atmosphericproblems global. global climate change

ATMOSPHERICATMOSPHERIC

PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

GLOBALGLOBAL

Global Global Climate Climate ChangeChange

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

A hot topic !A hot topic ! Among most serious of Among most serious of environmental problems environmental problems facing future generationsfacing future generations


Often called Often called “Global Warming”“Global Warming”

Often called the Often called the “Greenhouse Effect”“Greenhouse Effect”

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect

Atmospheric gases trap Atmospheric gases trap heat (infrared radiation)heat (infrared radiation)

-- like glass in a greenhouse or -- like glass in a greenhouse or glass in a parked carglass in a parked car


VENUSVENUS

Atmosphere = 90x more dense than EarthAtmosphere = 90x more dense than Earth

Surface Temperature = +400Surface Temperature = +400oo C C


MARSMARS

Atmosphere = 0.01 as dense than EarthAtmosphere = 0.01 as dense than Earth

Surface Temperature = -55Surface Temperature = -55oo C C


EARTHEARTH

Atmosphere = just rightAtmosphere = just right

Surface Temperature = +14Surface Temperature = +14oo C C

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect Essential for life on EarthEssential for life on Earth

Without the greenhouse Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature effect, the average temperature

would be –21would be –21oo C C-- below the freezing point of water-- below the freezing point of water

Enhanced Greenhouse EffectEnhanced Greenhouse Effect

Global Warming An enhanced greenhouse An enhanced greenhouse

effect results in increased effect results in increased global temperaturesglobal temperatures

Conclusive detection of global Conclusive detection of global warming has been difficult due to warming has been difficult due to natural fluctuations in temperaturenatural fluctuations in temperature

Global Warming


How can human How can human activities alter composition activities alter composition

of the atmosphere ?of the atmosphere ?

The global The global atmosphere is so vastatmosphere is so vast

Atmosphere CompositionAtmosphere Composition

NitrogenNitrogen == 7878 %%

OxygenOxygen == 21 %21 %

Rare gasesRare gases == 1 %1 %


Rare gasesRare gases == 1 %1 %

Includes: Argon, Neon, Helium, Includes: Argon, Neon, Helium, Krypton, Hydrogen, Radon, Krypton, Hydrogen, Radon, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Ozone, CFCs, and othersOzone, CFCs, and others


Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide

CurrentlyCurrently == 0.0391 %0.0391 % or 391 ppmor 391 ppm

In 1900In 1900 == 0.0300 %0.0300 % or 300 ppmor 300 ppm



FossilFossilFuelsFuels



DeforestationDeforestation


Additional greenhouse gases Additional greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate that contribute to global climate

change include:change include: CFCsCFCs

nitrous oxidenitrous oxide

methanemethane

Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects

Weather-related mortality Infectious diseases

Increased air pollution

Health


Crop yields Irrigation demands Shifts in agricultural areas

Agriculture


Change in forest composition Shift geographic range of forests Forest health and productivity

Forests


Water Resources

Changes in water supply Increased competition for water Impacts on aquatic ecosystems

Acidification of oceans


Sea level rise Erosion of beaches Inundation of coastal lands Costs to protect coast lines

Coastal Areas

Potential Adverse EffectsPotential Adverse Effects Sea level rise


Sea level rise Erosion of beaches Inundation of coastal lands Costs to protect coast lines

Coastal Areas


Shifts in ecological zones Loss of habitat and species

Species and Natural Areas


Precipitation and Storms

Shifts in rainfall distribution Increased severe storms

IntergovernmentalIntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC) Established by the United Nations Established by the United Nations

Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization the World Meteorological Organization

(WMO) in 1988(WMO) in 1988

www.ipcc.chwww.ipcc.ch


Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC)

2,500 of the world’s 2,500 of the world’s leading climate scientists leading climate scientists

and technical expertsand technical experts


Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC)

Purpose – to Purpose – to assess the scientific, assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of human relevant for the understanding of human

induced climate change, its potential induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for mitigation and impacts and options for mitigation and

adaptationadaptation


Change (IPCC)Change (IPCC) Issues an assessment report Issues an assessment report approximately every five years.approximately every five years.

The 4The 4thth Assessment Report Assessment Report was released in 2007.was released in 2007.

