Download Greenhouse Effect

GLOBAL
ATMOSPHERIC
PROBLEMS
Global
Climate
Change
Global Climate Change
A hot topic !
 Among most serious of
environmental problems
facing future generations
Global Climate Change
 Often called
“Global Warming”
 Often called the
“Greenhouse Effect”
Greenhouse Effect
 Atmospheric gases trap
heat (infrared radiation)
-- like glass in a greenhouse or
glass in a parked car
Greenhouse Effect
VENUS
Atmosphere = 90x more dense than Earth
o
Surface Temperature = +400 C
Greenhouse Effect
MARS
Atmosphere = 0.01 as dense than Earth
o
Surface Temperature = -55 C
Greenhouse Effect
EARTH
Atmosphere = just right
o
Surface Temperature = +14 C
Greenhouse Effect
 Essential for life on Earth
 Without the greenhouse
effect, the average temperature
o
would be –21 C
-- below the freezing point of water
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Global Warming
 An enhanced greenhouse
effect results in increased
global temperatures
 Conclusive detection of global
warming has been difficult due to
natural fluctuations in temperature
Global Warming
Global Climate Change
 The global
atmosphere is so vast
 How can human
activities alter composition
of the atmosphere ?
Atmosphere Composition
Nitrogen
= 78 %
Oxygen
= 21 %
Rare gases =
1%
Atmosphere Composition
Rare gases
= 1%
Includes: Argon, Neon, Helium,
Krypton, Hydrogen, Radon,
Carbon Dioxide, Methane,
Ozone, CFCs, and others
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Currently
In 1900
= 0.0391 % or 391 ppm
=
0.0300 % or 300 ppm
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Fossil
Fuels
Atmosphere Composition
Carbon Dioxide
Deforestation
Atmosphere Composition
 Additional greenhouse gases
that contribute to global climate
change include:
 CFCs
 methane
 nitrous oxide
Greenhouse Gases
Potential Adverse Effects
 Health
Weather-related mortality
 Infectious diseases
 Increased air pollution
Potential Adverse Effects
 Agriculture
 Crop yields
 Irrigation demands
 Shifts in agricultural areas
Potential Adverse Effects
 Forests
 Change in forest composition
 Shift geographic range of forests
 Forest health and productivity
Potential Adverse Effects
 Water
Resources
 Changes in water supply
 Increased competition for water
 Impacts on aquatic ecosystems
 Acidification of oceans
Potential Adverse Effects
 Coastal
Areas
 Sea level rise
 Erosion of beaches
 Inundation of coastal lands
 Costs to protect coast lines
Potential Adverse Effects
 Sea level rise
Potential Adverse Effects
 Sea level rise
Potential Adverse Effects
 Sea level rise
Potential Adverse Effects
 Sea level rise
Potential Adverse Effects
 Coastal
Areas
 Sea level rise
 Erosion of beaches
 Inundation of coastal lands
 Costs to protect coast lines
Potential Adverse Effects
 Species and
Natural Areas
 Shifts in ecological zones
 Loss of habitat and species
Potential Adverse Effects
 Precipitation
and Storms
 Shifts in rainfall distribution
 Increased severe storms
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
Established by the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) and
the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) in 1988
www.ipcc.ch
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
 2,500 of the world’s
leading climate scientists
and technical experts
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
 Purpose – to assess the scientific,
technical and socio-economic
information relevant for the
understanding of human induced climate
change, its potential impacts and options
for mitigation and adaptation
Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)
 Issues an assessment report
approximately every five years.
 The 4th Assessment Report
was released in 2007.
2007 IPCC Conclusions

Warming of the climate system is
unequivocal, as is now evident from
observations of increases in
global average air and ocean
temperatures, widespread melting of
snow and ice, and rising global
average sea level.
2007 IPCC Conclusions

Most of the observed increase in
globally averaged temperatures since
the mid-20th century is very likely due
to the observed increase in
anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations.
2007 IPCC Conclusions
 Coping with climate change will
require a mixture of mitigation and
adaptation strategies.
 Mitigation – reduce greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions and enhance GHG sinks
 Adaptation – reduce vulnerability of
human and natural systems against
climate change effects
2007 IPCC Conclusions
 Coping with climate change will
require a mixture of mitigation and
adaptation strategies.
Energy Supply
Transportation
Buildings
Industry
Agriculture
Forestry
Wastes
Kyoto Agreement
 United Nations Convention
on Climate Change
 Representatives from 166
countries met in Kyoto to
discuss reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions
Kyoto Agreement
 International Treaty on
climate change
 The objective is the "stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system."
Kyoto Agreement
 Treaty went into force in
February, 2005.
 A total of 191 countries
ratified the agreement.
Kyoto Agreement
 The U.S., largest historic
source of greenhouse gases
in the world, did not agree
to participate.
Kyoto Agreement
 Kyoto Agreement was a first
step and will soon expire
 Additional international meetings
have been held to develop a new
international treaty on climate change
Additional
Climate
Change
Meetings
Since
Kyoto
Doha, Qatar 2012
Durban, South Africa 2011
Cancun, Mexico 2010
Copenhagen, Denmark 2009
Poznan, Poland 2008
Bali, Indonesia 2007
Nairobi, Kenya 2006
Montreal, Canada 2005
Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004
Milan, Italy 2003
New Dehli, India 2002
Marrakech, Morocco 2001
The Hague, Netherlands 2000
Bonn, Germany 1999
Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998
Current International Efforts
Efforts are stalled to develop new,
post-Kyoto international agreement
to combat climate change
 MDCs vs. LDCs continue to
disagree on emission cuts and
funding
Climate Change
 general agreement to try to hold
the increase in global temperature
to 2 degrees Celsius
 Deep cuts in emissions will be
required to hold increase to
o
2 C
Climate Change
 Currently the U.S. does not
have a clear policy on reducing
greenhouse gas emissions
 No national goal for reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions
Climate Change
 World emissions of greenhouse
gases must be cut 70-80% by 2050
 The quality of life for future
generations is at stake