History and Scope of Global Warming

by Jennifer Choi, Jason Chou, Anna Movsheva, Nathalie Ng

Facts About Global WarmingGlobal warming describes the dramatic climate changes occurring throughout the world.

Global Warming in the 1880s was only considered as a hypothesis.

However, in the 1980s, global warming began gaining solid evidence and greater public awareness.

It also started being seen by politicians and citizens alike that it is a growing problem.

Facts About Global WarmingAs humans continue to burn fossil fuels including coal, oil, and natural gas, the amounts of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere increases.

The greenhouse gases increase the average temperature within the Earth. An increase in the average temperature would greatly influence the Earth's environment unnaturally.

Deforestation and industrial practices also contribute to the increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.

 

1800-First Industrial Revolution• Increased productivity also increased waste products

produced from such processes1870-Second Industrial Revolution• Mass production, electricity, and chemicals introduced;

created a base for global warming1967-International Global Atmospheric Research Programme• Organized several important field experiments which    

                spotted trends that indicated global warming

History

1970-US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration• Earth Day was proposed to raise awareness about global

warming to politicians• NOAA planed to prevent global warming from getting

worse1978-National Climate Program Act• Congress passed this act to raise public awareness of

global warming 1980-World Climate Research Program• Program formed to understand and predict global

warming

1987-Montreal Protocol• International treaty; discussed the issue of CFCs. Treaty

attempted to phase out the use of CFCs and other harmful chemicals that would destroy the ozone layer

1988-Toronto Conference• First international meeting brought governments and

scientists together to discuss action on climate change • The IPCC addresses the risk of global warming

1992-UN Framework Convention on Climate Change• Attempted to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in

the atmosphere without affecting the climate as much

1997-Kyoto Protocol• UNFCC tried to reduce greenhouse gas

emissions of industrialized nations 2009-Copenhagen conference• A recent UNFCC meeting at government level

before the end of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012

Effects of Global Warming• Global warming affects humans, animals and the

environment.• Climate changes cause extreme weather events,

affect food availability, and lives of animals and humans alike.

• Water temperatures are also increasing, damaging many marine ecosystems.

• Arctic ices are melting, decreasing the amount of hunting grounds for polar bears and other animals.

Effects of Global Warming

• Animals and plant life are starting to become extinct.

• Glaciers, snow, and ice on mountains have been melting rapidly in recent years because of high temperatures, causing sea levels to rise.

• Glaciers are also our sources of drinking water.  If all glaciers disappear, there would be no more drinking water.

• Average temperatures of the world have been increasing more and more each year.

• Increase in water temperature also increases the intensity of hurricanes and tropical storms.

• Tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis have been becoming harsher due to global warming.

Effects of Global Warming• Wildfires, heat waves, and very strong tropical

storms.• Droughts, floods and sea levels continue to grow.• Polluted water can be found after floods.• Global warming can lead to cancers, birth defects,

and mental retardation.• Many new diseases are being spread and are

resistant to antibiotics leading to the failure of public health systems and an increase in the rate of deaths.

 

A lake in Chile that had magically disappeared in 2007, due to melting of glaciers.

"The lake had simply disappeared," Juan Jose Romero, head of Chile's National Forest

Service."

The Chacaltaya glacier was once the world's highest ski run. However, due to global

warming, all that is left today is small patches of snow.

Global Glacier Retreat

Countries by CO2 Emissions

Average annual temperature from 1860 to 2000

Best Case Scenario

• The environment will naturally stabilize due to our efforts

• More efficient use of energy which has been found, will be used

• Alternative energy will be used more widely and more frequently

• The new alternative energy industries will replace the old

• The CO2 ppm will gradually lower                              due to the large amount of trees                           planted

Worst Case Scenario• Industrialization will raise the average temperature• Original "adaptations" to global warming will no

longer apply• Sea levels will rise over 20 feet after glaciers melt• Many animal species will become extinct due to

extreme change in habitats, surroundings, climate• Food will become scarce in certain areas due to the

lack of rainfall• Drinking water will become

scarce                                 due to lack of glacial melt water

Bibliography

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