2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Warming of the climate system is Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from unequivocal, as is now evident from

observations of increases inobservations of increases inglobal average air and ocean global average air and ocean

temperatures, widespread melting of temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising globalsnow and ice, and rising global

average sea level.average sea level.

2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions

Most of the observed increase in Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is the mid-20th century is very likely very likely due due

to the observed increase in to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas anthropogenic greenhouse gas

concentrations.concentrations.

2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Coping with climate change will Coping with climate change will require a mixture of mitigation and require a mixture of mitigation and

adaptation strategies.adaptation strategies.

Mitigation – Mitigation – reduce greenhouse gas reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance GHG sinks(GHG) emissions and enhance GHG sinks

Adaptation – Adaptation – reduce vulnerability of reduce vulnerability of human and natural systems against human and natural systems against

climate change effectsclimate change effects

2007 IPCC Conclusions2007 IPCC Conclusions Coping with climate change will Coping with climate change will require a mixture of mitigation and require a mixture of mitigation and

adaptation strategies.adaptation strategies.

Energy SupplyEnergy Supply

TransportationTransportation

IndustryIndustry

ForestryForestry

BuildingsBuildings

AgricultureAgriculture

WastesWastes

Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement United Nations Convention United Nations Convention

on Climate Changeon Climate Change Representatives from 166 Representatives from 166

countries met in Kyoto to countries met in Kyoto to discuss reduction of discuss reduction of

greenhouse gas emissionsgreenhouse gas emissions

Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement International Treaty on International Treaty on

climate changeclimate change The objective is the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the

atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with

the climate system."

Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement Treaty went into force in Treaty went into force in

February, 2005.February, 2005.

A total of 191 countries A total of 191 countries ratified the agreement.ratified the agreement.

Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement

The U.S., largest historic The U.S., largest historic source of greenhouse gases source of greenhouse gases in the world, did in the world, did notnot agree agree

to participate.to participate.

Additional international meetings Additional international meetings have been held to develop a new have been held to develop a new

international treaty on climate changeinternational treaty on climate change

Kyoto Agreement was a first Kyoto Agreement was a first step and will soon expirestep and will soon expire

Kyoto AgreementKyoto Agreement

Doha, Qatar 2012Doha, Qatar 2012

Durban, South Africa 2011Durban, South Africa 2011Cancun, Mexico 2010Cancun, Mexico 2010

Copenhagen, Denmark 2009Copenhagen, Denmark 2009Poznan, Poland 2008 Poznan, Poland 2008 Bali, Indonesia 2007 Bali, Indonesia 2007 Nairobi, Kenya 2006 Nairobi, Kenya 2006

Montreal, Canada 2005Montreal, Canada 2005Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004Buenos Aires, Argentina 2004

Milan, Italy 2003Milan, Italy 2003New Dehli, India 2002New Dehli, India 2002

Marrakech, Morocco 2001Marrakech, Morocco 2001The Hague, Netherlands 2000The Hague, Netherlands 2000

Bonn, Germany 1999Bonn, Germany 1999Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998Buenos Aires, Argentina 1998

AdditionalAdditionalClimate Climate Change Change

MeetingsMeetingsSince Since KyotoKyoto

Efforts are stalled to develop new, post-Kyoto international agreement

to combat climate change

MDCs vs. LDCs continue to MDCs vs. LDCs continue to disagree on emission cuts and disagree on emission cuts and

fundingfunding

Current International EffortsCurrent International Efforts

Deep cuts in emissions will be Deep cuts in emissions will be required to hold increase to 2required to hold increase to 2o o CC

general agreement to try to hold general agreement to try to hold the increase in global temperature the increase in global temperature

to 2 degrees Celsiusto 2 degrees Celsius

Climate ChangeClimate Change

Climate ChangeClimate Change Currently the U.S. does not Currently the U.S. does not have a clear policy on reducing have a clear policy on reducing

greenhouse gas emissionsgreenhouse gas emissions

No national goal for reduction No national goal for reduction of greenhouse gas emissionsof greenhouse gas emissions

The quality of life for future The quality of life for future generations is at stakegenerations is at stake

World emissions of greenhouse World emissions of greenhouse gases must be cut 70-80% by 2050gases must be cut 70-80% by 2050

Climate ChangeClimate Change

atmosphericproblems global. global climate change

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