Visualizing Environmental Science

230 CHAPTER 9 Global Atmospheric Changes

strategies to help various regions and sectors of society

adapt to climate warming. One of the most pressing issues

is rising sea level. People living in coastal areas could be

moved inland, away from the dangers of storm surges, al-

though the societal and economic costs would be great. An-

other extremely expensive alternative is the construction of

massive sea walls to protect coastal land. Rivers and canals

that spill into the ocean could be channeled to prevent salt-

water intrusion into fresh water and agricultural land.

We must also adapt to shifting agricultural zones.

Countries with temperate climates are evaluating semi-

tropical crops to determine the best substitutes for

traditional crops as the climate warms. Large lumber

companies are developing heat- and drought-resistant

strains of trees that will be harvested when global climate

change may be well advanced. Evaluating such problems

and finding and implementing solutions now will ease fu-

ture stresses of climate warming.

Adaptation to global climate change is under study

at several locations around the United States. One of the

problems identified in a New York City study involves its

sewer system. The waterways for storm runoff normally

close during high tides. As the sea level rises in response

to global climate change, the waterways will have to be

shut during many low tides, which will increase the risk

of flooding during storms (because excess water will not

drain away). City planners will have to rebuild the storm

runoff system or find some other way to prevent flooding.

Evaluating such problems and implementing solutions

now will ease future stresses of climate warming.

1. What are greenhouse gases?


2. How will climate change affect agriculture?
   wildlife?


3. What are two examples of each of the
   approaches to manage global climate
   change: mitigation and adaptation?

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In the Vattenhall carbon capture and storage pilot project, coal is burned in a gasifier

1. Particulates, sulfur, and other contaminants are removed 2. After that, CO 2 is absorbed

and removed 3 ; the hot, CO 2 -free gas is then used to generate electricity, first in a

gas turbine 4 and then in a heat recovery steam generator 5. Meanwhile, the CO 2 is

piped away for storage underground 6.

Mechanical
energy

Air

Air

separator

Bottom ash Steam

Fly ash

Shift

reactor Gypsum

Hydrogen

Mechanical

energy

Sulfur

remover

Steam

Particle

remover

Gasifier

Nitrogen

Fuel

Oxygen

Electricity Electricity

Steam

condenser

Cooling

water

Water

vapor

(and

excess air)

Air

Heat

Gas turbine Heat

recovery

steam

generator

CO 2

absorber

CO 2

desorber

CO 2

1

2

3

4

5

6