Download CLIMATE CHANGE IN LITHOSPHERE AND HYDROSPHERE

BY:
SARFRAZ
SALMAN
FAHAD
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Usually defined as the solid part of the earth
consisting of the crust and outer mantle.
Together with the hydrosphere, the exposed
lithosphere absorbs higher energy radiation from
the sun.
◦ Converts it into thermal energy and then emits the energy
back as lower energy infrared radiation.
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The concept of the lithosphere as Earth’s strong outer layer
was developed by Barrell, who wrote a series of papers
introducing the concept.
◦ The concept was based on the presence of significant gravity anomalies
over continental crust, from which he inferred that there must exist a
strong upper layer.
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The lithosphere is the surface layer of the fluid parts of the
Earth's convection system, therefore it thickens over time.
The climate is being altered because of the global change in
environment.
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Global warming is affecting the lithosphere
because the earth is being warmed and there is
more water being produced and the water level is
rising.
Lithosphere includes:
◦ Solid rock
◦ Soil
◦ Minerals on the land and extends under the oceans as well.
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Earth broken up into pieces called plates, which move
independently relative to one another.
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This movement of lithosphere is described as plate
tectonics.
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Mountains and other lands formations affect how air
moves over an area.
 Oceanic lithosphere, which is associated with Oceanic Crust.
 Continental lithosphere, which is associated with Continental Crust
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Earths crust stretches about 8-32 km
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All the volcanic eruptions contribute to land formation and
altitudes as well.
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After a molten cools down it becomes a rock that rock can
be in a shape of a mountain or a hill.
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The “alpine climate” has a strong effect on the ecosystem
found at high altitudes
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At high altitudes atmospheric pressure is lower because
there is less air above.
◦ Air from lower altitude rises to high altitudes.
◦ It expands and cools down.
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The climate of the location is affected by its
latitude, terrain, altitude, ice or snow cover.
Basically includes:
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Temperature
Humidity
Atmospheric pressure
Rainfall
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Can be classified into 5 regions:
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Tropical: Wet and dry
Dry: semi arid and arid
Moderate: Mediterranean
Continental: Humid and subarctic
Polar: Tundra, Ice cap, Highlands and Non
permanent ice.
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Direct atmospheric inputs:
◦ Emissions gases:
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CO2
methane
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
nitrous oxide
krypton-85
water vapor
◦ Aerosols:A gaseous suspension of fine solid or liquid particles.
◦ Thermal pollution: It is the degradation of water quality by any
process that changes ambient water temperature.
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Changes to land surfaces:
◦ Albedo change:
 Deforestation: Is the clearance of naturally occurring
forests by logging and burning.
 Intensive grazing
 Dust addition to ice caps.
◦ Roughness change:
 deforestation
 Urbanization: is the physical growth of urban areas as
a result of global change.
◦ Extension of irrigation
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Alterations to the oceans:
◦ Current alterations by constricting straits
◦ Diversion of fresh waters into oceans
 since the melting of the glaciers will heat up the earth
temperature then sea level will also rise.
 This can cause: flooding and tsunami
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Can be defines as the components of water
present on the Earth, including bodies of water,
water vapor, ice.
To understand the interactions between climate
and the hydrological cycle, it is necessary to
understand the relative distribution as well as
fluxes of water among its various repositories:
◦ The basic composition of the atmospheric and
terrestrial water balance.
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Liquid water absorbs energy from warm air
and the sun and then releases energy back.
Water vapour and clouds in the atmosphere
also reflect, absorb, and transmit energy from
the sun.
Hydrosphere is the most occupied sphere
based on its ratio to land 71% : 28%
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More fresh water is frozen at the poles and in
the glaciers than exists in all the freshwater
lakes in the world.
Hydrosphere includes:
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Oceans
Rivers
Glaciers
Ice sea/ice sheets
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The hydrologic cycle is basic to the Earth's
climate system.
The quantity and quality of water affects human
society, both directly and indirectly through its
control of the biosphere functioning.
It is the processes by which water, in all its
phases, moves through the atmosphere, and
moves to and from the various repositories on
the Earth's surface is inter-meshed with those
governing the Earth's energy.
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The availability of water is a major controlling
factor in the distribution and abundance of
vegetation and of biological productivity all
around the world.
Some of the rivers are disappearing as people
notice the increase in planets temperature.
If it continues like that we will run out of
water and there will be droughts on lowlands.
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Ice is the factor that contributes most to the
hydrosphere since it is long lasting until the
climate changes occur.
The rate of exchange within reservoirs ranges
from thousands of years is caused:
◦ by the oceans and ice sheets which stayed under:
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several hundreds- thousands years of groundwater
several years for surface impoundments
several months for soil moisture
and days for atmospheric stability
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One of the most significant consequences of
climate change will be a geographical shift of
regional hydrological regimes, and associated
changes in the availability of water resources
which are a critical factor in planning for
economic and sustainable development.
Changes in the hydrological cycle will create
feedbacks to the global climate system.
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Availability of adequate water of appropriate
quality is a major factor in planning for
sustainable development.
Consequently, studies providing evidence
that both water quality and quantity can be
reduced by climate change raise valid social
concerns.
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Many ecological systems will be dramatically
changed by global warming and this might
lead to changes in all climate zones or even
loss of biodiversity.
◦ This can even cause extinction of all living things
including humans.