lecture 1 global warming

7/28/2019 Lecture 1 Global Warming

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Global WarmingLecture-1


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What is Global Warming?

An increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphereand oceans

Global temperature on bothland and sea increased by0.6 0.2 C over the pastcentury

Volume of atmosphericcarbon dioxide increasedfrom 280 parts per

million in 1800 to 367 in2000, a 31% increaseover 200 years


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Our Changing Climate

The snow cover in theNorthern Hemisphere andfloating ice in the Arctic

Ocean have decreased

Sea level has risen 4-8inches over the pastcentury

Global surface temp. couldrise 1-4.5F (0.6-2.5C) inthe next fifty years, and2.2-10F (1.4-5.8C) in thenext century

Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0F

since the late 19th century


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What causes it?

Human Impacts-Atmospheric greenhouse gasestrap some of the outgoingenergy, retaining heat

Since industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide increased 30%,methane more than doubled, nitrous oxide risen by 15%.

These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earths atmosphere

Greenhouse Gases -

CO2 Methane Nitrous oxide Fluorinated compounds

Natural Impacts-Change in suns energy output

Volcanoes Water Vapor Clouds


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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Animal agriculture, manure,natural gas, rice paddies,landfills, coal, and other

anthropogenic sourcescontribute about 450million tons of methaneeach year

Atmospheric

concentrations of CO2 andCH4 have increased by 31%and 149% respectivelyabove pre-industrial levelssince 1750

Combustion of fossil fuels coal-burning power plants,

automobile exhausts, factory smokestacks, other waste ventsof the human environment contribute 22 billion tons of carbondioxide and other greenhouse gases each year


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Greenhouse Gas EmissionsPower Plants

40% of carbon dioxide emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels for the purpose ofelectricity generation

Cars20% of carbon dioxide emissions comes from the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of cars and light trucks with poor gas mileage contribute the most to

global warming

TrucksAnother 13% of carbon dioxide emissions come fromtrucks used mostly for commercial purposes

AirplanesAviation causes 3.5 percent of global warming,and the figure could rise to 15 percent by 2050

Carbon Dioxide from BuildingsBuildings structure account for about 12% ofcarbon dioxide emissions


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Greenhouse Gas EmissionsMethane

Methane is more than 20 times as effective as CO2 at trapping heat in theatmosphere 2004 Levels of atmospheric methane have risen 145% in the last 100 years Derived from sources such as rice paddies, bovine

flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuelproduction

In flooded fields, anaerobic conditions develop

and the organic matter in the soil decomposes

Nitrous oxide Naturally produced by oceans and rainforests Man-made sources-nylon and nitric acid

production, the use of fertilizers in agriculture,

cars with catalytic converters and the burningof organic matter

Deforestation Responsible for 25% of all carbon emissions

entering the atmosphere by the burning and cutting of about 34 million acres oftrees each year
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Major_greenhouse_gas_trends.png


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The Carbon Cycle


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WarmingNegative EffectsRising Sea Level

Change of precipitation and local climateconditions; acid rain

Alteration of forests and crop yields

Expansions of deserts into existing rangelands

More intense rainstorms

Destabilization of Ocean currents

Positive EffectsCan stimulate plant growth in places where CO2 and temperature are the limitingfactors (preventing photorespiration which can destroy existing sugars)

Melting Arctic ice may open the Northwest Passage in summer, which would cut5,000 nautical miles from shipping routes between Europe and Asia


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What Can be Done: AlternativesRenewable Energy Sources

Solar Energies Wind Power Biomass Geothermal

Changes In Vehicle Systems

Hybrid Fuel CellBattery-

Electric


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Kyoto Protocol 1997, Kyoto, Japan developed countries

agreed to specific targets for cutting theiremissions of greenhouse gases

Industrialized countries committed to anoverall reduction of emissions of greenhousegases to 5.2% below 1990 levels for the period2008 - 2012

Objective is the stabilization of greenhouse gasconcentrations in the atmosphere at a level thatwould prevent dangerous anthropogenicinterference with the climate system


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Conclusion Global Change is multifaceted (climate, nitrogen, land use, invasive,

biodiversity, air quality, etc.)

The greenhouse effect is a natural process which is necessary tomaintain living conditions on the planet

However, the natural planetary greenhouse effect has beenaugmented by human activities, including primarily fossil fuel useand deforestation.

Responsibility to improve environmental conditions lies upon all ofus as individuals

Concentrate on preventing environmental degradation before itstarts

Alternatives are feasible and can be used


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References Choi, O. and A. Fisher (2003) "The Impacts of Socioeconomic Development and

Climate Change on Severe Weather Catastrophe Losses: Mid-Atlantic Region (MAR)and the U.S." Climate Change, vol. 58 pp. 149

Dyurgerov, Mark B, Mark F. Meier (2005). Glaciers and the Changing Earth System: a2004 Snapshot, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, Occasional Paper

Climate Change and Global, Anup Shah, Global Issues, Warming

http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asp

The CarbonCycle & the Greenhouse Effect, Corresponding Readings in Primack,Richard B. http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htm

The Effects of Global Warming,http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.html

Evidence of Global Warming, http://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_evd.htm

The impact of global warming in Asia, http://www.climatehotmap.org/asia.html
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asphttp://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asphttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htmhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.htmlhttp://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_evd.htmhttp://www.climatehotmap.org/asia.htmlhttp://www.climatehotmap.org/asia.htmlhttp://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_evd.htmhttp://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/1848/global.htmlhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htmhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htmhttp://www-personal.umich.edu/~dallan/nre220/outline20.htmhttp://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asp

lecture 1 global warming

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