As part of Carleton University’s Science Café series, Richard Ernst of the Department of Earth Sciences will present Lessons from Earth’s Geological History for Modern Climate Change.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, 1049 Bank Street, Ottawa
Info: This event is free and open to the public.
Media are invited to attend the event.
Earth’s history is characterized by dramatic climate changes, including global warming, global cooling, anoxia (low oxygen in the ocean), the stepwise build of Earth’s oxygen level, acid rain, ocean acidification and mercury poisoning. In some cases, environmental changes were severe enough to cause mass extinctions. The majority of these extinctions are linked to giant volcanic events and meteorite impact. Climatic shifts can also be due to a variety of factors, including changes in planetary surface brightness, plate tectonics, mountain building and biological evolution.
Climate change can be studied on other planets. Venus had runaway greenhouse effects due to massive volcanism. The resulting carbon dioxide release increased global surface temperatures to 450 degrees Celsius. On Earth, the weathering of mafic and ultramafic rocks acts as a powerful sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide – suggesting a role for modern carbon sequestration efforts.
The lesson from Earth’s geological history is that our climate is continually changing – sometimes dramatically, with potentially catastrophic effects on life – and the risk to humanity is real.
About Science Café
The Science Café series is organized by the Faculty of Science at Carleton University to discuss relevant issues facing our society and how science can help solve real-world problems. Meet some of our award-winning faculty members and graduate students as they share their excitement about science with the community. For more information, visit: Science.carleton.ca/science-cafe
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018 in Media Advisories
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