atmosphericproblems global. global climate change
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Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change
A hot topic !A hot topic ! Among most serious of Among most serious of environmental problems environmental problems facing future generationsfacing future generations
Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change
Often called Often called “Global Warming”“Global Warming”
Often called the Often called the “Greenhouse Effect”“Greenhouse Effect”
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
Atmospheric gases trap Atmospheric gases trap heat (infrared radiation)heat (infrared radiation)
-- like glass in a greenhouse or -- like glass in a greenhouse or glass in a parked carglass in a parked car
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
VENUSVENUS
Atmosphere = 90x more dense than EarthAtmosphere = 90x more dense than Earth
Surface Temperature = +400Surface Temperature = +400oo C C
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
MARSMARS
Atmosphere = 0.01 as dense than EarthAtmosphere = 0.01 as dense than Earth
Surface Temperature = -55Surface Temperature = -55oo C C
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
EARTHEARTH
Atmosphere = just rightAtmosphere = just right
Surface Temperature = +14Surface Temperature = +14oo C C
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect Essential for life on EarthEssential for life on Earth
Without the greenhouse Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature effect, the average temperature
would be –21would be –21oo C C-- below the freezing point of water-- below the freezing point of water
Global Warming An enhanced greenhouse An enhanced greenhouse
effect results in increased effect results in increased global temperaturesglobal temperatures
Conclusive detection of global Conclusive detection of global warming has been difficult due to warming has been difficult due to natural fluctuations in temperaturenatural fluctuations in temperature
Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change
How can human How can human activities alter composition activities alter composition
of the atmosphere ?of the atmosphere ?
The global The global atmosphere is so vastatmosphere is so vast
Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition
NitrogenNitrogen == 7878 %%
OxygenOxygen == 21 %21 %
Rare gasesRare gases == 1 %1 %
Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition
Rare gasesRare gases == 1 %1 %
Includes: Argon, Neon, Helium, Includes: Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen, Radon, Krypton, Hydrogen, Radon, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Ozone, CFCs, and othersOzone, CFCs, and others
Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition
Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide
CurrentlyCurrently == 0.0391 %0.0391 % or 391 ppmor 391 ppm
In 1900In 1900 == 0.0300 %0.0300 % or 300 ppmor 300 ppm
Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition
Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide
DeforestationDeforestation
Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition
Additional greenhouse gases Additional greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate that contribute to global climate
change include:change include: CFCsCFCs
nitrous oxidenitrous oxide
methanemethane
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Weather-related mortality Infectious diseases
Increased air pollution
Health
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Crop yields Irrigation demands Shifts in agricultural areas
Agriculture
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Change in forest composition Shift geographic range of forests Forest health and productivity
Forests
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Water Resources
Changes in water supply Increased competition for water Impacts on aquatic ecosystems
Acidification of oceans
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Sea level rise Erosion of beaches Inundation of coastal lands Costs to protect coast lines
Coastal Areas
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Sea level rise Erosion of beaches Inundation of coastal lands Costs to protect coast lines
Coastal Areas
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Shifts in ecological zones Loss of habitat and species
Species and Natural Areas
Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects
Precipitation and Storms
Shifts in rainfall distribution Increased severe storms
IntergovernmentalIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC) Established by the United Nations Established by the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) in 1988(WMO) in 1988
www.ipcc.chwww.ipcc.ch
IntergovernmentalIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC)
2,500 of the world’s 2,500 of the world’s leading climate scientists leading climate scientists
and technical expertsand technical experts
IntergovernmentalIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC)
Purpose – to Purpose – to assess the scientific, assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of human relevant for the understanding of human
induced climate change, its potential induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for mitigation and impacts and options for mitigation and
adaptationadaptation
IntergovernmentalIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC) Issues an assessment report Issues an assessment report approximately every five years.approximately every five years.
The 4The 4thth Assessment Report Assessment Report was released in 2007.was released in 2007.
