energy that some are seen from earth. Some famous supernova are the Crab Nebula(Chandra image left), Cassiopeia, and Tycho's Star. We see the remnants of these st
ellar explosions in various nebula and stellar nurseries.(Chandra image of the Eagle Nebula to the right) The image shows clouds of gases and the colored lights show new stars forming. There is lots of carbon in our universe. Our early earth had an atmosphere of CO2. The simple life forms along with volcanic eruptions released oxygen into the air creating a poisonous atmosphere to most life forms. With oxygen increasing and CO2 decreasing climate change was taking place. The earth was cooling and new life forms were evolving. As time went on a balance was reached between photosynthesis and respiration. Respiration uses O2 and releases CO2 by oxygen breathing organisms and plants absorbing CO2 and releasing O2. The carbon from decomposing organisms of both plants and animals over time were converted into the fossil fuels we use today. In the arctic there is an abundance of fossil fuels and as stated above were created and deposited during a different climate. Today these fossil fuels are adding CO2 to our atmosphere increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming. We all have a carbon footprint. Industry has given us a high standard of living. P
eople who live in the arctic need fuel for heat, electricity, snow machines and cars/trucks. Today scientists are looking at ways of reducing the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Our oceans a carbon sink can no longer keep absorbing the CO2 at the present rate. The organisms in the ocean can convert the CO2 into various carbonates. Our students need to understand the cycles of nature. They need to understand photosynthesis, respiration,the rock cycle and the carbon cycle. Not only understand the basic science but also to understand how each is related to each other. Our climate will change. Geology, biology,and chemistry all play a part. In the arctic the climatic changes are now here. The natives tell me how the ocean used to be frozen in September, how the winters are now warmer and how the ice does not extend far enough out to sea. As the climate changes in the arctic animal behavior will change. Polar bears, walrus and seals are moving further inland creating problems for some villages. Our earth is getting warmer and climate change will take place. Today as scientist study tree rings, ice cores, Devonian age coral reefs and man's impact we can learn about past climates and about our changing present day climate. The climate on earth will always change whether through geologic activity, deforestation, industry and through other effects of both man and nature.Extend
photo credits:
Bill Wendlandt
NASA Chandra X-Ray Mission
1. National Geographic has produced and excellent program on whaling in Barrow,AK and how the thinning ice has changed the whale hunt. The program was on TV Sept 2009.
2. An excellent resource for stellar evolution is the Chandra Project. http:// chandraharvard.ecu/. At the site there are ready to use lessons for both elementary through high school. You can order an excellent stellar evolution poster and other materials at no cost.
Another post rich in content, thought and imagery. You've also done a wonderful job connecting cultures.
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