Global Warming fix
by
James Galasyn
Seattle, WA
FAde In:
getting schooled
Captain beams into a steep valley.
Gavin
Please help us! Our planet is warming too fast and the climate is changing rapidly. Talk to Ray to find out why.
Ray
Here’s how global warming works. Sunlight reaches our world as nearly parallel light rays. These rays are called the ‘solar beam.’
Captain clicks for next panel.
Ray
The light heats the surface of the planet. The surface radiates upward the solar energy it has absorbed.
Captain clicks for next panel.
ray
Some molecules in the air, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O), capture the infra-red light and re-radiate it back toward the ground.
Captain clicks for next panel.
ray
More CO2 and more H2O molecules in the air mean more infra-red light stays in the atmosphere, and less escapes into space.
Captain clicks for next panel.
Ray
This means the atmosphere can’t cool off as much. We call this Global Warming. Sometimes it’s called the Greenhouse Effect. Talk to Mike to see why there is more and more CO2 in the air.
Captain passes the first background rock.
Background rock
Sunlight is absorbed by the ground, and this energy is re-radiated as infra-red light, which humans perceive as warmth. This energy is called Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR).
Captain passes the second background rock.
Background Rock 2
Heat is also carried away from the surface by convection. Warm air rises high into the atmosphere, until it finally radiates its infra-red energy into space through the stratosphere.
Captain moves up the ramp and passes the big CO2 molecule.
CO2 molecule
When less infra-red light escapes to space, the retained thermal energy instead goes to warming the atmosphere and oceans.
Captain moves up the ramp to Mike.
Mike
Without CO2 and H2O in the air, almost all the energy from the ground would go back into space, and the planet would freeze over. We’re lucky to have CO2.
Captain clicks for the next panel.
Mike
So what’s the problem? Let me show you.
Captain clicks for the next panel.
Mike
This is one of our power plants. It burns fossil fuels that have been dug up or pumped from deep in the ground.
Captain clicks for the next panel.
Mike
Fossil fuels have a lot of carbon in them, and when they’re burned for power, carbon dioxide is released into the air.
Captain clicks for the next panel.
Mike
The problem is that we’re adding too much CO2 to the air too quickly. Go talk to an Aussie farmer to see how this has changed the world.
Captain passes the power plant.
power plant
Our global civilization needs gigantic amounts of power to keep running, about 500 Exajoules (5x10^20 J) or an average consumption rate of 16 Terawatts (1.6x10^13 W). Between 80% and 90% of the world’s energy comes from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Captain passes the big CO2 molecule.
CO2 molecule
In the last 150 years or so, humans have burned a huge amount of fossil fuel, and this has added a huge amount of carbon dioxide to the air, much more than has been in the air for a long time.
Captain reaches the Aussie farmer.
Aussie farmer
We have more droughts, and the droughts last longer. Our croplands have turned to deserts. We call it “The Big Dry.” Go talk to Jeremy to find out what has happened to our oceans.
Captain moves to Jeremy.
Jeremy
Some of the extra CO2 in the air dissolves into the oceans, which creates carbonic acid. The oceans have become so acidic that most of the sea life has died. We need you to remove billions of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or we will all surely die!
Captain passes the big CO2 molecule.
CO2 molecule
Warmer oceans hold less oxygen. The oceans have become purple with anaerobic sulfur bacteria. The oceans now release a poisonous gas called hydrogen sulfide (H2S). It kills land life as well as ocean life, and it turns the skies green.
Captain does the Momentum Valley adventure.
geoengineer
We have built a giant factory that takes CO2 out of the air. It needs Unobtanium to run. Unobtanium absorbs millions of times its weight in CO2. You must find all the Unobtanium and bring it to the factory.
Captain clicks for the next panel.
geoengineer
Beware the Contrarians! They’ll try to stop you. Give them climate science textbooks to educate them and send them back to the Blogosphere.
Captain does the Unobtanium adventure.
geoengineer
We have evacuated these coal plants, and now they must be demolished. You may find these boulders convenient for the purpose. Don’t let them get away from you! Once demolition of coal plants is done, we can replace them with solar power stations.
Captain does the Bowling for Coal Plants adventure.
gavin
You did it! To learn more about global warming and climate science, check out the following sites. (RealClimate.org, etc.)
FAde Out:
The End