Download Presentation on climate change

Acid Precipitation
 Found under different forms : snow, rain, drizzle,
fog…
 Gas : nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxyde
(SO2) in the air
 Nature : reaction with water : production of acids.
 Sources : burning of fossil fuels, oil and coal-fired
power plants, oil refineries, motor vehicles…
 Impacts : acidifies lake water, tree defoliation,
affects the production of maple groves, building
erosion, modifies soil composition
Thinning of the ozone layer
 Important for life : prevents a large quantity of UV
radiations to reach the surface of the Earth.
 Gas : CFC and others
 Nature : when natural ozone is destroyed faster
than it is produced.
 Source : refrigerants, air conditioning, insulating
foams release CFCs, that reach the ozone layer
and destroy it.
 Impacts : torrid summers, drying winds, burnt
crops, melting glaciers, skin cancer and cataract
formation.
Ground-level ozone
 Gas : nitrous oxides and volatile organic
compounds (VOC)
 Nature : forms when sunlight reacts with air
pollutants flotting over urban areas on hot
days.
 Source : refrigerants, aerosols, automobiles
 Impacts : health impacts on humans,
impacts on the vegetation and on painted
surfaces.
Smog = Smoke + Fog
 Gas : mixture of air
pollutants including gases
and fine particles and
ground-level ozone.
 Nature : chemical reaction
beteween the pollutants
and sunlight and heat.
 Source : burning of fossil
fuels, …
 Impacts : Can harm
human health, particularly
for those who already
suffer from heart and lung
disease.
The science of climate
change
Weather vs. Climate
 Weather : atmospheric conditions
(temperature, precipitation, wind,
atmospheric pressure) observed at a
particular time at a specific location.
 Climate : meteorological conditions
forecasted for a specific location over a long
period of time.
The climate is determined by many factors including : the
atmosphere, the sun, the oceans, the ice cover and the land.
Changes in the climate
 Over the years, changes in the climate
occured naturally on the planet.
The Greenhouse Effect is…
 a natural phenomenon essential to life on
Earth, without which average temperatures
would be 18 degrees below zero;
 being amplified by an accumulation of
Greenhouse Gases due to human activities.
Are Humans Changing Climate?
NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.
21
What Is Global Warming?
NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.
Greenhouse Gases: Methane
NOAA Slides by Forecast Systems Laboratory.
Other sources of methane
Deforestation
Population growth
Climate Change Evidence
 Increase in global temperature during the
last century;
 Melting of the glaciers;
 Rise of the global sea level;
 Increase in the frequency of extreme
weather events.
Increase in global temperature
Melting of the glaciers
Rise of the global sea level
Extreme weather events
Climate Change Impacts in
Atlantic Canada
•On water
•On human health
•On fisheries
•On ecosystems
•On forest
Fresh Water
 Reduced water
quantity and quality
 Impacts on
hydroelectricity
 Impacts on fisheries &
tourism
 Impacts on fish
habitat
Impacts on Oceans
 Impacts on marine currents
(Gulf Stream, Labrador…).
 Erosion and flooding in
coastal areas
 Impacts on the variety and
quantity of marine resources
 Impacts on the economy:
fisheries, oil exploration &
shipping.
 Impacts on ice: less ice cover
and less icebergs.
Agriculture
Positive ?
 Longer growing
season
 Fall harvesting easier
 More favorable to non
traditional cultures
Negative ?
Extreme
events and
damages to crops
(excess moisture,
droughts, hail, …)
Less snow cover
(damages to certain
cultures)
More insect pests
Human Infrastructures
Environment in General
 Impact on terrestrial
and marine biodiversity
 Impacts on species’
migrations
 Impacts on native
species through
invasive species
 Isolated populations
threatened
Changing Ecosystems
Impacts on Forests
 Extreme weather
events: damage and
loss of trees
 Winter thaws: damage
to deciduous trees
 Increase in
temperatures: more
insect infestations
Younger and less diverse
forests
Impacts on forest dependant
communities
Ecosystems
Human Health
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Impacts of extreme events
Vector-born diseases
Impacts on pollution and heat (smog)
Vulnerability to droughts and heat waves
Coastal communities
 Sea level rise (50-70
cm)
 Destruction of coastal
marshes
 Impacts on coastal
species
 Impacts to human
infrastructure
Canadians and Greenhouse
Gas Emissions
CO2 Emissions per Capita in
Different Countries
Source: CO2 emissions data for 1998 from Energy Information Administration, US Department of
Energy: World Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Consumption and Flaring of Fossil Fuels, 1990-1999
Personal CO2 emissions
Transportation
Air Conditioning
11,1
7,5
Lighting
48,8
Heating
28,7
0,3
2,4
Water Heating
Electrical
Appliances
Dealing with Climate Change
 Mitigation: Reducing our emissions of
greenhouse gases or enhancing GHG
absorption
 Adaptation: Measures in place to deal with
impacts of climate change