Download - 2 - Climate and Change
8/13/2019 2 - Climate and Change
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2-climate-and-change 1/3
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.
8/13/2019 2 - Climate and Change
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2-climate-and-change 2/3
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
8/13/2019 2 - Climate and Change
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/2-climate-and-change 3/3
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.