2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Warming of the climate system is Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from unequivocal, as is now evident from
observations of increases inobservations of increases inglobal average air and ocean global average air and ocean
temperatures, widespread melting of temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising globalsnow and ice, and rising global
average sea level.average sea level.
2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions
Most of the observed increase in Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is the mid-20th century is very likely very likely due due
to the observed increase in to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations.concentrations.
2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Coping with climate change will Coping with climate change will require a mixture of mitigation and require a mixture of mitigation and
adaptation strategies.adaptation strategies.
Mitigation – Mitigation – reduce greenhouse gas reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance GHG sinks(GHG) emissions and enhance GHG sinks
Adaptation – Adaptation – reduce vulnerability of reduce vulnerability of human and natural systems against human and natural systems against
climate change effectsclimate change effects
2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Coping with climate change will Coping with climate change will require a mixture of mitigation and require a mixture of mitigation and
adaptation strategies.adaptation strategies.
Energy SupplyEnergy Supply
TransportationTransportation
IndustryIndustry
ForestryForestry
BuildingsBuildings
AgricultureAgriculture
WastesWastes
Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement United Nations Convention United Nations Convention
on Climate Changeon Climate Change Representatives from 166 Representatives from 166
countries met in Kyoto to countries met in Kyoto to discuss reduction of discuss reduction of
greenhouse gas emissionsgreenhouse gas emissions
Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement International Treaty on International Treaty on
climate changeclimate 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 AgreementKyoto Agreement Treaty went into force in Treaty went into force in
February, 2005.February, 2005.
A total of 191 countries A total of 191 countries ratified the agreement.ratified the agreement.
Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement
The U.S., largest historic The U.S., largest historic source of greenhouse gases source of greenhouse gases in the world, did in the world, did notnot agree agree
to participate.to participate.
Additional international meetings Additional international meetings have been held to develop a new have been held to develop a new
international treaty on climate changeinternational treaty on climate change
Kyoto Agreement was a first Kyoto Agreement was a first step and will soon expirestep and will soon expire
Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement
Doha, Qatar 2012Doha, Qatar 2012
Durban, South Africa 2011Durban, South Africa 2011Cancun, Mexico 2010Cancun, Mexico 2010
Copenhagen, Denmark 2009Copenhagen, Denmark 2009Poznan, Poland 2008 Poznan, Poland 2008 Bali, Indonesia 2007 Bali, Indonesia 2007 Nairobi, Kenya 2006 Nairobi, Kenya 2006
Montreal, Canada 2005Montreal, Canada 2005Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004
Milan, Italy 2003Milan, Italy 2003New Dehli, India 2002New Dehli, India 2002
Marrakech, Morocco 2001Marrakech, Morocco 2001The Hague, Netherlands 2000The Hague, Netherlands 2000
Bonn, Germany 1999Bonn, Germany 1999Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998
AdditionalAdditionalClimate Climate Change Change
MeetingsMeetingsSince Since KyotoKyoto
Efforts are stalled to develop new, post-Kyoto international agreement
to combat climate change
MDCs vs. LDCs continue to MDCs vs. LDCs continue to disagree on emission cuts and disagree on emission cuts and
fundingfunding
Current International EffortsCurrent International Efforts
Deep cuts in emissions will be Deep cuts in emissions will be required to hold increase to 2required to hold increase to 2o o CC
general agreement to try to hold general agreement to try to hold the increase in global temperature the increase in global temperature
to 2 degrees Celsiusto 2 degrees Celsius
Climate ChangeClimate Change
Climate ChangeClimate Change Currently the U.S. does not Currently the U.S. does not have a clear policy on reducing have a clear policy on reducing
greenhouse gas emissionsgreenhouse gas emissions
No national goal for reduction No national goal for reduction of greenhouse gas emissionsof greenhouse gas emissions
The quality of life for future The quality of life for future generations is at stakegenerations is at stake
World emissions of greenhouse World emissions of greenhouse gases must be cut 70-80% by 2050gases must be cut 70-80% by 2050
Climate ChangeClimate Change