Coursera final project notes - Turn Down the Heat

1. Turn Down the Heat - Annotated Notes – Robert D. Cormia February 18, 2014
This final project for Coursera's 'Turn down the heat' summarizes the key learning outcomes for the class:
1. We are already experiencing significant impacts from ~0.6 to 0.8 deg Celsius warming, with at least
another 0.6 to 0.8 deg in the pipeline
2. We are headed straight at 450 ppm CO2 (by 2035), potentially a 'tipping point' for climate change and
widespread ecosystem damage
3. Warming of 2 degrees C may not be advisable (Hansen 2013) and further warming from amplifying
feedbacks could take us to 3 deg C and even warmer
Three looming factors include deglaciation of ice sheets, ocean acidification, and methane hydrate
release, in addition to heat storms. Ocean acidification itself becomes an ever growing threat, within 20
years the ocean pH of 8 will lead to loss of 90% of all coral, and potentially the productivity of plankton,
the base of the food chain.
The course provided a wonderful foundation for understanding the integrated impacts of climate change,
and why we MUST do everything possible to stay under 450 ppm CO2 and 2 deg of warming
James Hansen Columbia University and formerly NASA GISS, published in PLoS: Assessing dangerous
climate change (Nov 2013) making the following/similar points:
1. We are experiencing significant climate impacts from droughts, heat storms, floods, fires, pest
migration at barely 1 deg Celsius warming
2. While scientists in the past have argued that 2 deg C is the edge of what might be considered safe (or
barely sane) climate interference, recent data argues against that. 2 deg might not only be too much, we
may not be able to stop warming there, and as amplifying feedbacks (albedo and methane hydrates)
could take us to 3 deg C even without more fossil fuel combustion
3. The rate of warming may have already triggered irreversible deglaciation of Greenland ice sheets, the
Arctic Ocean may be 'open sea' by 2015, triggering instability in methane hydrates on the sea floor
The upshot of the Hansen article is that staying under 2 deg C would be better than reaching that level,
and in order to do so, we should try to limit fossil fuel combustion to no more than 1,000 GT. From my
calculations, and observing that we are at 400 ppm CO2 at 375Gton combustion, and adding 2+ ppm CO2
annually (at ~ 10GT carbon combustion), we don't have that much room, and need to stop at 625 to
700GT, and we will crash through 450 ppm by 2030 to 2035 at today’s rate of growth. After reading
Hansen’s article, I no longer believe that we can avert disastrous climate impacts (storms, droughts,
floods) and could be headed to catastrophic impacts (based in research published by the International
Arctic Research Center, that has observed a doubling in arctic methane release from ocean (bed)
methane hydrates (17 GT and 6 ppb atmospheric CH4). In my estimation, opening of sea ice in the arctic
will destabilize sea floor permafrost, leading to increasing rates of methane release, leading to releases of
500 TG annually by 2030. An eventual release of 50GT methane (over decades) with a GWP (Global
Warming Potential) would be equivalent to 1000GT carbon, the ENTIRE carbon budget that Hansen
states we MUST NOT burn through.
Slide 3 – temperature anomaly chart
A key figure in Hansen’s article is a chart showing temperature anomaly and cumulative anthropogenic
carbon emissions (GtC). The chart shows we have marched halfway up a path to 2 degrees Celsius.
Having burned ~ 375 GtC, another 375 GtC might be burned in as little as 25 to 30 years.
Slide 4 – Era of consequences
At just 0.8 deg C warming, we are already experiencing record heat storms, droughts, fires, superstorms,
pest migration, crop and soil stress, heat related disease and death, and property and insurance loss.

2. Slide 5 – Sochi summer Olympics in winter
As we participated in the Coursera MOOC, we also watched the Olympics in Sochi Russia, where
sportscasters walked around in spring like conditions, people swam in the Black Sea, and athletes
struggled with thawing (corn) snow in skiing and snowboarding events. How much longer will we be able
to have winter Olympics?
