ENVS 1126 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Ipcc Fourth Assessment Report, Tropospheric Ozone, Hurricane Rita
Document Summary
An introduction to global climate change: on august 29, 2005, hurricane katrina landed east of new orleans. The costliest ( billion in damage) storm ever. The deadliest storm (killing 1,800) since 1928. Leaving mountains of debris, ruined homes and lives: a month later, hurricane rita hit louisiana and texas, 2005 had a record 27 named storms. 2007 had 15 and 2008 had 18 named storms: there is a link between hurricanes and global warming. Warmer oceans create humid air, leading to hurricanes. The atmosphere: atmosphere: a collection of gases held by gravity around the earth, troposphere: the lowest level. Gases moderate the flow of energy to earth. Gases are involved with biogeochemical cycling of elements. Ranges from 5 to 10 miles thick. Contains almost all the water vapor and clouds. Mixed air allows pollutants to reach the top of the layer. Other atmospheric layers: tropopause: caps the troposphere.