2 - climate and change

8/13/2019 2 - Climate and Change

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Climate and Change

Climate and Change

Is global warming really happening?

Global warming IS caused by humans Global warming is NOT caused byhumans

The concentration of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere has increased considerably since the

industrial revolution.

The earth’s climate has been changing for

millions of years, global warming is nothing new.

E.G. ice ages (glacials) and warmer periods

(inter-glacials).

The maority of greenhouse gases emissions arefrom burning fossil fuels in power stations and car

e!hausts.

Global warming could be a result of a change inthe earth’s orbit around the sun. "Milankoic

Cycles’.

!eforestation has resulted in increasing levels of

greenhouse gases, (releasing C#$ when burnt as

well as not converting C#$ to #$).

Changes in olcanic actiity can effect the

global climate.

Changes in sunspot activity % the amount of

energy being released from the sun.

"hat is global warming?

• Global warming is caused by the "greenhouse effect’.

• #ver the past $&& years, industrial development, population growth and economic growth

have greatly increased the demand for energy.• 'ost of this energy has come from burning "fossil fuels’. (n power stations or by cars).

• This has increased levels of Carbon io!ide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

This has lead to a greater amount of the sun’s heat being trapped by the earth leading to an

increase in global temperatures.

The concentration of

greenhouse gases in

the atmosphere is

increased by air

pollution. The more

greenhouse gassesthere are the more

heat is trapped.

Impacts of #ong $ Term Climate Change• *opulation growth % n periods when the climate has been warmer, crops have been more

easily grown, ma+ing it easier to sustain a higher population.

• amine % uring colder periods crops have failed resulting in famine

• E!tinction of mega-fauna % Changes in climate affects the eco-system and the animals that

have adapted to living in it.



Climate and Change

"hat will the effects of %lobal "arming be in the &' (M)!C*?

*ositive Effects egative effects

'editerranean summers in the /outh of England

will encourage tourism.

'any coastal ports will be flooded, (because of

sea level rise caused by melting at the polar ice

caps.The length of the growing season will increase

enabling farmers to grow more crops.

'any areas will need more, and improved sea

defences costing large amounts of money.

*lants, shrubs and crops will be able to be grown

further north in /cotland.

0rctic plants and animals may face e!tinction.

The 1ouses of *arliament and Trafalgar /2uare

will become flooded and the Thames 3arrier

ineffectual.

'ore pests and diseases will e!ist due to

milder winters.

The 45 will e!perience more "wild weather’.

"hat will the effects of %lobal "arming be in )gypt (#)!C*?

/ocial Effects Environmental Economic Effects0t ris+ would be the buried

treasures archaeologists are still

uncovering in ancient 0le!andria,

once the second most important city

in the 6oman Empire.

/eas could rise by about 78

feet (9.: meters), causing

mass devastation to the

region

3y $7&&, the rising waters could wipe

out the sandy beaches that attract

thousands of tourists to Egypt.

The ile elta is already densely

pac+ed with about 9,&&& people per

s2uare mile ($.8 s2uare +ilo meters).'any would be made homeless.

0n increase in the fre2uency

and severity of sandstorms,

and longer periods of droughtfollowed by more intense

flooding is e!pected.

early half of Egypt;s crops, including

wheat, bananas and rice, are grown in

the ile elta.

0 rise of <.< feet (one meter) wouldflood a 2uarter of the ile elta,

forcing about 7&.=> of Egypt;s

population from their homes.

0reas not under water wouldalso be affected, with salt

water from the

'editerranean contaminating

the fresh ground water from

the ile 6iver used for

irrigation and domestic

purposes.

The impact would be all the more

staggering if Egypt;s population, as

e!pected, doubles to about 78&

million by the middle of the century.These impacts are e!pected to lead

to public health problems, including

the spread of epidemics, especially

in poorer regions.

0lthough 'EC’s (rich countries) produce

most of the C#$ many ?EC’s (poor countries),

li+e Egypt, who produce relatively low amounts

will suffer from global warming



Climate and Change

"hat can we do about %lobal "arming?

• The Technological i!

• /cientists can solve the potential problems of global warming. f C#$ were pumped

into the oceans, it could be ta+en up by plan+ton, eventually forming limestone, which

is a long term store for carbon.

• 6educing Carbon Emissions

• The only sure way to avoid the ris+s of global warming is to reduce C#$ levels on a

global scale.

• 0ctions @or+

• Clean air acts of parliament have significantly reduced pollution and made air cleaner.

6ecycling bins are much more common.

• *lant 'ore Trees

• Trees store C#$ and reduce levels in the atmosphere. *ower companies which burnfossil fuels should be forced to plant trees and contribute to forest proects.

• Carry on as we are

• 0ny reduction in the use of fossil fuels would lead to global recession and suffering

in ?EC’s. ot all countries would agree to cuts and not all the climate change

theories are proved.

o n $&&= the Stern +eiew was published on global warming. t warned that we should act now and

spend money on reducing global warming or pay for it later.

o

The 'yoto ,rotocol (7::A) is an international agreement made to reduce carbon emissions. The 45and Germany reduced emissions by investing in recycling, public transport and renewable energy.

The 4/0 and China have not managed to reduce emissions though.

2 - climate and change

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