Slide 6 - A sunflower wilts in the hot Midwest sun
Slide 7 - A farmer in the Midwest stands at the edge of a dry irrigation pond
Slide 8 – Temperature anomaly from 1950 to 2013 showing El Nino, La Nina, and other factors
The mean temperature of earth has risen 0.5 deg C in just 35 years, and could rise another 0.5 deg C in
20 years. Even if carbon emissions stopped, warming would increase for 50 to 75 years or more, the time
it takes for heat to reach and warm the deeper depths of the ocean.
Slide 9 – Record Heat and Droughts
Record heat storms and droughts have occurred in nearly all areas of the globe (minus the poles) from
the US (heat stress 2000-2009) and Midwest droughts in 2011-2012, to Europe (2003/6, and 2013,
including 30,000 people who died in 2003, Russia in 2010 that killed 5,000 people, South Africa in 2013,
and a link to earth temperatures and anomalies in Wikipedia
–
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instrumental_temperature_record
Slide 10 – US Drought Zone in 2000-2009
Drought vulnerability in the US 2000-2009 - http://www.nrdc.org/health/climate/drought.asp
Slide 11 – A dry river bed during record drought in Europe
Slide 12 – California wildfires in January 2014
California, in its worst drought in 200 years, experiences wild fires in January 2014
Slide 13 – Fires in Melbourne Australia
Fires have plagued Australia for years as they experience an ongoing drought and record temperatures
Slide 14 – Heat storms in the US
For a number of years since 2009 and especially 2011-2013, the US has experienced both severe
drought and heats storms, which combined with high humidity (heat index) have caused extensive
suffering.
Slide 15 – Superstorm Sandy
While it was a Category 2 storm off the coast of the Northeastern United States, the storm became the
largest Atlantic hurricane on record (as measured by diameter, with winds spanning 1,100 miles
(1,800 km)). Estimates as of June 2013 assess damage to have been over $68 billion (2013 USD), a total
surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina. At least 286 people were killed along the path of the storm in seven
countries (Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Sandy)
Slide 16 – We don’t have 20 years to wait

3. While many people, including politicians and leaders, would wait until it was so painfully obvious that
climate change was both real and a significant impact, we simply don’t have 20 years to ‘wait and see’.
We have already seen significant impacts, (heat storms, drought, fires, and superstorms), at less than
one degree Celsius of warming, and have been led to believe that 2 degrees is the edge of stability. On
the contrary, other scientists have suggested that 450 ppm atmospheric CO2 is the threshold we should
not cross, for both climate and ocean acidity (pH 8 and undersaturation of bicarbonate ion). Here are the
facts:
1. We are headed right at 450 ppm CO2, currently at ~400 ppm CO2, and rising at a little over 2 ppm
CO2 per year (a rate that is also increasing), and will reach that level by 2035, if not sooner.
2. There are two problems with 450 ppm CO2. First, the level of ‘committed warming’ will be ~ 2
degrees Celsius. Committed warming means the temperature of the ocean will eventually (~50
years) rise to that level. Second, as CO2 dissolves in the ocean (25% or more will end up there)
the pH of the ocean decreases (from 8.15 to ~ 8.0) leading to undersaturation of bicarbonate ion,
causing coral to dissolve (90% will be lost), and severely impacting plankton ability to form shells.
Plankton are the base of the food chain. There is a possibility that amplifying feedbacks (albedo
and methane hydrate destabilization) could cause us to warm even further, to 3 deg Celsius.
3. Energy investments in infrastructure typically have a 25 to 40 year lifetime (physical and
economic depreciation), so investments in carbon intensive infrastructure today will last at least to
st
at least 2035 and possibly to 2040. Decisions we make today (and in the first decade of the 21
Century) will likely take us well over 450 ppm CO2, and some fear as much as 500 ppm CO2.
Slide 17 – Keeling Curve Atmospheric CO2
The Keeling curve shows atmospheric CO2 measured at Mauna Loa in Hawaii from 1958 to 2013, rising
from 315 to 395 ppm CO2, and showing the cycle in spring and fall when trees grow and then shed their
leaves. The rate of increase, shown later in this presentation, has climbed from 1 ppm per year to 1.5 and
now slightly over 2 ppm CO2 per year. At that rate, we will exceed 450 ppm CO2 by 2035, if not sooner.
