A presentation on impact of human activities on weather and climate

BY THE STUDENTS OF S.D. PUBLIC SCHOOLEAST PATEL NAGAR

MADE BY:

VASU MALHOTRA

XI

NEW DELHI, INDIA

OUR AIM:

“TO ANALYZE CHANGE IN WEATHER ANDCLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF NEAR BY AREAS ANDFACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.”

“TO SUGGEST METHODS TO DEAL WITH THISCONDITIONS CREATED BY US.”

WHY WE ARE ANALYSING ALL THIS? IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT HUMANS HAVE BEEN LIVING AND MODIFYING THE

EARTH SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

WE CONSCIOUSLY AND SUBCONSCIOUSLY DESTROY OUR PRECIOUS ENVIRONMENT WITHTHE INTENT OF MAKING LIFE EASIER AND ALSO GENERATING ECONOMICAL BENEFITS.

THE FUTURE OF THE EARTH REMAIN UNCERTAIN DUE TO THE DAMAGING IMPACT THATARISE FROM INDIVIDUALS QUEST FOR FULFILLMENT, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT AND ALACK OF RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONME.

DESPITE THE SEASON,OZONE DEPLEITON ,EXTICTION OF MANY SPECIES AND MANY MORE.WE HUMAN’S STILL ENJOY OUR DOMINATION OVER THE PLANET AND EXPLOIT THINGSACCORDING TO OUR NEED

IF THIS CONTINUES ITS EXPECTED ,WE WILL BE PACKING UP WITH OUR NATURAL NON-RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY ,NO SUFFICIENT LAND EVEN TO GENRATE RENEWABLEENERGIES ,TEMPRATURE OF THE EARTH WILL RISE TO 5 TO 8 DEGREES,ONLY THE SPECIESLEFT WOULD BE INSECTS AND HUMANS ,GLACIERS WOULD MELT COVERING HALF THEPRESENT LAND WITH WATER

Change is normal for earth, the problem is that

humans haven’t been here long, and we are only

just beginning to understand our existence

depends on an a static environment that is not

real.

So the problem with climate change is…We are making the change happenfaster than it has ever happenedbefore.

Note * (it has happened this fast,its just that not much else hassurvived when it did – think

WHY SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT CHANGING CLIMATE?

A HEALTHY

ENVIRONMENT IS

ESSENTIAL TO

HUMAN SURVIVAL.

THE QUALITY OF

HUMAN LIFE IS

DIRECTLY RELATED

TO THE QUALITY OF

THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU’LL BE

SHOCKED TO HEAR:

NOW YOU’LL ASK WHAT ARE THE HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE?

ALMOST EVERY HUMAN ACTIVITY HAS SOME EFFECT ON THE CLIMATE

1. CHANGED LIFESTYLE

We are consuming resources at a rate which is waymore than the rate at which earth can replenishthose resources.

Urbanization, Rapid Industrialization andimprovement in standard of living has increased thecarbon footprint of an individual.

2. RELEASE OF GREENHOUSE GASES

The release of greenhouse gases ( CO2,

chlorofluoromethanes, nitrous oxide, carbon tetrachloride,carbon disulfide etc.) Increases the atmospheric absorptionand emission of terrestrial infrared radiation (greenhouseeffect), resulting in warming of lower atmosphere andcooling of the stratosphere.

This extra warming caused by these gases is the primaryand the most dangerous cause of unpredictable weatherand climate conditions.

3. DEFORESTATION

Deforestation is an important factor in global climate change.Climate change is because of a build up of carbon dioxide in outeratmosphere and if we carry on cutting down the main tool we have todiminish this CO2 build up, we can expect the climate of our planet tochange dramatically over the next decades.

Forests play a huge role in the carbon cycle on our planet. Whenforests are cut down, not only does carbon absorption cease, but alsothe carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere as CO2if the wood is burned or even if it is left to rot after thedeforestation process.

It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide arereleased to the atmosphere due to deforestation, mainly the cuttingand burning of forests, every year.

4.AGRICULTURE

The activities of humans are all at the expense offorest lands and other ecosystems.

