Download Global Warming. Greenhouse Gases and Climate

Set up 3 Columns
• What is Global Warming?
• What causes global warming?
• What are the effects of global warming?
Why worry about our atmosphere?
In 1996 the human population was
estimated to be 6 Billion and hit 7 billion in
the fall of 2011. It is predicted to be
between 10 and 12.5 Billion by 2050.
The Greenhouse Effect
The trapping of reflected heat and UV
radiation in the earths atmosphere.
The Greenhouse Effect (Good)
Important for insulating the earth and keeping it
from freezing.
Increased amounts of greenhouse gasses trap
more heat increasing the atmospheric
temperatures and possibly changing climatic
weather. – Too much of a good thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi3ERes0h8
4
Global Warming
The increase in the overall average earth
temperature.
Factors that contribute to global warming
Burning of fossil fuels
Greenhouse effect
Construction
Destruction of habitat
Effects of Global Warming
 Rise in sea levels from melting of polar ice caps.
 Changes in weather patterns, adjusted rainfall
patterns.
 Doesn’t mean it
gets warmer
everywhere!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs
Global Warming
gradual increase in the overall
temperature of the earth's atmosphere
generally attributed to the greenhouse
effect caused by increased levels of
carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons,
and other pollutants.
Global temperature trend
Note that these are surface temperatures and mostly overland. The
temperature in upper levels may be different, even reversed.
Example of the
Greenhouse Effect
The Sun’s energy
passes through the
car’s windshield.
This energy (heat)
is trapped inside
the car and cannot
pass back through
the windshield,
causing the inside
of the car to warm
up.
The real greenhouse
Most Important Greenhouse
Gases
GHGs:
• Water: H2O
• Carbon Dioxide: CO2
• Methane: CH4
PCC slide no.
Source Examples:
Oceans, Rivers, Plants, Soil
Combustion, Respiration
Wetlands, Oceans,
Combustion, Animals
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca
Source: U.S. EPA 2005
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
•
This chart shows a steady increase of CO2 concentration in the last five decades.
Although this chart is based on Mauna Loa’s data, the same trend has been
found in many other places.
South Pole and Barrow, Alaska,
show the same trend as Hawaii
Ice Core Data
CO2 Measurements Before 1958 - Antarctica
Human Influence on Greenhouse
Gases Continued …
Removing and burning vegetation
- Leads to
fewer plants
so that
means less
CO2 can be
pulled from
the air.
http://www.plu.edu/~hoodbs/img/deforestation-2.jpg
Burning of Fossil Fuels
Pollution from coal,
natural gas, and oil
U.S.
186.
1
European
Union
127.8
Ukraine
Total CO2 emissions
Russia
68.4
Between 1950-2001 in billions of
tons
21.7
China
Poland
Canada
14.4
14.9
Kazakhstan
10.1
57.6
India
Mexico
Japan
31.2
15.5
7.8
Kuwait
Trinidad and
Tobago
Australia
South Africa
8.5
US:
United
Arab
Emirat
es
7.6
4% of world’s total population
25% of the world’s greenhouse gases
China:25% of the world’s population
TIME magazine, 2001
8.5% of the world’s greenhouse gases (since 1950)
Effects of Global Warming
Rising Sea Level
Increased Temperature
Habitat Damage and
Species Affected
Changes in Water Supply
Melting ice and
rising sea level
Receding high mountain glaciers
Ice shelves of the South Pole have
partly separated and are collapsing.
(NASA)
Portage Glacier
• Alaska
1914
Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org
2004
Evidence of Climate Change …
Changing ranges of world’s species!
Mosquitoes have an increasing
range:
Polar bears have a decreasing
range:
http://www.michigan.gov/images/mosquito_65147_7.jpg
Hawksbill turtles have a decreasing
range:
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/problems/impacts/species/turtles/index.cfm
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change
/problems/impacts/species/polar_bears/index.cfm
- Ranges may be
increasing or decreasing
depending on the
environmental needs of
the species!
What’s being done now to
reduce our emissions?
Wind Power
Solar Power
Fuel-Efficiency