Global Warming

From NECSIWiki

By years,new technologies were invented in order to facilitate our lives and the need of extra energy to maintain their functions is increasing. By burning energy, we release gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) to environments. These gases accumulate and create a shell which blocks the heat transfering from earth surface to space. This causes increasing of temperature and we call it “Global warming.” Global Warming is also known as Climate Change although this name change was mostly politically motivated. See how climate changes affect the climate system in Fig. 1.[1] The theory suggests that systemic changes in the Earth's meteorological and connected systems will ultimately lead to a possible bifurcation in human history. Thus some parts of our planet may significantly increase in temperature whilst others would significantly decrease. See fig.2. [2] Due to the interconnectedness of, for instance, ocean systems and meteorological systems we may witness rising ocean levels (due to melting of polar ice), floods, storms, drought, etc. Obviously such drastic systemic change will have an effect upon all life as we currently know it. For instance, human population levels centred around river deltas may have to relocate. Examples of such deltas would include Shanghai, Bangladesh and parts of India. As a result of the predictions of scientists various people have been motivated to try to avert these possible catastrophes although some now say that disaster management is more apt given the current extensive progress of these phenomena. Some scientists, however, study the various ecological systems which interact in various parts of the world. One such global analysis of these systems is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Furthermore, given that it is evident that environmental systems interact with social and economic systems there has lately been a shift of focus to Sustainable Development.

As a result of the predictions of scientists various people have been motivated to try to avert these possible catastrophes although some now say that disaster management is more apt given the current extensive progress of these phenomena. Some scientists, however, study the various ecological systems which interact in various parts of the world. One such global analysis of these systems is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Furthermore, given that it is evident that environmental systems interact with social and economic systems there has lately been a shift of focus to Sustainable Development.

In Boston, where NECSI is based, there is currently (17th January, 2006) an exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) entitled "Climate Commons" which is "A networked conversation about climate change, sustainability, and the Arctic". I (Tim Barker) am actually typing this whilst sitting in the room surrounded by videos of NOAA web cams from the Arctic, photo montage of glacial dreamscapes together with these three networked computers in the centre of the room.

As part of the NECSI Winter School of 2007 an Atmosphere Model of the Earth was developed to demonstrate the effects of Global Warming. The atmosmodel listing for Octave is available.

[edit] Resources

• Wiki on Global Warming