Download - Global environmental issues
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change
in the statistical distribution of weather patterns
over periods ranging from decades to millions of
years. It may be a change in average weather
conditions, or in the distribution of weather around
the average conditions.
Climate change is caused by factors such
as biotic processes, variations in solar
radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and
volcanic eruptions.
1
Cause of Climate Change
Human Causes
Increase green house gasses(emulsion from burning
fossils fuels-oil, coal etc.)
Pollution, smog from factories.
Deforestation
Increasing Population (More people more CO2)
2
Continued…
Natural Causes
The arctic tundra and wetlands release methane, a
greenhouse gas
Earth naturally has a cycle of climate change that
occurs every 40,000 years
The sun’s solar energy output is changing and
naturally increases Earth average temperature by
about 1’C every century
Earth’s orbit and tilt alter in relation to the sun, which
changes solar energy output.
2
Effects of Climate Change
Migrating birds are forced to change their time and
place of migration
Melting of glaciers will lead to higher sea level,
which will cause floods and put many low elevation
regions at risk of disappearing under water
Longer summers can disrupt animal habitation
New and widespread diseases because of warm
climate
Droughts, heat waves, extreme winter and storms,
hurricanes, typhoons
2
Global Warming
Global warming refers to an unequivocal and
continuing rise in the average temperature of
Earth's climate system.
Since 1971, 90% of the warming has occurred in the
oceans. Despite the oceans' dominant role in
energy storage, the term "global warming" is also
used to refer to increases in average temperature
of the air and sea at Earth's surface.
Since the early 20th century, the global air and sea
surface temperature has increased about 0.8 °C
Continued…
(1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase
occurring since 1980. Each of the last three
decades has been successively warmer at the
Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since
1850.
Emissions of greenhouse gases grew 2.2% per year
between 2000 and 2010, compared with 1.3% per
year from 1970 to 2000.
Causes of Global Warming
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning
power plants
Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for
transportation
Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such
as rice paddies, and from Arctic sea beds
Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood,
pulp, and farmland
Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on
croplands
Effects of Global Worming
Rise in sea levels worldwide
More killer storms
Massive crop failures
Widespread extinction of species
Disappearance of coral reefs
Remedies
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning
Change a Light Bulb
Drive Less and Drive Smart
Buy Energy-Efficient Products
Use Less Hot Water
Continued…
Use the "Off" Switch
Plant a Tree
Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company
Encourage Others to Conserve
Cause of Green House
Deforestation
Cutting down of trees, thus, leads to an
increase in the carbon dioxide level in the
atmosphere, eventually enhancing the
greenhouse effect.
Burning of Fossils
Greenhouse gases can also be released into
the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil
fuels, oil, coal, and gas.
Continued…
Electrical Appliances
Some processes of the cement manufacturing
industries also act as a cause towards the
greenhouse effect.
Population Growth
With the increase in population, the needs
and wants of people increase which
consequently increases deforestation,
manufacturing, and industry processes.
Remedies
Recycle your paper, beverage containers, milk
jugs, and tin cans so that they can be used to
make new material and so that we don't waste
natural resources.
Reuse house hold items.
Car pool or find another way to travel in order to
preserve the earth's natural resources.
Acid Rain
Acid rain is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Burning oil, gas and coal in power stations releases
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere. Burning
oil and petrol in motor vehicles puts nitrogen oxides
(NOX) into the atmosphere.
These gases mix with water droplets in the
atmosphere creating weak solutions of nitric and
sulphuric acids. When precipitation occurs these
solutions fall as acid rain.
Effects of Acid Rain
increases the acidity levels of rivers, lakes and seas.
This can kill aquatic life. Acid rain increases the
acidity levels of soils. This can kill vegetation
has been found to destroy the roots and leaves of
forests in Germany and Scandinavia have been
destroyed as the result of acid rain emissions from
the UK
can erode buildings and monuments (particularly if
they are made from limestone)
Remedies
In the area of transportation, NOx needs to be
removed from motor vehicles exhaust.
Understand acid deposition’s causes and effects
Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes
Use alternative energy sources
Restore a damaged environment
Depletion of Ozone Layer
Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related
phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a
steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total
volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere (the ozone
layer), and a much larger springtime decrease in
stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The
latter phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole.
In addition to these well-known stratospheric
phenomena, there are also springtime polar
tropospheric ozone depletion events.
Effects of Ozone Depletion
Skin cancer: Exposure to ultraviolet rays poses an
increased risk of developing several types of skin
cancers, including malignant melanoma, basal
and squamous cell carcinoma.
Eye damage: Direct exposure to UV radiations can
result in photo keratitis (snow blindness), and
cataracts.
Immune system damage: Effects of UV rays include
impairment of the immune system. Increased
exposure to UV rays weakens the response of the
immune system.
Effects of Ozone Depletion
Accelerated aging of skin: Constant exposure to
UV radiation can cause photo allergy, which results
in the outbreak of rash in fair-skinned people.
Other effects: Ozone chemicals can cause difficulty
in breathing, chest pain, throat irritation, and
hamper lung functioning.
Remedies
Limit private vehicle driving
Use eco-friendly household cleaning products
Avoid using pesticides
Developing stringent regulations for rocket
launches
Banning the use of dangerous nitrous oxide