Week 14 Blog Post

1. What did you do in lab?

To start lab we talked about our interviews with our elders that we did over break. We tried to see if there were any similarities between each of elders and we found that quite a bit of our elders had no clue what we were talking about. Or if they had an idea, they just didn't really care about it. After this we started to talk about the CO2 measures within different places. As a class we discussed the ideas of why the levels have been increasing within the locations in the studies. Then we watched a video called The Science of Climate Change. This video started of by talking about what climate change is. It then moved into the Greenhouse Effect and how we as humans contribute to the problems at hand. After some other topics within this video, they began to talk about possible solutions for the climate change crisis at hand. One of these solutions is to reduce tilling of the soil through soil carbon sequestration. To end class we started with our activity for the lab. For this we used a PhET Simulation to look at different gases(CH4, CO2, H2O, N2, and O2) to see how photons and molecules interact for each of these gases. 

2. What was the big question?

What is the albedo effect and how does it affect climate? How does the GH Effect interact with the albedo effect? Is the albedo effect a positive or negative feedback loop?

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?

During lecture this week we started off by talking about the final test that is coming up next week. We then moved onto talking about the albedo effect and what it is. The albedo effect is the reflectivity of a surface and how much radiation or heat is either reflected or absorbed. We were able to bring this into an example of the North Pole/South Pole vs places near the equator. The North and South Pole reflect off sun which means the water and area is a lot colder. Places near and on the equator do the opposite. The sun is reflected so the areas and water around it heat up. We then learned that these 2 aspects combined actually create a convection cell. Continuing with this idea, we were able to learn that the range for albedo is 0 to 1 as 0 is the most white (reflective) and 1 is less white (absorption). The albedo effect is a feedback loop. Positive cycles amplify while negative cycles negate effects. Because of this, ice caps melting at the North Pole are a positive feedback loop (increasing absorption rates).

4. Read the Pressbook. What did you learn? What was most helpful? What do you need more information on? 

I learned that climate change goes beyond just rising temperatures. It involves a wide range of changes to Earth's systems, including shifts in precipitation patterns, more intense storms, and ocean acidification. The chapter explains the human role in climate change, identifying fossil fuel use and land use changes as major drivers. It also highlighted how feedback loops accelerate the process, further intensifying its impact. One of the most eye-opening aspects was the stark disparity in climate vulnerability, with poorer nations and communities being extremely affected, despite contributing far less to the problem.

The chapter gave a clear overview of the greenhouse effect and helped distinguish between the natural and enhanced versions, which is a key concept in climate science. Real-world examples, like rising sea levels impacting island nations or heatwaves increasing mortality rates, made these ideas feel more tangible and relatable. The section on policy solutions, especially the Paris Agreement, laid out how international efforts are tackling climate change and highlighted the importance of global collaboration. It was also motivating to see the emphasis on actions we can take individually, like reducing energy use and supporting sustainable businesses, offering practical ways to get involved in the fight against climate change.

The chapter touches on the economic costs of climate change, but I'd like to dive deeper into how shifting to renewable energy impacts job markets, especially in regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels. I’m also curious about the cultural and social side of things. Such as how are different cultures adapting or resisting change in response to climate change? For example, how do indigenous knowledge systems play a role in building climate resilience? Another thing I’d like to know more about is how policies are enforced. How do international organizations make sure countries stick to agreements like the Paris Accord, and what happens when they don’t?