The Anthropocene and climate change

Human technological and economic progress has resulted in a significant increase in CO2 in the atmosphere. Over the past 150 years, and as a result of human activity, the concentration of CO2 has increased by 120 parts per million (ppm), higher than the natural concentration every time our planet went from a glacial age to an interglacial age (90 ppm). Furthermore, the current level (400 ppm) is higher than in all of the interglacial ages (280 ppm) and glacial ages (190 ppm) during the Quaternary period. The planet is now experiencing a completely unforeseen situation according to natural evolution; there is a 95% probability that the average temperature of recent years is higher than that observed over the past 2,000 years.

This increase (currently 0.9ºC) has produced a general snow melt in the mountains, though melting has also been observed in parts of the north and south poles. As a result of this thaw and the increase in the temperature of water masses, the sea level rose by 30 cm during the 20^th century.

However, we are only at the start of this process. In its last report from 2007, the International Group on Climate Change predicted, for the end of the century, CO2 levels of between 500 and 950 parts per million, which would produce additional average temperature increases (with respect to the period 1980-1999) of between 1.1ºC and 6.4ºC, add additional rises in the sea level of between 18 and 59 cm.

It will be difficult to cope with the results and consequences of such changes. One of the main problems is that with our current knowledge, we cannot go from general prediction to particular prediction focused on a specific space and time. In this lecture, the speaker will be explaining the main aspects of the change that is taking place, and showing the data and sources of information to support the observations. The presentation will be based around three questions: What is happening? Why is it happening? and Why is it happening now?

With the collaboration

                   

Cycle: SCIENCE ON MONDAY how human beings are transforming the earth: the Anthropocene Age - I

Organized by: Residencia de Investigadores