facts on global warming_climate change-1

Facts on Facts on Global Global Warming and Warming and

Climate ChangeClimate Change

What is global warming?What is global warming?

Global warming refers to Global warming refers to the increase in the earth’s the increase in the earth’s mean temperature due to mean temperature due to the so-called the so-called enhanced enhanced greenhouse effect.greenhouse effect.

What is greenhouse effect?What is greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse effect refers to the process Greenhouse effect refers to the process by which the gases in the atmosphere by which the gases in the atmosphere near the surface of the earth traps the near the surface of the earth traps the heat that is re-radiated by the earth’s heat that is re-radiated by the earth’s surface and re-emit it downwards. These surface and re-emit it downwards. These gases are called the greenhouse gases gases are called the greenhouse gases (ghgs) and include water vapor, clouds, (ghgs) and include water vapor, clouds, carbon dioxide, methane and others.carbon dioxide, methane and others.

Source: OSTPWater vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the two most abundant natural heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere.

Land,vege, ocean,etc.

trapped by

Sunlight - heat energy

These and other gases keep the Earth’s surface about 60°F (33 °C) warmer than it otherwise would be. Without this natural greenhouse or blanket effect, life as we know it would not be possible

If there were no greenhouse effect, If there were no greenhouse effect, the average temperature on the the average temperature on the earth’s surface would approximately earth’s surface would approximately be -15°C and life on Earth would then be -15°C and life on Earth would then be untenable.be untenable.

What is enhanced What is enhanced greenhouse effect?greenhouse effect?

It is the effect of the increasing It is the effect of the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This increased in the atmosphere. This increased concentrations of ghgs trap most of concentrations of ghgs trap most of the heat re-radiated by the earth’s the heat re-radiated by the earth’s surface into the atmosphere, which surface into the atmosphere, which is like a thickening blanket, making is like a thickening blanket, making the earth warmer. These increases the earth warmer. These increases have been linked to emissions from have been linked to emissions from human activities.human activities.

Global mean temperatures are rising faster with time

100 0.0740.018 50 0.1280.026

Warmest 12 years:1998,2005,2003,2002,2004,200

6, 2001,1997,1995,1999,1990,200

0

Period Rate

Years /decade

Source: IPCC

Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse GasGas

CARBON DIOXIDE - Burning of Fossil Fuels(Oil,Coal) by Powerplants, Industries and Vehicles, transportation, manufacturing

Carbon dioxide


Methane - Decomposition of Garbage and Agricultural Waste Materials, Leaks in Coal Mining and Natural Gas Production

Accounts for 20% of additional greenhouse effects

Methane


Nitrous Oxide:

• Bacterial Breakdown of Nitrogen in Soils and Oceans• Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Pesticides in Agriculture• Biomass Burning • Combustion Process Vehicles• Acid Production Nitrous oxides


Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6

Hydrofluorocarbons

Carbon dioxide: +31% Carbon dioxide: +31%

Methane: +151%Methane: +151%

Nitrous oxide: +17%Nitrous oxide: +17%

Humans are increasing heat-trapping gases Humans are increasing heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere = in the atmosphere = enhanced greenhouse enhanced greenhouse effecteffect

‘Thickening blanket’

Are the greenhouse gases Are the greenhouse gases really increasing?really increasing?

During the pre-industrial revolution, levels During the pre-industrial revolution, levels of carbon dioxide concentration in the of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere was 280 parts per million atmosphere was 280 parts per million (ppm) by volume. By the end of 2005, (ppm) by volume. By the end of 2005, levels increased to 379 ppm.levels increased to 379 ppm.

Methane concentration in the Methane concentration in the atmosphere had also increased from atmosphere had also increased from pre-industrial value of 715 parts per pre-industrial value of 715 parts per billion by volume (ppb) to 1,774 ppb billion by volume (ppb) to 1,774 ppb in 2005.in 2005. Nitrous oxide concentration in the Nitrous oxide concentration in the atmosphere had increased from a atmosphere had increased from a pre-industrial value of 270 ppb to pre-industrial value of 270 ppb to 319 ppb in 2005. 319 ppb in 2005.

What are the effects of What are the effects of global warming?global warming?

Global warming has led to what we call Global warming has led to what we call climate change climate change through anthropogenic through anthropogenic cause or human intervention. These are:cause or human intervention. These are:

increases in minimum (nighttime) increases in minimum (nighttime) temperatures, maximum (daytime) temperatures, maximum (daytime) temperatures, and increases in the temperatures, and increases in the global mean temperature,global mean temperature, increase in sea surface temperatures, increase in sea surface temperatures, and and changes in evaporation, and thus, changes in evaporation, and thus, changes in rainfall patterns among changes in rainfall patterns among others.others.

What was the assessed sea What was the assessed sea level rise due to the level rise due to the

increase in the global mean increase in the global mean temperature?temperature?

According to the IPCC, global sea According to the IPCC, global sea level rise was pegged at an level rise was pegged at an average of 1.8 mm per year from average of 1.8 mm per year from 1961 to 2003, or a total of 0.17 m 1961 to 2003, or a total of 0.17 m for the 20th century.for the 20th century.

What causes sea level rise?What causes sea level rise?

Sea level rise will occur mostly as Sea level rise will occur mostly as a result of the thermal expansion a result of the thermal expansion of warming ocean waters, the of warming ocean waters, the influx of freshwater from melting influx of freshwater from melting glaciers and ice, and vertical glaciers and ice, and vertical movement s of the land itself.movement s of the land itself.