Slide 18 – Annual Mean growth rate of CO2 at Mauna Loa
The rate of increase, shown later in this presentation, has climbed from 1 ppm per year to 1.5 and now
slightly over 2 ppm CO2 per year. At that rate, we will exceed 450 ppm CO2 by 2035, if not sooner. This is
a key metric, as it sets a time window in which we have to act, as once 450 ppm CO2 is reached, it is
unlikely that disastrous if not catastrophic consequences of climate change will be felt worldwide.
Slide 19 – CO2 trajectories
Estimates of future emissions are called ‘trajectories’ and in this slide represent three scenarios. One is a
low emission strategy where we start a rapid reduction in carbon intensity beginning in 2020, and the
ocean, atmosphere, and land begin to absorb carbon emissions, and atmospheric CO2 eventually
stabilizes at ~400 ppm. In percentage terms, this has the highest probability of climate stabilization, but
the least probability of actually happening. In the second scenario, carbon emissions also begin to decline
in 2020, but not as fast, and the atmosphere rises in CO2 and then declines to ~ 450 ppm CO2. This has a
50% probability of success, but is probably not very likely, as most emission modeling shows an increase
in energy intensity to ~2040 or later, and no decrease in carbon intensity until ~ 2035. As such, emissions
rise as high as 500 ppm CO2, before stabilizing. This would be a climate disaster, but considering our
nearly ineffectual governance, probably the most likely to occur.
Slide 20 – Why a 450 ppm CO2 limit?
There are five reasons why 450 ppm CO2 is a threshold that shouldn’t be crossed, and probably not even
approached. They involve a combination of temperature (heat), ocean acidification, ice sheet deglaciation
and albedo, methane hydrate instability, and the combination of all four factors in an amplifying feedback
network (Torn and Harte, 2006). The first factor is the radiative forcing that comes with 450 ppm CO2,
which is ~ 2.5 watts/sq-meter, and equilibrium warming will reach ~1.9 degrees Celsius, close enough to

4. 2 degrees warming to be a real concern. That much temperature (heat injection) in 50 years could easily
destabilize the ice sheets, methane hydrates, and jet stream. Ice sheets will continue to degrade for
centuries if not millennia, posing a risk of catastrophic sea level rise that is not adaptable. The albedo
effects alone from rapid melting (witness the Greenland ice sheet and open arctic sea) could cause
significant amplified warming as more energy is absorbed by the planet. Another related heat impact in
the ocean is methane hydrate destabilization, and THIS is the most dangerous of all the climate impacts,
as detailed later. This could lead to release of 50 Gtons of methane with a Global Warming Potential of 20
or more, a total release equal to 1,000 Gtons of carbon, more than human will have burned by 2040.
Another equally catastrophic tipping point is ocean acidification. At 450 ppm CO2, the added CO2 in the
ocean will add biocarbonate ion, but also lead to added protons (acidification) that remove isolated
bicarbonate ion from solution (HCO3- and H+) leading to undersaturation of bicarbonate ion and difficulty
for coral and plankton, the latter being the base of the food chain and itself a CO2 pump. The combination
of amplifying feedbacks, including albedo and methane release, are significant drivers of increased
temperature, while rapid deglaciation and ice sheet stability can lead to both rapid and sustained sea
level rise.
•
•
•
•
•
2 deg Celsius committed warming
2
– Radiative forcing of ~ 2.5 Watts/M
Ocean acidification
– pH 8 and under-saturation of bicarbonate ion
– Less than 10% of coral will survive (~ 50 years)
Deglaciation of ice sheets
– Rapid melting and instability, Greenland ice sheet
Sea level rise for centuries
– Estimated 1 meter rise (or more) by 2100
Methane hydrate destabilization
– Two degrees of warming and they are unstable
Slide 21 – Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification is one of two wild cards, the other being methane hydrates, that could spell real
trouble for human civilization. As CO2 is added to the atmosphere, about 25% also dissolves in the
ocean, leading to production of bicarbonate ion, a natural process, but too much adds extra protons,
which remove CO2 from solution (undersaturation). The consumption of carbonate ions impedes
calcification.
