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What is it? What will it do? What can we do about it?

Global Warming

What is Global Warming?

• An increase in the Earth’s atmospheric and oceanic temperatures due mostly to pollution

What Causes Global Warming?

• Greenhouse Gases– Definition: Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and

emit radiation• some greenhouse gases are natural

– water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone• other greenhouse gases are manmade

– carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane

– Manmade greenhouse gases result from burning waste, wood, and fossil fuels

– We need some greenhouse gases to keep the Earth warm

– Too many greenhouse gases, however, make the Earth HOT

• This is known as: THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The Greenhouse Effect

The ENHANCED Greenhouse Effect

• When too many greenhouse gases are present, less radiation from the sun is able to escape the Earth’s atmosphere

• This causes the Earth’s temperature to increase

The Earth’s Rising Temperature

• According to StopGlobalWarming.com:– Scientists commissioned by the United Nations have determined

that global temperatures should increase by 1.1°C – 6.4°C over the next few decades.

– The earth’s temperature has already increased 0.17°C every decade since 1978.

– Several SRES scenarios were developed that took into account: population growth, economic activity, international co-operation, and the use of fossil fuels / renewable resources

• A1 : The A1 scenarios are of a world more integrated • A2 : The A2 scenarios are of a world more divided • B1 : The B1 scenarios are of a world more integrated, and more

ecologically friendly• B2 : The B2 scenarios are of a world more divided, but more

ecologically friendly– All scenarios show a dangerous increase in temperature levels

The Earth’s Rising Temperature

What Happens When the Temperatures Rise?

• Polar ice caps melt

• Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves

• Warmer water and more hurricanes

• Rise in sea levels

• Massive crop failures

• Extinction of plant and animal species

Polar Ice Caps from 2004-2007

Hurricane Katrina – The New Norm?

South Florida – Before and After Rising Sea Levels

How Can We Prevent These Atrocities?

• Recycling• Purchasing environmentally safe

automobiles• Using minimal electricity • Reducing CO2 emissions• Spreading the word on global warming• Cap and Trade Programs• Approving the Kyoto Protocol

Sources• http://www.sei.ie/images_upload/Schools/Secondary_Schools/Subje

cts/Geography_LC/Greenhouse_Effect_/greenhouseeffect.jpg• http://environment.about.com/od/faqglobalwarming/f/

greengases.htm• http://whitepaper.climatechange.gov.au/science/faq/images/

gheffect-enhanced.jpg • http://www.stopglobalwarming.com.au/images/future_forecasts/

global_warming_temperature_trends_projections.jpg • http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-

effects-of-global-warming/276 • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/archive/236/images/photos/3466/

original/original.jpg• http://www.freewebs.com/boomboy321/Hurricane.jpg• http://mydailyclarity.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/indian-

farmer.jpg• http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/extinctions.gif