Global Warming and

Climate Change

CLIMATE CHANGE

Difference between climate and weather

Climate: Average weather over a

long period Influenced by slow

changes in the ocean, the land, the orbit of the Earth about the sun, and the energy output of the sun

Fundamentally controlled by the balance of energy of the Earth and its atmosphere

Weather:Daily conditions,

including temperature and rainfall

Can change very rapidly from day to day, and from year to year.

Changes involve shifts in temperatures, precipitation, winds, and clouds.

Difference between global warming and climate change

"Global warming" - gradual increase of the Earth's average surface temperature, due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

"Climate change" - long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation, as well as changes in the seasonal or geographic variability of temperature and precipitation.

How Climate Change Came About

old habits + + new technology ______________

DRAMATICALLY ALTERED CONSEQUENCES

expected increase of another 1.4 - 5.8 degrees Celsius by the year 2100

INDUSTRIALIZATION

- burning of ever greater quantities of

oil, gasoline, coal, cutting of forests and the practice of certain

farming methods

After Effects of Industrialization

Greater amounts of greenhouse gases in

the atmosphere

Is that bad?

Greenhouse gases make life on earth

possible - but in moderation

Augmented and increasing quantities push the global temperature to artificially

high levels alerting the climate

Records show:1990 - warmest

decade of the millennium

1998 - warmest year2005 - 2nd warmest

year

TROPOPAUSE

forestry

energy

industry

agriculture

waste

Human Sources of Greenhouse Gases (GHG)Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Most prevalent GHG

Methane (CH4) – Second most common, 21x CO2 GWPNitrous Oxide (N2O) – 310x CO2 GWP

HFCs, PFCs, and SF6 = range 600 – 23900x CO2 GWP

Sectors Affected by Climate ChangeAgriculture:

Changes in crop yieldsIrrigation demands,

Productivity

Forests: Change in Ecologies,Geographic range of

species, andHealth and productivity

Human Health: Weather related mortality

Infectious disease Air quality - respiratory

illness

Industry and Energy: Changes in Energy

demandProduct demand &

Supply

Water Resources: Changes in water

supplyand water quality

Competition/Trans-border Issues

Coastal Areas: Erosion and flooding

InundationChange in wetlands

3D modeling and visualization tools are used forvulnerability assessment, exact location and

quantification of areas which are susceptible to floods due to rise in sea level.

Study area: Northern part of Navotas, Metro Manila

Philippine Rice Production Arrows indicate El Niño events

(source: Food and Agricultural Organization)

Dry seasons

becoming

drier

Wet seasons

becoming

wetter

ENSO and associated extreme weather events

El Niños have been more frequent, persistent and intense since the mid-1970’s;

Some land areas have been experiencing severe droughts/severe wetness due to inter-decadal / multi-decadal climate variability.

Some increases in total rainfall and number of rainy days (Visayas)

Some increases in frequency and intensity of extreme 24-hour rain events.

Source: PAGASA

Tropical cyclonesAn increase in tropical cyclone occurrences inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

There are seasonal preferred tracks of tropical cyclones crossing the country both during El Nino and La Nina events.

Source: PAGASA

Changes in temperature ranges

Land temperatures

• 0.1 ºC/decade increase in daily daytime temperatures

• 0.2 ºC /decade increase in daily nighttime temperatures

Scientists Sound the AlarmIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

conducted First Assessment in 1990 reflecting views of 400 scientists saying that global warming is real and happening

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeStabilize greenhouse gas emissions “at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-induced) interference with the

climate system”

Kyoto ProtocolDefines Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction targets for Developed

countriesIntroduced three flexibility mechanisms to comply

Division of Parties by Annex

Belarus / Bulgaria / Croatia /Czech Republic / Estonia /

Hungary / Latvia / Liechtenstein/ Lithuania / Monaco / Poland /

Romania / Russian Federation /Slovakia / Slovenia / Ukraine

Non-Annex I Countries = All the Rest of Ratifying Countries

Annex IAustralia /Austria / Belgium /

Canada / Denmark / EC /Finland / France / Germany /Greece / Iceland / Ireland /

Italy / Japan / Luxembourg /Netherlands / New Zealand /Norway / Portugal / Spain /

Sweden / Switzerland / Turkey/ United Kingdom / USA

Annex II

Measures to Address the ProblemMITIGATION MEASURES- delay, if not totally avoid,

the problem

ADAPTATION MEASURES- adjust to the ongoing

situation

Reduce emissions- alternative energy sources (renewables)

Changing lifestyle and rules

- energy efficiency and energy conservation

Expanding forests - forests as sinks- change agricultural methods

Coping- through policies, mass transit, and preference

for environment-friendly technology

Reduce emissions

buy energy efficient appliances and light bulbs

CFLs illuminate more at half the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs

adjust thermostat to reduce energy for cooling

Conserve energy

Turn off aircon, fans and lights when not in use

Walk ...

Ride a bike ...

Take the MRT

Support environment-friendly legislations

Participate in your local government’s efforts to minimize, if

not totally avoid, waste

Reduce ...

Re-use ...Recycle

Plant trees

Trees absorb carbon ...

Hold on to the soil ...

Break up strong winds and typhoons ...

Help maintain biodiversity and ecosystems

“The era of procrastination, of half-measures,

of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays,

is coming to its close ...

In its place, we are entering a period of consequences.

- Sir Winston Churchill

November 12, 1936