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The greenhouse gases (GHG) are:
 water
 carbon dioxide
 nitrous oxide
 ozone
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Cl
 methane
 CFCs
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According to scientists, a [CO2] above 350 ppm
has the potential to threaten our civilization.
What’s Causing the Carbon Dioxide Level in Our Atmosphere to Increase?
1. Burning of fossil fuels.
CO2
Much of the world’s electricity is
generated by the burning of
coal, oil, & natural gas.
Gasoline is burned as a source
of fuel in automobiles.
2. Deforestation
Evidence for Global Warming
The average global temperature increased by 0.6 o C during the
20th century.
The average global sea level increased 10 – 20 cm during the
20th century.
Extreme weather events have increased in intensity, duration,
& frequency. 2005 was the hottest, driest, & stormiest year on record!
What’s the Future Likely to Bring?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The IPCC, a panel made up of 2,500 of the world’s top climate experts.
According to the IPCC, the Earth’s temperature is expected to
rise between 1.4 – 5.8 o C over the next 100 years.
Why Should We Be Worried?
The threshold of dangerous climate change is 2 o C, 0.6 o C of which
has already occurred!
Many species became
extinct during the Ice Ages,
even though the temperature
was “only” changing by about
5 o C over thousands of years.
What will happen if the Earth’s
temperature rises by 5 o C in
100 years?
The flooding of coastal areas is very likely
to become more severe & frequent.
Just as wet areas are expected to become wetter, dry areas are
expected
to wet
become
drier,
possibly
leading to desertification.
Just as
areas are
expected
to become
The frequency, intensity, and duration of
extreme weather events are likely to increase.
A loss of biodiversity is very likely.
Global warming may be causing the algae that corals need for
food to die, a phenomenon called coral bleaching.
When carbon dioxide reacts with water, carbonic acid is formed.
This acid is dissolving the calcium carbonate that make up the
skeletons of corals.
What About Canada?
More forest fires in B.C.?
Decreased crop production in the Prairies?
The spread of tropical diseases? (e.g.- malaria, West Nile virus)
The culture & lifestyle of Canada’s Inuit
population will probably be impacted.
home sinking in melting permafrost
sea ice is necessary for the Inuit to hunt