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TRANSCRIPT
What is it? What will it do? What can we do about it?
Global Warming
What is Global Warming?
• An increase in the Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic temperatures due mostly to pollution
What Causes Global Warming?
• Greenhouse Gases– Definition: Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and
emit radiation• some greenhouse gases are natural
– water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone• other greenhouse gases are manmade
– carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane
– Manmade greenhouse gases result from burning waste, wood, and fossil fuels
– We need some greenhouse gases to keep the Earth warm
– Too many greenhouse gases, however, make the Earth HOT
• This is known as: THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
The Greenhouse Effect
The ENHANCED Greenhouse Effect
• When too many greenhouse gases are present, less radiation from the sun is able to escape the Earth’s atmosphere
• This causes the Earth’s temperature to increase
The Earth’s Rising Temperature
• According to StopGlobalWarming.com:– Scientists commissioned by the United Nations have determined
that global temperatures should increase by 1.1°C – 6.4°C over the next few decades.
– The earth’s temperature has already increased 0.17°C every decade since 1978.
– Several SRES scenarios were developed that took into account: population growth, economic activity, international co-operation, and the use of fossil fuels / renewable resources
• A1 : The A1 scenarios are of a world more integrated • A2 : The A2 scenarios are of a world more divided • B1 : The B1 scenarios are of a world more integrated, and more
ecologically friendly• B2 : The B2 scenarios are of a world more divided, but more
ecologically friendly– All scenarios show a dangerous increase in temperature levels
The Earth’s Rising Temperature
What Happens When the Temperatures Rise?
• Polar ice caps melt
• Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves
• Warmer water and more hurricanes
• Rise in sea levels
• Massive crop failures
• Extinction of plant and animal species
Polar Ice Caps from 2004-2007
Hurricane Katrina – The New Norm?
South Florida – Before and After Rising Sea Levels
How Can We Prevent These Atrocities?
• Recycling• Purchasing environmentally safe
automobiles• Using minimal electricity • Reducing CO2 emissions• Spreading the word on global warming• Cap and Trade Programs• Approving the Kyoto Protocol
Sources• http://www.sei.ie/images_upload/Schools/Secondary_Schools/Subje
cts/Geography_LC/Greenhouse_Effect_/greenhouseeffect.jpg• http://environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/
greengases.htm• http://whitepaper.climatechange.gov.au/science/faq/images/
gheffect-enhanced.jpg • http://www.stopglobalwarming.com.au/images/future_forecasts/
global_warming_temperature_trends_projections.jpg • http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-
effects-of-global-warming/276 • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/archive/236/images/photos/3466/
original/original.jpg• http://www.freewebs.com/boomboy321/Hurricane.jpg• http://mydailyclarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/indian-
farmer.jpg• http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/extinctions.gif