Global warming

Global Warming

Greatest Threat To Humanity

T. Umapathysivam10. 08. 2010

Our Focus

Global warming – Overview

Causes of global warming

Effects of global warming

Control global warming

What is Global Warming?

• Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises).

• It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.

• This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they die.

Global Warming - ExamplesJune 2002 Dec 2003

Colorado River, Arizona

Global Warming - Examples

1914 2004

Portage Glacier, Alaska

Why it is happening?

Main cause

• Raise in normal temperature• Imbalance in greenhouse effect

Greenhouce Gases

Nitrous oxide

Water

Carbon dioxideMethane

Sulfur hexafluoride

The Sun’s energy passes through the car’s windshield.

This energy (heat) is trapped inside the car and cannot pass back through the windshield, causing the inside of the car to warm up.

Greenhouse Effect

Why it happens?

Burning carbon-containing fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide

C + O2 = CO2

CO2 Significant greenhouse pollutant

Humans have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the

atmosphere by more than 37% since the Industrial Revolution. - NOAA 2008

The most carbon dioxide (385 ppm) in 800,000 years. - Prof. Thomas Blunier, Univ. of Copenhagen; Monaco Declaration 2008.

Methane from rice paddies both ends of animals, garbage in landfills and mining

operations

Global Warming - Effects

Geographical effects

Climate change

Wildlife

humans

Melting Sea IceMelting Sea Ice

7

23% smaller than previous minimum; 39% smaller than average Ice 53% thinner in region of North Pole between 2001 and 2007 (NOAA Report Card 2008)Ice only 3 feet thick in most locations (NOAA FAQ, 2007In September 2007 an area the size of Florida (69,000 square miles) melted in six days (NSIDC 2007) Humpback whales spotted in Arctic Ocean for first time in 2007

The Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2040(U.S National Center for Atmospheric Research, 2006)

“Society can still minimize the impacts on Arctic ice.” Dr. Marika Holland, National Center for Atmospheric Research

20002040

Melting Sea Ice

Sea-level rise projections : a few inches to a few feet

•2 ft: U.S. would lose 10,000 square miles•3 ft: Would inundate Miami•Affects erosion, loss of wetlands, freshwater supplies•Half of the world’s population lives along coasts•Big question: Ice sheets

Spread of disease

• As northern countries warm, disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing swine flu and other disease with them.

As the temperature of oceans rise, so will the probability of more frequent and stronger hurricanes.

Warmer waters and more hurricanes

Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat

waves

Increase in frequent volcanic eruptions due to rise in

temperatures

Forest fire increased due to hot winds

Nitrous oxide from fertilizers and other

chemicals

Climate Change

• Important factor affected as a result of global warming

• Climate change happens when there is a change in– Sun’s output– Earth’s orbit– Drifting continents– Volcanic eruptions– Greenhouse gases

Weather Vs Climate“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” Mark Twain

US National Weather Service

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Wildlife effects

Wildlife effects

• Effects of global warming on animals is one of serious threat to – Biodiversity– Extinction

• Some species migrates from one place to other for survival

Polar Bear

• Polar bear who depend on sea ice announced as an endangered species

• The numbers in the western Hudson bay down by 22% in 17 years

• The cubs perished from 61 to 22 per 100 females

• Increase in cannibalism

Brown BearFactors of Concern:

Diet impairment: fish and berries (Kenai Brown Bears – fish 90% of diet v. black bears 10%)Hibernation disturbances for reproducing females (Jan-May)

2 months to implantCub growthFlooding of dens

Reduction in productivity and survival rates following salmon decline in

Caribou

The Western Arctic Caribou Herd

shrank by 113,000

Since 1989, the Porcupine Caribou

Herd has declined at 3.5% per year

to a low of 123,000 animals

in 2001 Freezing rain coats lichenChanging riversLess tundra

Birds Threatened

Birds flying higher, farther away Lakes and rivers too low Fewer birds seen

Migratory Birds Population appears to be “in peril”(Consensus Report,

2006)

Declined from over 7 million to 3.39 million Record low in 2006: 3.2 million

70% breed in western boreal forest;

Fastest rate of decline there “Declines reflect breeding season events.

