Global climate change Refers to changes in any aspects of the earth’s climate including temperature, precipitation and storm intensity and patterns. Global warming is an increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.

1. Consequences of Global
Warming and climate change
Presented by
Dr. B. Victor., Ph. D
Email : bonfiliusvictor@gmail.com
Blog: bonvictor.blogspot.com

2. Presentation outline
 Global warming, climate change-definitions
 Human impact on planet earth.
 Global environmental degradation-causes,
evidences and progression.
 Greenhouse earth-gases, effects and history.
 Carbon dioxide levels, sources and contributions.
 Global warming-concept, indicators, factors,
critical targets and impacts.
 Ozone depletion – impacts, photochemical smog
episodes.
 Global climate change-indicators, health impacts

3. Voices about global
climate change
 “Everybody talks about the
weather, but nobody does
anything about it.”
-Mark
Twain, 1897
 "The warnings about global
warming have been
extremely clear for a long
time. We are facing a global
climate crisis.“ -Al Gore

4. What is global climate
change and global warming?

5. Definitions of Global warming
and climate change
Global warming: Climate change:
 an increase in Earth’s  a long-term change
average surface in the Earth’s climate,
temperature due to or of a region on
rising levels of Earth.
greenhouse gases.
.

6. Human impact on the earth

7. Global environmental
degradation

8. Causes of global
environmental problems
Population growth
Human Environmental
impact crisis
Pe
rc
ap
it ac
y
on
og
su
ol
m pti n
ch
o n
Te

9. Causes of global
environmental impact
Environmental  Environmental impact(I) =
impact refers to
the alteration population(P) x consumption(C)
of the natural
environment by or I = P x C
human activity
 Environmental impact
= population size x per capita
consumption x pollution and
resource use per unit of
consumption.

10. Professor Paul Ehrlich
 Professor Paul Ehrlich is a biologist
and author of the best-selling book
‘The Population Bomb(1968)’.
 Paul Ehrlich is one of the world's
leading experts on population.
 He is renowned for his role in helping
the world to think about resource
scarcity and the impact of an ever-
increasing population on demand for
natural resources.

11. Paul Ehrlich’s IPAT equation on
Environmental impact
Paul Environmental impact formula
Ehrlich’s
IPAT I=PAT
equation
Where
I= environmental impact
P=the number of people
A= affluence=average resource use per
person
T=technology=environmental effects of
technology

12. Ecologist Barry Commoner
 In the early 1970s, ecologist
Barry Commoner published
a book ‘The Closing Circle’.
 He insisted that the rapid
growth of industry and
technology have persistent
effect on all forms of life.
Based on Barry
Barry Commoner’s four

Commoner's warnings, Time
laws of ecology: magazine warned in its
 Everything is connected to cover story on Commoner
everything else. (February 2, 1970), "the
 Everything must go price of pollution could be
somewhere. the death of man."
 Nature knows best.
 There is no such thing as a
free lunch.

13. Kaya identity
 Yoichi Kaya  Global CO2 emissions
(1990)-Japanese =(population)x(GDP/populatio
energy economist n)x(energy use /GDP)x (carbon
emission/energy use).
 Human impact on environment
can be calculated through 4
factors
1. Population
2. Gross domestic product
/person
3. Energy use / unit of GDP
4. Carbon emissions/ energy
unit.

14. The population carrying
capacity of the world
 Carrying capacity refers to the number of
individuals of a population that can be
sustained indefinitely by a given area.
 It is estimated that 1 billion of the world’s
people today are malnourished or
starving.
 As the world’s population continues to
grow, more natural resources (non-
renewable), will be removed and more
wastes (e.g. pollution) will be produced .

15. World human
population growth
 Human population growth is
the number one threat to the
world's environment.
 Each person requires energy,
space and resources to
survive.
 The environmental impact of
human activity is a function of
population, consumption and
technology.

16. World human
population growth

17. Human carrying capacity of
the earth is not infinite
Ecological  Earth has finite resources.
crisis  Its ability to sustain the
growing population is finite.
 Its ability to provide food and
energy is finite.
 Economic needs allow
exploitation of natural
resources
 Industrialized nations consume
more resources per capita

18. Human population bomb

19. Human population growth and
industrial activities
 Increasing human
population and
industrial activities
have led to problems
associated with the
pollution of air, water,
and soil.
 Pollution has a
negative impact on
humans in terms of
health and quality of
life, as well as on
other animals and
plants.