Slide 22 – Ocean Acidification
The chemistry of ocean acidification is straight forward:
-
CO2 + H2O => H2CO3 which becomes HCO3 + H+ (a weak acid) when too much CO2 dissolves, the
2added proton will seek out unprotonated CO3 bicarbonate ion. As atmospheric CO2 reaches 450 ppm,
pH drops to ~8, and the concentration of CO2 exceeds bicarbonate ion, leading to undersaturation of the
anion. That in turns will not only slow calcification, but can lead to dissolution of corals, and significant
th
drop in phytoplankton, which may have already begun (Climos and Planktos) in the 20 Century. Losing
the bottom of the food chain and a carbon dioxide pump in itself could lead to problems in both ocean
productivity as well as future ability of the oceans to soak up CO2.
Slide 23 – May not be ‘doable’ at 2 degrees C
Building off Hansen’s paper, and assertions that 2 degrees Celsius and 450 ppm CO2 may be too much;
there are three key factors to be concerned about with this amount of warming. First, are the secondary
feedbacks of deglaciation (ice sheets) and methane release from hydrates and undersea permafrost.
Second, ice sheet degradation, which could continue for centuries, could swamp low lying coastal cities,
and either Greenland or Antarctica could add a meter or more of sea level. In this century alone, one
meter of sea level rise is now expected, and it could be higher. Destabilization of methane hydrates could

5. add one degree Celsius or more with a release of 50 Gtons. The second reason to avoid 2 degrees/450
ppm CO2 is ocean acidity, described earlier, and significant damage to ocean systems from coral to
plankton. The third reason is related to the open sea ice in the Arctic, as well as heat injection to ocean
currents, leading to destabilization of the jet stream and other ocean currents, which is partially seen in
the highly bent jet stream in winter 2014. This, coupled with the thermohaline currents that move heat
towards Europe, can be adversely affected, leading to extreme climate change, and conditions that are
difficult to adapt to.
Slide 24 – Feedback driven warming
The key to understanding both the science of climate change and the risks of changing any GHG or
forcing factor, is understanding a feedback driven system. Torn and Harte (AGU 2006) describe a
network of delayed and amplifying feedbacks that include CO2, CH4, H20 (water vapor and clouds) and
albedo. In a feedback driven system each of these four factors increases temperature, as well as is driven
by temperature. Furthermore, it is possible that the degree of amplification is a function of the rate of
warming, as said in the quote “the hotter it gets, the faster it gets hotter” and likewise the faster it gets
hotter, the warmer the system may eventually get. The two factors that can drive warming further (and
fastest) are release of methane from soil and hydrates, and loss of albedo through surface melting.
Slide 25 – Feedback amplification
Feedback amplification can be quantified using the expressions shown in the figure taken from Torn and
Harte’s paper (missing feedbacks) that shows the higher the feedback, the further a system will be driven
by changes in temperature that both drive and are a consequence of feedbacks. The key to this chart is
the fraction of gain that comes from feedback, also known as climate sensitivity. If the feedback factor is
50%, then a forcing input of 1 deg Celsius translates to a final/equilibrium temperature gain of 2 degrees.
The higher the feedback percentage, the greater the final equilibrium temperature will be. As Torn and
Harte noted, not knowing the feedback amplification is very risky, as our predictions of future warming are
based on previous climate sensitivities, and these factors may change (for the worse) with accelerated
rates of warming.
Slide 26 – Soil Feedbacks
Soil feedbacks are very important as they store CO2 and methane, and have the ability to pull CO2 out of
the air into soil for long term sequestration. Conversely, if soil degrades from higher temperatures, and/or
is cleared, as in the rainforests, significant amounts of CO2 can be released. This has been an error
made by many nations stripping forests to plant soy beans for biodiesel fuel, the LCA (Life Cycle
Analysis) of the carbon stores doesn’t make sense.
Slide 27 – Arctic Sea Ice Volume
Arctic Sea Ice is diminishing at an accelerating rate, and the arctic may be ‘ice free’ in summer as early as
2015. This will have profound affects to albedo, adding energy to the arctic sea, destabilizing methane
hydrates, and further adding to instability and/or erratic behavior of the jet stream and ocean currents.