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, soilsalinity, ground water contamination,

methane generation NOx generation etc. every practiceof agriculture impacted weather and climate in oneway or the other.

5. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Demand for meat, diaryproducts, manure, draughtanimals and easy

transport led to animalrearing in large scaleresulting in soilcompaction, over grazing

energy wastage, methanegeneration, deforestationand water depletion.

6. COMMUNICATION

The communication revolution in the 20th century

increased the demand for paper and otherresources in a tremendous proportion. This ledto

changes in land use pattern, energy utilization,depletion of water and deforestation.

7. ENERGY PRODUCTION

The progress of modernization resulted in more energy input inall the

realms of development. Energy from hydel, thermal and nuclearsources led to greater ecological imbalance on land, water andatmosphere directly or indirectly impacting on

weather and climate. Increase in GHG, deforestation, mininggenerating heat, increased

water consumption, dumping of fly ash etc had direct impact.Even certain sectors of

renewable sources of energy like wind and solar ha d its impacton ecosystems.

8. WASTE GENERATION

The life style changes and throw away culture led togeneration of huge

quantity of municipal, biomedical, industrial andagricultural waste which is cumbersome for

nature to take care in its course. The GHG, openburning , dumping yards and burning of

rubber, plastic etc added more problems.

OUR REQUIREMENTS THEN AND NOW

Average global sea level has increased eightinches since 1880. Global warming is nowaccelerating the rate of sea level rise,increasing flooding risks to low-lyingcommunities and high-risk coastal propertieswhose development has been encouraged bytoday's flood insurance system.

COSTLY AND GROWING HEALTH IMPACTSClimate change has significant implications for our health.

Rising temperatures will likely lead to increased airpollution, a longer and more intense allergy season,the spread of insect-borne diseases, more frequent anddangerous heat waves, and heavier rainstorms andflooding. All of these changes pose serious, and costly, risksto public health.

MORE SEVERE DROUGHTS

Climate change affects a variety of factors associated withdrought and is likely to increase drought risk in certainregions. As temperatures have warmed, the prevalence andduration of drought has increased in the world andclimate models unanimously project increased number ofdroughts in the world.

CHANGING

SEASONS

Spring arrives much earlier than it used to — 10days earlier on average in the northernhemisphere. Snow melts earlier. Reservoirs filltoo early and water needs to be released forflood control. Vegetation and soils dry outearlier, setting the stage for longer and moredamaging wildfire seasons.

MELTING ICETemperatures are rising in the planet’s polar regions,

especially in the Arctic, and the vast majority of theworld's glaciers are melting faster than new snow and icecan replenish them. Scientists expect the rate of meltingto accelerate, with serious implications for future sea levelrise.

THE IMPACTS OF A WARMING WORLD ARE SCARY ENOUGH WHEN CONSIDERED ONE BY ONE. THE VIEW BECOMES MUCH WORSE WHEN ONE

LOOKS AT THEM TOGETHER

Hurricanes in the Caribbean and the United States.Extensive droughts in eastern Africa, Australia, southernEurope and parts of China and India. Uncontrollable floodsin many parts of the world, sometimes preceded by a longdrought.

Extreme droughts have become regular features. Prolongeddrought in Australia has continued for years with veryfew interruptions, and recent droughts in the Amazon,the United States and southern and western Africa havemade life extremely hard for people and wildlife.

Major floods that used to happen only once in 100 yearsnow take place every 10 or 20 years. Flooding can bedisastrous. Houses can be destroyed, lives can be ruined,and wildlife threatened. Major flooding in the Philippines,and Turkey demonstrate the toll that such events canhave on people's lives.

Rising sea levels means that tropical cyclones and otherextreme storms could result in much greater storm surgesthat will destroy coastal communities and ecosystems.

El Niño events have in recent years increased infrequency and are often not interrupted by La Niñaevents (the opposite of this particular climaticseesaw).

A number of scientists say that these changescannot be explained by natural causes. Whilescientific consensus is still out, Climate Witnessesin Fiji or in the Sunderbans are already reportingchanges in their daily lives.

