Week 2 - Global Climate Change seminar
- Mars and Venus
Climate change on the earth.
- Quick review of model for global climate change on the earth
from last week.
- There is strong evidence that earth has been within the liquid
range of water for greater than 3.5 billion years or >80%
of its history.
- Early faint sun paradox.
- Why the relative stability of conditions (although from our
human perspective there have been major excursions, e.g. Ice
Ages).
Discussion question from last time? What made the difference
between the three planets?
- List of factors that determine long term evolution of
planetary atmosphere and climate?
- What arguments exist that Mars had a warmer/wetter climate
in the past?
- What arguments exist that Venus had a cooler/wetter climate
in the past?
- Where did the water go on Venus?
Mars climate change links:
Next week's topic and reading - carbon cycle and
greenhouse reservoirs.
Discussion question for next time: On what time scale do you
estimate the Carbon flux through the different reservoirs can
change and thus possibly effect climate? Think of it in log scale
of years, decades, centuries millenia, Ma.
Reading for next time (peruse the web sites - some info
is duplicated between them - read the article):