This chart plots residual sea ice volume.
Slide 28 - Arctic Sea Ice Volume
Arctic Sea Ice is diminishing at an accelerating rate, and the arctic may be ‘ice free’ in summer as early as
2015. This will have profound affects to albedo, adding energy to the arctic sea, destabilizing methane
hydrates, and further adding to instability and/or erratic behavior of the jet stream and ocean currents.
This chart shows ice loss increased significantly from 2012-2014, leading some researchers to predict ‘ice
free’ in 2015. PIOMAS utilizes satellite tools for remote imaging of planet earth.
Slide 29 – Methane Hydrates

6. Methane hydrates are a wild card in the climate system, as they contain thousands of gigatons of
methane complexed with water in frozen slurry, and only stable at very high pressure, and very cold
temperatures. The stability of methane hydrates, called the hydrate stability zone, requires very cold
temperatures, and great depths (thousands of feet). As shown in the chart, the Eastern Siberian Ice Shelf
(ESAS) is especially prone to methane release as hydrates on the sea floor are in relatively shallow
waters (hundreds of meters deep or less) with less than one or two degrees Celsius of margin between
stability and release of methane. Recent studies (Natalia Shakova) of the Arctic Research Center have
shown a doubling of methane release since 2009, from 8 teragrams (mega tons) to 17 teragrams. This
translates to 6 ppb methane release, significant to see in the atmosphere. Scientists at the arctic research
center are concerned about two scenarios, one where a sudden release of methane occurs that can
temporarily ‘swamp’ hydroxyl ion, leading to a longer half-life and consequently a much higher GWP
(Green House Warming Potential), and second, a sustained release of up to 50 gigatons (3.4% of the
estimated 1400 gigatons stored under permafrost in the ESAS) which when multiplied by the GWP of (at
least 20) is equal to 1,000 gigatons of carbon, what Hansen and others have calculated to be the total
carbon budget to keep us under 2 degrees Celsius.
Slide 30 – Ecosystems and Humanity
As discussed in the course, the interaction between human ecosystems and climate is especially
important, as society is dependent on ecosystem services (whether it chooses to believe it or not) and
human well-being, especially in developing nations, rests on having food, water, security, and lack of
severe storms that have pummeled New Orleans, Philippines, New Jersey and many other areas. All too
often humans have resorted to conflict as resources diminish, and it would be much better to resort to
‘collaboration’ which is actually the best thing for humanity.
Slide 31 – Summary
We are at the front edge of dangerous climate change, and beginning to feel serious impacts. We are on
a trajectory to 450 ppm CO2, a point that we must not cross, as damage to the biosphere at that level will
be even worse, and amplifying feedbacks may kick in, warming further, perhaps to even 3-4 degrees
Celsius. Life at 4 degrees C warmer may not be possible for this biosphere, given the rate of change, and
we really need to act now to avert this catastrophe. Ocean acidification at 450 ppm CO2, in itself, could
threaten the base of the food chain, and lead to loss of ocean productivity. We have enough data now,
and simply need to trust our climate models, and make the difficult decisions to decarbonize our energy
infrastructure, for both our own long-term survival, as well as the optimum functioning of the biosphere.
•
•
•
•
•
We are at the front edge of climate consequences: storms & droughts
Trajectory towards 450 ppm CO2
– Ocean acidification, 2 deg C warming
Amplifying feedbacks may kick in
– Deglaciation, albedo, methane hydrates
May not stop at 2 deg => 3 or 4 deg C
4 deg C may not be ‘doable’ for biosphere
Slide 32- References
This PowerPoint presentation was prepared for use by academic professionals, faculty and students to
better understand and communicate climate change. It may be used as is, or remixed. Please do not
assume images are used with permission. I can be reached at CormiaRobert@foothill.edu.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Climate Change Index - http://www.igbp.net/4.56b5e28e137d8d8c09380002241.html
350.org and CO2now.org
NOAA Climate Center https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2011/13
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/
Skeptical Science - https://www.skepticalscience.com/
International Arctic Research Center http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/