Global warming is caused by both human activities like burning fossil fuels and natural factors. The main human contributor is emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from activities such as driving, which trap heat in the lower atmosphere. Some effects of global warming include rising sea levels, stronger storms, and damage to ecosystems. Individual actions like driving less, recycling, and planting trees can help reduce the impacts. International agreements aim to limit greenhouse gases to prevent dangerous warming of the planet.
2. What is Global Warming?
An increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere
and oceans
Global temperature on both
land and sea increased by
0.6 ± 0.2 °C over the past
century
3. Our Changing Climate
The snow cover in the
Northern Hemisphere and
floating ice in the Arctic
Ocean have decreased
Sea level has risen 4-8
inches over the past
century
4. What causes it?
Human Impacts-
Atmospheric greenhouse gases trap some of the
outgoing energy, retaining heat
Natural Impacts-
Change in sun’s energy output
Volcanoes
6. The Greenhouse Effect
Solar radiation from the Sun
reaches the Earth’s atmosphere
The surface of the Earth
absorbs most of the short-rayed
insolation and later releases this
heat in the form of infrared
radiation into the atmosphere.
Some of the heat is absorbed by
particles known as “greenhouse
gases.”
The heat retained by the gases
acts as a “heat blanket.”
7. Burning of fossil fuels
The burning of fossil fuels releases
Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
In the past 150 years, burning fossil
fuels has caused a 25 % increase in
Carbon dioxide emissions.
Nitrous oxide has increased 17%.
Methane has increased 150%!!
9. Effects of global warming
.
rise in sea level from melting glaciers
and polar ice caps (adds 0.2 mm
annually)
Rising temperatures will also cause
drier conditions in many important
agricultural regions.
10. Sea Life Effects
Coral Reef Bleaching—
Change in temperature and elevated sea
level cause loss of algae in the coral.
Coral appears white, or “bleached.”
Result is mass death of sea animals, which
are dependent on the coral reef.
The penguin population near Antarctica has
been declining as the distance between
them and their food has increased.
12. Rising Sea levels
The rise of temperature, even
to a few degrees, could lead to
the melting of ice shelves that
hold back glaciers. This results
in rising sea levels
The Larsen area of North
Antarctic, South of Chili and
Argentina have lost more than
5,200 sq miles of area.
13. Effects Land animals
Global warming can disrupt the
migration, hibernation and
reproductive cycles of certain types
of animals.
Plants and animals will find it hard
to escape or adjust to the effects of
warming because humans occupy
so much land.
14. Health & Global Warming
Extreme temperatures can directly
cause the loss of life (35,000 people
died during heat wave in Europe)
Warmer weather provides an ideal
breeding environment for
mosquitoes.
High temperature can increase
pollution of water and air, which
harms the human body.
.
15. Tropical Diseases
– Global Warming increases drought which
lessens the supply of clean drinking water.
Cholera
– It increases temperature providing an ideal
breeding environment for mosquitoes.
Dengue fever
Malaria
Yellow fever
16. Effects on Air
Clouds close to the earth
reflect sunlight cooling effect
Clouds high in the atmosphere
trap heat warming effect
17. El Niño
Effect
Severe oceanic/atmospheric disturbance,every 7-14 yrs
(“the child”)
Warm surface waters suppress cold, nutrient-rich upwelling of
the Humboldt Current
Fall in the number of plankton
– Wreaks havoc upon the entire ocean food chain
– Devastates the fishing industry
18. El Niño Effect
Collapse of the monsoons in Asia severe drought
to Indonesia and northern Australia.
Severe weather disturbances in other parts of the
world, such as droughts in areas of Africa and central
North America.
19. How To Prevent
Global Warming:
Plant trees
Conserve energy
Buy energy efficient products
Buy products that have reusable or
recyclable packaging
Reduce use of car (public transport
instead)
21. 1. If you are able to plant a tree, start digging!
2. Via photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb
CO2 and give off Oxygen.
3. There are too few plants and trees to fully counter
the increase in CO2.
4. Think it won’t make a difference? Think again. Just
one tree can absorb one ton of CO2 in its lifetime.
What are you waiting for?
Plant a Tree
22. 1. The amount of emissions and other types of
carbon dioxide pollutants being released in the
atmosphere annually would be reduced by
several billion tons!
2. On an individual scale, you can help limit your
carbon dioxide emissions, your
driving habits. and therefore your
global warming impact, by changing
Take Public Transportation
24. Replace Incandescent
Bulbs
Fix Weather Stripping and
Caulking
Stop Water Leaks
Change your Thermostat
Buy Local , Sustainably
Produced Food
Take Action At Home
The Easy Stuff...
25. What Can be Done: Alternatives
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Energies Wind Power Biomass Geothermal
Changes In Vehicle Systems
Hybrid Fuel Cell Battery-
Electric
27. 1. Reduce waste by buying reusable products as
opposed to disposables.
2. You can also buy products with less packaging so that
you throw less away.
3. Whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, glass and
metal (aluminium).
4. By recycling half of your household waste, you can
save up tons of CO2 every year from being released
into the atmosphere.
Reuse,Reduce,Recycle
28. Kyoto Protocol
1997, Kyoto, Japan developed countries
agreed to specific targets for cutting their
emissions of greenhouse gases
Industrialized countries committed to an
overall reduction of emissions of greenhouse
gases to 5.2% below 1990 levels for the period
2008 - 2012
Objective is the stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system
