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By: M. Faisal PanawalaBy: M. Faisal Panawala

T H E G R E A T E S T T H R E A T

Global warmingGlobal warming, a recent , a recent warming of the Earth's warming of the Earth's lower atmosphere, is lower atmosphere, is believed to be the result of believed to be the result of an enhanced greenhouse an enhanced greenhouse effect due to increased effect due to increased concentrations of concentrations of greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases in the in the atmosphere. atmosphere.

IntroductionIntroduction

Effects of Global WarmingEffects of Global Warming

Extreme WeatherExtreme Weather Melting Ice Sheet & GlaciersMelting Ice Sheet & Glaciers Raising Sea LevelsRaising Sea Levels Effects on AgricultureEffects on Agriculture Effects on Plant & AnimalsEffects on Plant & Animals Human HealthHuman Health Forest FiresForest Fires

Extreme WeatherExtreme Weather

Source ACIA, 2004Jennifer Allen Animation

Warming temperatures are Warming temperatures are already causing significant already causing significant changes to mountain changes to mountain glaciers around the world, glaciers around the world, ice sheets in Greenland and ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic, and polar sea the Antarctic, and polar sea ice in the Arctic ice in the Arctic

Storms are expected to be more frequent and Storms are expected to be more frequent and more intense in a warmer world. Water will also more intense in a warmer world. Water will also evaporate more rapidly from soil, causing it to dry evaporate more rapidly from soil, causing it to dry out faster between rains. Some regions might out faster between rains. Some regions might actually become drier than before actually become drier than before

Ice Sheets & Ice Sheets & GlaciersGlaciers

Sea LevelsSea Levels

As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume and thus raising sea level. The melting of glaciers and thus raising sea level. The melting of glaciers and ice sheets, especially around Greenland, and ice sheets, especially around Greenland, further swells the sea. further swells the sea.

Effects on AgricultureEffects on Agriculture For some time it was hoped that a positive effect For some time it was hoped that a positive effect

of global warming would be increased agricultural of global warming would be increased agricultural yields, because of the role of carbon dioxide in yields, because of the role of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis but climate change will decrease photosynthesis but climate change will decrease the overall productivity.the overall productivity.

Polar bearsPolar bears WalrusesWalruses Ice sealsIce seals Black guillemotsBlack guillemots KittiwakesKittiwakes SalmonSalmon CaribouCaribou Arctic graylingArctic grayling

Rising temperatures

Shrinking habitat

Food harder to get

Expanding disease

Polar bearsWalrusesIce seals

Caribou

Black guillemotsKittiwakesSalmon

Arctic grayling

Effects on AnimalsEffects on Animals

International Health ImpactsInternational Health Impacts

West Nile virus mosquito vector

Canadian Ministry of Forests

USFS photo

Increased epidemics of malaria Increased epidemics of malaria in Africa and new cases in Turkey in Africa and new cases in Turkey and elsewhereand elsewhere

Increased cerebral-Increased cerebral-cardiovascular conditions in cardiovascular conditions in China; dengue fever in SE AsiaChina; dengue fever in SE Asia

In Europe, increased heat In Europe, increased heat wave deaths (52,000 in 2003, wave deaths (52,000 in 2003, (EPI (EPI

2006)2006)), typhoid fever, Vibrio ), typhoid fever, Vibrio vulnificus, Ostreopsis ovata, vulnificus, Ostreopsis ovata,

Congo Crimea hemorrhagic feverCongo Crimea hemorrhagic fever

More mercury release; More mercury release; flooding; and storms flooding; and storms

WHO: 150,000 deaths and 5 WHO: 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses/year from GW; million illnesses/year from GW; double by 2030 double by 2030 (Nature 2005)(Nature 2005)

Ocean AcidificationOcean AcidificationOcean AcidificationOcean Acidification

CO2 + H20 HCO3- + H+

Water becomes more acidic.

(ACID)

Remains in the atmosphere (greenhouse gas)

Dissolves in sea water

CO2

CO2

Over the last 200 years, about 50% of all CO2 produced on earth has been absorbed by the ocean. (Royal Society 6/05)

4.6 million4.6 million acres burned acres burned in 2005in 2005

6.6 million6.6 million acres burned acres burned in 2004in 2004

Forest FiresForest FiresForest FiresForest Fires

Bureau of Land ManagementJohn McColgan photo

Source: NOAA National Climate Data Center

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

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Alaska Acres Burned 1956-2005

Causes of Global WarmingCauses of Global Warming

Green House Effect:Green House Effect: The name The name comes from an incorrect analogy comes from an incorrect analogy with the warming of air inside a with the warming of air inside a greenhouse compared to the air greenhouse compared to the air outside the greenhouse. The outside the greenhouse. The greenhouse effect was discovered greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and first investigated quantitatively first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.

Types of Green House GasesTypes of Green House Gases Carbon dioxide:Carbon dioxide: The process of burning invariably emits The process of burning invariably emits

carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, or carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, or gas is a major carbon dioxide producer. The smoke gas is a major carbon dioxide producer. The smoke emitted by various industries and factories, coal fired emitted by various industries and factories, coal fired electrical power plants, using fire wood as fuel all add to electrical power plants, using fire wood as fuel all add to the total carbon dioxide levelsthe total carbon dioxide levels

Methane:Methane: Dumped, decaying garbage is a source of Dumped, decaying garbage is a source of methane and cow dung also emits methane. To some methane and cow dung also emits methane. To some extent these methane can be made use as a fuel for extent these methane can be made use as a fuel for cooking purpose by setting up bio-gas plants which is cooking purpose by setting up bio-gas plants which is fuelled by cow dung or by bio-degradable waste.fuelled by cow dung or by bio-degradable waste.

Nitrous Oxide:Nitrous Oxide: Released primarily by plowing farm soils Released primarily by plowing farm soils and burning fossil fuels. Nitrous oxide traps about 300 and burning fossil fuels. Nitrous oxide traps about 300 times more heat than does the same amount of carbon times more heat than does the same amount of carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide is also released during various dioxide. Nitrous oxide is also released during various agricultural and industrial processes.agricultural and industrial processes.

Chloro Fluro Carbons:Chloro Fluro Carbons: Are widely used in refrigerators, air Are widely used in refrigerators, air conditioners and in aerosol sprays. The chloro fluro conditioners and in aerosol sprays. The chloro fluro carbons cause global warming by damaging the ozone carbons cause global warming by damaging the ozone layer.layer.

Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever possible. possible.

Replace all the light bulbs in and around your home with Replace all the light bulbs in and around your home with energy-efficient fluorescents that use fewer watts for the energy-efficient fluorescents that use fewer watts for the same amount of light same amount of light

Choose energy-efficient appliances when it's time to buy Choose energy-efficient appliances when it's time to buy new ones. new ones.

Decrease your air travel. Decrease your air travel.

Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged materials to prevent further global warming. materials to prevent further global warming.

Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items off they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items off when they’re not being used. when they’re not being used.

Preventing Global WarmingPreventing Global Warming

Preventing Global Warming .. Cont’Preventing Global Warming .. Cont’

Plant a tree. Plant a tree.

Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of your waste as possible & use paper bags when your waste as possible & use paper bags when shopping shopping

Use nontoxic cleaning products. Use nontoxic cleaning products.

Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure often to save gas. often to save gas.

Spread the wordSpread the word

Thank You for Your timeThank You for Your time

For understanding the For understanding the most important Global most important Global IssueIssue