{

Global Warming: Causes and Effects

A presentation by:

Emily SwainSteve TownsendAmanda WashingtonKeenan WhitesidesLinsdey Williams

htt

p:/

/ww

w.b

bc.

co.u

k/s

chools

/gcs

eb

itesi

ze/s

cien

ce/i

mag

es/

glo

bal_

tem

p_g

rap

h.g

if

Over the past 140 years, scientists have noticed the following:

• Increased global temperature

• Patterned increases and decreases throughout the year

What does Global Warming mean?

1860

1880

1940

1960

1980

2000

1900

1920

Year vs. Average Global Temperature

Studies of Global Warming:

Studying Earth’s core samples, paleoclimatologists know:• Earth’s temperature is increasing at a rapid

rate.• Global Warming and Cooling is a cycle.• Humans are altering and accelerating that

cycle.

• Notice that there are increases and decreases every year.

• The average temperature is rapidly accelerating.

htt

p:/

/ww

w.b

bc.

co.u

k/s

chools

/gcs

eb

itesi

ze/s

cien

ce/i

mag

es/

glo

bal_

tem

p_g

rap

h.g

if

1860

1880

1940

1960

1980

2000

1900

1920

Year vs. Average Global Temperature

How are humans accelerating the trend?• Global Warming is

caused by the inability of the Sun’s heat to escape our atmosphere.

• That inability is caused by the thickening of the Ozone Layer in our atmosphere.

How are humans accelerating the trend?

• The thickening of the Ozone Layer is caused by an abundance of Greenhouse Gases in our atmosphere.

• Those Greenhouse Gases are released when humans burn fossil fuels – fuels containing Carbon.

htt

p:/

/ww

w.l

ilit

hg

all

ery

.com

/art

icle

s/en

viro

nm

en

tal/

imag

es/

Glo

bal-W

arm

ing

-02.jp

g

How are humans accelerating the trend?• Production of farm animals

• Waste from farm

animals (like cows) releases large amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

• Deforestation • When trees are cut

down they release the carbon that is inside them into the atmosphere and no longer absorb the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis

The Effects of Our Actions:

Changes in Weather Patterns • As the temperature of the atmosphere

increases, so will the temperature of the ocean and this will cause disruption of ocean currents.

• This temperature increase will cause the climate and weather to change all over the Earth.

The Effects of Our Actions:

Melting of polar ice caps and glaciers • As temperature increases it causes glaciers to

melt, which leads to sea levels rising. • There will also be an abundance of freshwater

from caps in oceans• This could also lead to loss of habitats for

animals.

The Effects of Our Actions:

Spread of Disease • As temperatures increase, disease causing

bacteria, viruses, and organisms will spread to new places.

What can we do?• Unfortunately, the damage has been done.• We need to take the following steps to insure

minimal disruption:• Invest in clean energy – no more fossil fuels• Fossil fuels include Coal, Oil, Natural Gas.• Some alternatives are: Solar Power, Wind

Power, Geothermal Power, Hydroelectric Power, Biomass Power

http://www.thegreenbubble.org/images/renewable-energy.gif

http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/RenewableEnergy11.jpg

Solar Power:

• Uses the power of the Sun to create energy.

• Effective, yet currently expensive.

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/Images/Solar_Power.jpg

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/solar-power.jpg

Wind Power:• Uses the power of the wind to create

energy.• Effective, yet currently expensive.

http://thecostaricanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/windpower.jpg

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/wind-power.jpg

Geothermal Power:• Uses the power of the Earth’s Core to create

energy.• Effective, yet currently very expensive to set

up and use efficiently.

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/images/energy/geothermal-fossil-energy/production-electricity-from-geothermal-energy.jpg

Hydro Power:• Uses the power of water to create

energy.• Effective, yet currently expensive.• Very disruptive to water ecosystems.

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/images/technical/hydro-power.jpg

Biomass Power:• Uses the power of breaking down

landmass to create energy.• Not as effective, also very dangerous.• Disrupts natural habitats in large

amounts.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/biomass/images/biomass_graphic.jpg

Closing:

• Increasing global temperatures have negatively affected our environment.

• It is because of humans that the average global temperatures are rising.

• The only way to stop the increase is to:• Change the way that we are

living - Use clean energy - Cease the burning of

fossil fuels

http://www.stuffintheair.com/images/global-warming-effect-21304194.jpg