20. Global consumption explosion
 Global resource consumption is rising
rapidly.
 The resource consumption is driven
by population growth and rising
wealth.
 This ever-increasing consumption
puts strain on the environment.
 As a result, emissions and wastes
pollute the earth and destroy the
ecosystems.

21. Changing consumption
patterns
 The burning of fossil fuels has almost
quintupled since 1950.
 The consumption of freshwater has
almost doubled since 1960.
 The consumption of cereals has more
than doubled in the last 30 years.
 World meat consumption has tripled
since 1961.
 The consumption of fish and fishery
products has increased more than five
fold since 1950.

22. Impact of technology
revolution
Negative ecological
Positive Ecological effects
effects
 Pollution of life support
 Improved quality of life
systems
 Greater economic growth  Degradation of natural
 Rapid and bulk habitats
 Global warming & climate
production of goods
changes
 Better transportation  Depletion of natural
 faster communication resources
 Impact of industrial
 Comfortable housing agriculture
 Enjoyable recreation  Toxic contamination
 Depletion of ozone layer

23. Industrial processes enhance
more environmental pollution
Water
Energy
Electricity & Gas Transportation
Inputs
Materials &
Outputs
Products &
components
By-products
Effluents &
Atmospheric Solid Waste water
emissions wastes

24. Warming of the
global climate
 The increased carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere contributes to the potentially
devastating warming of the global climate,
the so-called "greenhouse effect."
 Another human impact on the atmosphere
has been depletion of the ozone layer.
 Chloro fluoro-carbons used as coolants in air
conditioners and refrigeration units destroy
ozone when released into the atmosphere.

25. Evidences of
environmental change
In many
parts
Of the
World

26. Progression of global
environmental changes
The systemic global The cumulative global
changes changes
It refers to changes It refers to the snow –
operating at global falling effect of local
scale. changes.
E.g. the doubling of Local changes lead to
carbon dioxide leads global changes.
to greenhouse effect e.g. acid rain, soil
which brought about erosion
global climatic
changes

27. Over – use syndrome of
human beings
- population - density
- exploitation - resources
- farming - agriculture
- logging - forests
- fishing - oceans
- tapping – ground water
-grazing - grass lands

28. Effect of climate on life
 Climate regulates life on earth.
 It determines how humans
live.
 The survival of any species
depends on the global climate
change.
 The earth is in trouble and it
needs our help.

29. Greenhouse earth
 Greenhouse gases have been essential to the
survival life on planet earth.
 They trap heat and cause the earth to warm.
 Human activities alter the proportion of GHGs in
the atmosphere.
 They add more GHGs and induce more heat
trapping by the atmosphere.

30. Atmospheric gases

31. Greenhouse gases (GHGs)

32. Natural greenhouse
effect
 The atmospheric gases envelop
the earth.
 The gases in the atmosphere
are held in place by gravity.
 The gaseous envelope
regulates Earth’s temperature.

33. Scientific history of ‘amplified
greenhouse effect’

34. 2 –kinds of greenhouse
effect

35. Enhanced greenhouse effect
 The atmospheric carbon dioxide is the principal
climate –altering gas.
 Carbon dioxide absorb heat radiation( infrared)
from the sun and emit towards the earth.
 Elevated CO2 means more heat will be radiated.
 Water vapor act as an amplifier of warming.

36. Confirmation of catastrophic
greenhouse effect
 The delegates from 114 countries of the UN
conference on the human environment at
Stockholm in 1972 confirmed the amplified global
warming.
 The National Academy of Sciences, US in
1975 opined that the warming of earth is caused
by industrial activities.
 The scientists of the first World Climate
Conference in Geneva in 1979 correlated the
warming of earth to fossil fuel burning and
deforestation.

37. Percent share of
greenhouse gases

38. Contribution of gases to
greenhouse effect
Gas formula Contribution, %
Water vapor H2O 36-72 %
Carbon dioxide CO2 9-26%
Methane CH4 4 – 9%
Ozone O3 3 – 7%

39. Total emissions of
greenhouse gases
Regions World population, Responsibility for
% Global warming, %
The Western 15 46
countries
Central/Eastern 7 19
Europe
Third world countries 78 35
Source: New International, April 1990,

40. Global warming potential (GWP) values
and atmospheric life times (IPCC 2007)
Chemical Conc. In Atmospheri GWP
Greenhouse
formula 2005 c life ,
gas
years
Carbon CO2 379 ppm variable 1
dioxide
Methane CH4 1774 ppb 12 21
Nitrous N2O 319 ppb 114 310
oxide