Are there projections for Are there projections for further warming?further warming?

Yes, there are projected Yes, there are projected increases of from 1.1°C increases of from 1.1°C to 6.4°C during the 21st to 6.4°C during the 21st century. The increase century. The increase that will be realized by that will be realized by 2100 will depend on the 2100 will depend on the population growth, population growth, amount and manner of amount and manner of development, adoption development, adoption of environmentally of environmentally clean technologies, and clean technologies, and measures/strategies to measures/strategies to be put in place by the be put in place by the global community.global community.

What are the What are the manifestations/signals of manifestations/signals of

global warming in the local global warming in the local scale?scale? In the Philippines, there already are In the Philippines, there already are

trends of increasing number of hot trends of increasing number of hot days and warm nights, but days and warm nights, but decreasing number of cold days and decreasing number of cold days and cool nights. Both maximum and cool nights. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are minimum temperatures are generally getting warmer.generally getting warmer.

Other extreme weather/climate Other extreme weather/climate events like intense rains have events like intense rains have been seen to be more frequent.been seen to be more frequent.

What are the manifestations/signals of What are the manifestations/signals of global warming in the local scale?global warming in the local scale?

Significant increase in the frequency of hot days

Significant increase in the frequency of warm nights

• Majority of stations show an increase in hot days and warm nights

WARM NIGHTSHOT DAYS

What are the What are the manifestations/signals of manifestations/signals of

global warming in the local global warming in the local scale?scale?

A substantial amount of coral reefs in the A substantial amount of coral reefs in the country have been found to have been country have been found to have been affected by bleaching during events of affected by bleaching during events of warmer sea surface temperatures. warmer sea surface temperatures. Bleaching of the coral reefs is associated Bleaching of the coral reefs is associated with the loss of symbiotic algae and/or with the loss of symbiotic algae and/or their pigments, and the death of the their pigments, and the death of the corals if the warming of the sea surface corals if the warming of the sea surface temperatures are prolonged.temperatures are prolonged.

PROJECTED IMPACTS

What are the expected What are the expected impacts?impacts?

Globally, the expected impacts are numerous. Globally, the expected impacts are numerous. Some are beneficial, like the fertilization effect Some are beneficial, like the fertilization effect of increased concentration of carbon dioxide of increased concentration of carbon dioxide seen to cause improved harvests and the seen to cause improved harvests and the

warmer temperatures in cold countries which warmer temperatures in cold countries which will lead to less death among the very young and will lead to less death among the very young and the elderly.the elderly.


Coastal communities could be affected by Coastal communities could be affected by accelerated sea level rise, so that they are accelerated sea level rise, so that they are affected through possibility of more frequent affected through possibility of more frequent floods and inundation, the possible intrusion floods and inundation, the possible intrusion of saltwater into their ground resources and of saltwater into their ground resources and also, agricultural areas, more risks to human also, agricultural areas, more risks to human settlements in these areas, etc.settlements in these areas, etc.


The beneficial effects of carbon dioxide The beneficial effects of carbon dioxide fertilization on agriculture may be fertilization on agriculture may be negated by higher than threshold negated by higher than threshold temperatures so that harvests could be temperatures so that harvests could be less.less.


More frequent incidences of droughts More frequent incidences of droughts and floods could lead to health problems and floods could lead to health problems like increased incidences of water-borne like increased incidences of water-borne diseases,diseases,

Changed patterns in rainfall and Changed patterns in rainfall and increasing temperatures could increasing temperatures could lead to a change in the lead to a change in the composition of forest speciescomposition of forest species


The fishing industry may also be The fishing industry may also be affected through the decrease in fish affected through the decrease in fish catch if sea surface temperatures catch if sea surface temperatures continue to increase as nutrients could continue to increase as nutrients could become less,become less,


More frequent floods/droughts More frequent floods/droughts could impact on the agricultural could impact on the agricultural production, and thus, the production, and thus, the livelihood of the subsistence livelihood of the subsistence farmer. farmer.

How can individuals help to How can individuals help to mitigate the adverse impacts mitigate the adverse impacts

of global warming?of global warming? Be aware of global warming/climate change Be aware of global warming/climate change

issues and help others know about them.issues and help others know about them.


of global warming?of global warming? Recycle/re-use.Recycle/re-use.


of global warming?of global warming? Recycling cans and bottles help Recycling cans and bottles help

conserve our resources as this will conserve our resources as this will lead to less energy and less elements lead to less energy and less elements used in manufacturing them, while used in manufacturing them, while recycling paper will lead to less recycling paper will lead to less trees being cut down.trees being cut down.


of global warming?of global warming? Save energy by saving electricity Save energy by saving electricity

through the use of energy efficient through the use of energy efficient lighting and appliances, biking/walking lighting and appliances, biking/walking not very far distances and carpooling.not very far distances and carpooling.


of global warming?of global warming? Advocate the use of renewable Advocate the use of renewable

energy such as those from energy such as those from hydrodams, wind, solar radiation hydrodams, wind, solar radiation and biofuels.and biofuels.


of global warming?of global warming? Plant trees and encourage others to plant, too.Plant trees and encourage others to plant, too.


of global warming?of global warming?

Conserve water and other natural Conserve water and other natural resources.resources.


of global warming?of global warming? Be environment friendly.Be environment friendly.

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