FUTURE

PLANNING

ACT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

WHAT THE

SOCIETY CAN

DO

PRESERVING FORESTS

Our forests are in crisis. The world has lost half its forests, andonly a tenth of what remains is protected. Each year we loseanother 130,000 square kilometres - an area the size ofEngland.

Reducing emissions from burning fossil fuels is just one part ofthe picture. Another vital step is to stop rampantdeforestation, especially of the world’s tropical rainforests,which accounts for up to 20% of the world’s carbon dioxideemissions. We should work with local communities to protectforests from the large-scale expansion of cash-cropmonocultures such as soy or oil palm.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

We should have a vision for a 100% renewable future by 2050.We should work to ensure a transition to an efficient energysystem focused on clean renewable energy sources such aswind, wave and solar power.Most of the energy we use comes from burning fossil fuels,

which is responsible for two thirds of the world’s greenhousegas emissions. And that, as we all know, is causing climate

change.

If we can wean ourselves off fossil fuels we’ll solve a majorportion of our problems.

GETTING A GLOBAL CLIMATE

DEAL

Climate change is a global problem – that’s why weneed international agreement on how to reducegreenhouse gas emissions, conserve forests and helppoorer countries adapt to the impacts of a changingclimate. Major economies such as China, India, Brazil,South Africa, the US and the EU should take harddecisions at home.

CHANGING THE WAY WE

LIVE

We should promote positive changes in the way we alllive, to help us live within the capacity of our one,small planet. It’s more than just switching to low-energy light bulbs, although that’s a positive firststep – it’s about pushing forward new technologies,climate-smart legislation and greener lifestyles.

WHAT YOU CAN

DO?

REDUCE YOUR ENERGY

CONSUMPTION

Making your home more energy efficient can help reduce highenergy bills, improve comfort and protect the environment.When shopping for appliances or other household products, optfor those that have been independently certified to saveenergy and help prevent climate change.

Set your refrigerator temperature at 3 to 5 degrees Celsius (38 to42 degrees Fahrenheit)

Set your freezer between -18 and -15 degrees Celsius (0 and 5degrees Fahrenheit).

Wash only full loads in your dish and clothes washers, and air drywhen possible. Unplug the appliances when you’re not usingthem.

WASTE LESS FOOD

Roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year getslost or wasted. And once that half-sandwich or week-old lasagna is in the trash can, it’seasy to forget about the environmental impacts.

But wasted food contributes billions of tons of greenhouse gases. By the time you step into agrocery store, nearly 3.3 billion tons of emissions are already on their way to theatmosphere due to the production, processing and transportation of food that iseventually wasted. Then, in the landfill, decomposing organic waste generates methane, apotent greenhouse gas that traps 23 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbondioxide. More than 20% of all methane emissions come from landfills.

Wasted food also means wasted water — about 25% of all fresh water consumed annually inthe United States is associated with discarded food. Water losses through food wasteoccur at home, but they also happen through inefficient food harvesting, transport,distribution, processing and storage methods. In the U.S. alone, we throw away or wasteabout 30% of our food — or about 11 trillion gallons of irrigation water.

TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY

The next time you go on vacation or take abusiness trip, consider ways you can cut downon carbon emissions.

Fly direct when possible (takeoff is the mostfuel-intensive segment of any flight) or take atrain.

Use local and public transport whenever possible.

SPREAD THE WORD

Tell the world that the fate of the only planet we’ve ever called home is in

our hands.

THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF THOUSAND SMALL WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN GIVE YOUR CONTRIBUTION IN SAVING THE WEATHER AND

CLIMATE.

TAKE THE PLEDGE

I RECOGNIZE THAT I NEED NATURE.

I RECOGNIZE THAT NATURE GIVES ME THE AIR I BREATHE, THE FOOD I EAT, THE WATER I DRINK AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

I PLEDGE TO PROTECT THE PLANET THAT PROVIDES.

AND I PLEDGE TO SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBOURS — SO THEY, TOO, CAN UNDERSTAND AND

APPRECIATE NATURE’S VALUE.