41. Atmospheric levels of
Carbon dioxide

42. Time line of global
carbon dioxide levels
650-
315ppm 372ppm 700ppm
year 1750 1993 2008
1958 2002 2100
280 ppm 360ppm 384ppm

43. Sources of global
carbon dioxide emissions
Combustion of fossil fuels
Volcanic eruptions Land use changes &
deforestation
Sources of
global Power generation &
oceans
carbon dioxide transport
emissions
Breathing & Industrial processes
Decomposition of
plants and animals
Forest and wild fires

44. Source-wise contributions of
carbon dioxide
Source %
contributio
n
Transport industry 64
Forest fires 16.9
Agricultural burning 7.2
Industrial processes (Iron, steel, petroleum, paper) 7.6
Miscellaneous 16.9

45. Effects of increasing greenhouse
gas concentrations
 Increase Earth's average
temperature
 Influence the patterns and
amounts of precipitation
 Reduce ice and snow cover, as
well as permafrost
 Raise sea level
 Increase the acidity of the
oceans

46. What is global warming?
 Global warming is a continuing increase in
the earth’s overall temperature.
 Global warming is caused by the greenhouse
effect.
 Adding more GHGs to the atmosphere
increases the atmosphere’s heat trapping
power.
 Global warming is a serious threat brought
about by human activity.
 Global warming is cumulative and irreversible
on a time scale of centuries.

47. Concept of global warming
 Global warming since 1900 is absolutely
certain.
 Greenhouse gases have increased from
human activity.
 Sea level is rising and snow and ice cover
is decreasing.
 In 2007, the International Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) stated that there is
a 90% probability that human activity is
causing the warming.

Many scientists feel that the consequences
of global warming is irreversible.

48. 10-indicators of
warming of planet earth

49. Factors influencing
global warming

50. Critical targets of
global warming
Targets % impact
Ocean 93.4
Atmosphere 02.3
Continents 02.1
Glaciers and ice caps 00.9
Arctic sea ice 00.8
Greenland ice sheet 00.2
Antarctica ice sheet 00.2

51. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration-Fourth Assessment Report by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007
 Earth’s average surface temperature has increased by more
than 1.4°F (0.8°C) over the past 100 years
 By the end of the 21st century, carbon dioxide concentration
will increase from 490 to 1260 ppm.
 Global mean sea level has been rising at an average rate of 1.7
mm/year over the past 100 years. Global sea level rose about 17
cms in the last century
 Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice has declined
rapidly over the last several decades. The Greenland and Antarctic
ice sheets have decreased in mass.
 Glaciers and ice caps are retreating everywhere around the
world —in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa.
 Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of
surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent.

52. Impact of Global warming
1. Frequent temperature extremes ( killer heat
waves).
2. Changing rainfall patterns.
3. Rise in sea levels.
4. Frequent storms and coastal flooding
5. Changes in regional climate could alter forests,
crop yields, and water supplies
6. Drought
7. Food shortages due to shift in agricultural food
production
8. Greater warming near the poles
9. Air pollution made worse by warming.
10. Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema complications
11. Expansion of Deserts into existing rangelands.
12. Unable to contain spread of infectious diseases

53. Negative Impacts of global Warming
 Rise in ‘killer ‘ heat waves during warmer seasons.
 Rise in Sea levels - inundation of fresh water
marshlands , low-lying cities, and islands with seawater.
 Changes in rainfall patterns - droughts and fires in
some areas, flooding in other areas.
 Extreme weather patterns- more hurricanes and
super-storms.
 Melting of the ice caps - loss of habitat near the poles.
 Melting glaciers - significant melting of old glaciers
 Ecosystem impacts - massive extinction of species due
to habitat loss.
 Increase in pests and disease -Spread of vector
borne diseases such as malaria to warmer regions.
 Bleaching of Coral Reefs due to acidification - One
third of coral reefs now disappeared.

54. Summary of negative impacts

55. The depletion of ozone
layer
 Ozone (Greek ozein, “to smell”), pale blue,
highly poisonous gas with a strong odor
 The tropospheric ozone( lower
atmosphere) is considered a pollutant at
ground level,
 The stratospheric ozone (upper
atmosphere) is called ‘the ozone shield’.
 Chlorine reactions deplete ozone in the
stratosphere.
 Ozone depleting gases are CFC, halons,
nitrous oxide, methane, carbon tetrachloride
and methyl chloroform.