19% wetland loss in Yukon Flats

Where ponds lose 20% or more surface, scaup food sources decline

Effects on human beings

Global warming and Human Health

• Global warming will affect human health in a number of different ways

• The spread of infectious diseases will be affected

• Agriculture will be affected• Extreme weather patterns will be affected• The amount of smog near the ground will be

affected• The supply of freshwater available to humans

will be affected

The infectious diseases

• Infectious diseases can be carried by many different organisms, among them are ticks, flies and mosquitoes.

• When the climate becomes warmer such organisms called vectors such as ticks, flies and mosquitoes can breed easier in the warmer wetter climates.

• As climate change begins to affect our planet to a greater extent the infectious disease carrying organisms will be able to reach higher altitudes and will have a longer season of breeding, increasing the likelihood of a human being in contact with the disease

• Also, as the climate warms the amount of algae and fish that produce toxins poisonous to humans will increase

Human Health and Extreme Weather Patterns

• A study done in relation to the city of New York shows that the number of people who die heat related deaths annually there would increase to around 1,700 people annually also by only 2050

• Also, there a potential trend for more hurricanes when the temperature of the seas increase because hurricanes are fueled by warm ocean waters

• Although the actual number of hurricanes may not increase as a result of global warming, it is their intensity that is thought to increase, or their potential energy

• As a result of an potential increase in the intensity and thus possibly the amount of damage many hurricanes could be capable of doing, insurance agencies who are paying for increased amounts of damage due to hurricanes could even go bankrupt as a result

Human Health and Agriculture

• A good part of the world and its countries rely on agriculture as their main source of income and of food

• In a first scenario precipitation is expected to increase due to global warming, meaning that many crops will receive too much water and will be drowned as fields flood due to a projected rise of 40 centimeters in sea level

• In a second scenario the amount of evaporation is expected to increase due to global warming, meaning that even more crops will die due to a lack of water

• For many countries this change could mean death, in fact that projected number of starving people worldwide is expected to be 40-300 million people in addition to the 600 million already projected to be starving in 2060

Human Health and Water Supply

• Due to global warming the amount of annual precipitation and the amount of ice converted to freshwater from the polar ice caps is projected to increase

• A rise in sea level is projected for 2100 of as much as 40 centimeters

• This rise in sea level could not only destroy human dwellings and human places of agricultural production but could also destroy many sea-side aquifers which would deplete the general water supply for humankind

Human Health and Air Conditions

• Due to global warming, the amount of smog that is created by nitrous oxide, or ozone that is near the ground, will increase

• An increase in the amount of smog near the ground level could potentially result in fatally warm summer days for those humans sensitive to such gases

• As gases such as smog enter human lungs, they can increase the potential of lung infection which can lead to death

WHAT CAN WE DO?Ways to stop/control global warming

Energy Conservation

• It is one of the most important task that should be considered

• Using alternate sources of energy in daily life is better way to conserve energy

REDUCE USE

Plastic bags and cups do not decompose so harmful to environment

Paper bags and cups are eco friendly and easily decomposable

Reduce the usage of cars for short distances

Walk /use cycles for short distances

Turn to compact florescent light which saves more than 80% of energy

Avoid turning up the air conditioner. Instead dress lightly or use a fan.

Avoid turning up the air conditioner. Instead dress lightly or use a fan.

Keep rooms cool by closing the blinds, shades, or curtains.

Turn off the lights when you leave. Turn off the lights when you leave.

Conserve electricity! DO NOT leave appliances on standby

Conserve electricity! DO NOT leave appliances on standby

REUSE

Paper can be reused for various purposesCovers and boxes which comes with products can be used for decorative purposesPlastic bags can be used for carrying small things

RECYCLE & REUSEWhat Can Be Recycled?

Paper Items Paper Cardboard Envelopes Phone Books Post-it Notes

Magazine

Bottles and Cans

Cans Plastic Bottles Glass Bottles Aluminum Foil Yogurt and Cottage Cheese

containers

Use alternate energy courses

• Alternate energy sourcesNuclearWindGeothermalHydroelectricSolarFusion

Advantages of 3R’s

Reduction of wastages

Less pollution

Efficient use of

resources

Increase in energy

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