Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
276 | Gavin Schmidt on Measuring, Predicting, and Protecting Our Climate
May 20, 2024
Gavin Schmidt, Director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, dives into the urgent realities of climate change. With a background in applied mathematics, he discusses the current rise in global temperatures exceeding model predictions. Schmidt explains the evolution of climate measurement, from historical techniques to modern satellite data. He humorously recounts a serendipitous encounter that led to deeper insights about atmospheric composition. The conversation also tackles the complex global interconnections in climate patterns and the role of individual action in combating climate change.
01:19:48
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Quick takeaways
- Human activities significantly impact Earth's climate through greenhouse gas emissions.
- Climate models successfully predict global temperature changes and weather patterns.
Deep dives
Understanding Climate Change
Climate change is evident through various indicators such as rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and shifts in plant hardiness zones. This change is primarily driven by human activities, especially the emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These activities have made humans a significant geophysical force, impacting the Earth's climate on a scale comparable to major events in the planet's history.
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