56. Impact of ozone depletion

57. Urban Smog episodes
Los Angeles smog London smog
Photochemical smog Sulfurous smog
Summer smog (July1973) Winter smog (Decem 1952)
Petroleum combustion Coal combustion
Automobile exhaust Industrial sources
Light-brownish in colour Yellow-black in colour
Secondary pollutants – H2So4, O3, PAN, Organics, acids
sulfate aerosols
Respiratory distress Lung disease

58. Formation of
Photochemical Smog
Sun light☼
 The term smog was derived from the words ’fog’ and
‘smoke’. The term was first used in 1905 by H.A. Des
Voeux.
 VOCs and NOx react in presence of sunlight to produce
ozone and PAN (peroxy acetyl nitrate)
 breathing ozone results in respiratory distress,
headaches.
 In 1952 the London smog incident killed 6, 500 people .
 In 1963, New York City smog incident killed 400 people.

59. Environmental effects of ozone
depletion and ozone pollution
Ozone depletion results in
‘ozone hole’ in upper
atmosphere. During the 1980s,
scientists discovered a "hole" in
the ozone over Antarctica.
 Ozone depletion leads to more UV radiation - skin cancer and
cataracts and depression of the immune system.
 Each 1% drop in ozone is thought to increase human skin cancer
rates by 4-6%.
 Breathing of ground-level O3 affects both the respiratory and
nervous systems, resulting in respiratory distress, headache,
and exhaustion.
 Ozone damages plants, resulting in leaf mottling and reduced
growth.

60. Global climate change
 Climate change is a critical
global change.
 Climate change is potentially
one of the greatest of all
threats to the environment, to
the biodiversity and ultimately
to the quality of human life.

61. Climate variability and Climate
change

62. 10-indicators of global climate
change

63. Evidences of climate change :
Arctic climate impact assessment (ACIA, 2004)

64. Major killers of human beings
are climate sensitive

65. Human health impacts of
climate change
 Heat waves can lead to heat stroke and dehydration,
and are the most common cause of weather-related
deaths. E.g. 2003 summer heat wave in Europe
claimed 35,000 lives.
 Climate change may affect allergies and respiratory
health.
 Climate change may enhance the spread of
diseases through food, water, and animals .
 According to WHO, malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition
and floods related to climate change cause about
150,000 worldwide deaths.
 IPCC reported 250 million more Africans are without
potable water due to climate related stress.
 Flooding linked to rising sea levels displaced millions
of people.

66. Long term impact of
climate change
 Continental drifting
 Periods of intense volcanic activity
 Showers of meteorites
 Wobbling of the earth on its axis
 Temporary increase in the ellipticity
of the earth’s orbit around the sun.
 Variations in sunspot activity

67. Future impact of climate
change :Global Projections
 Average global temperatures are
expected to increase by 2°F to 11.5°F by
2100, depending on the level of future
greenhouse gas emissions.
 Ground-level air temperatures are
continue to warm more rapidly over land
than oceans.
 Global average annual precipitation is
expected to increase.
 The strength of the winds associated
with tropical storms is likely to increase.
 Annual average precipitation is
projected to increase in some areas and
decrease in others.

68. Suggestions-
Think green act green.
 Prevent pollution.
 Reduce waste.
 Try composting of biodegradable
garbage.
 Use water, energy and other resources
efficiently.
 Use the natural resources prudently.
 Maintain the diversity of life.
 Protect the world's natural, cultural and
indigenous heritage.
 Support environmental education.
 Support local action and community
participation.
 Promote practices, methods and
technologies that reduce negative
impacts on the environment.

69. Environmentalism
Environmentalism
is an important
political and
social movement
Aims:
with a goal to
 To reduce world consumption of fossil
protect natural fuels.
environment.  To reduce and clean up all sorts of
pollution with future goal of zero
pollution.
 Emphasis on clean, alternative energy
sources that have low carbon emissions.
 Sustainable use of water, land and other
resources.
 Preservation of endangered species.
 Protection of biodiversity.

70. About the presenter
 Dr.B.Victor is a highly experienced professor,
recently retired from the reputed educational
institution- St. Xavier’ s College, Palayamkottai,
India-627001.
 He was the dean of sciences and assistant
controller of examinations.
 He has more than 32 years of teaching and
research experience.
 He has taught a diversity of UG and PG courses
and guided 12 PhDs.
 Send your comments to :
bonfiliusvictor@gmail.com