Global Warming By student of 3-72 group is Abduvokhid Omonov

Global Warming

By student of 3-72 group is Abduvokhid Omonov

What are the major effects/problems of global warming and how can they be solved?

Introduction

• Global warming is the continuous increase of the temperature of the Earth’s surface.
• Began during the industrial revolution, in the mid 1900’s.
• Occurs when an abundance of greenhouse gases traps the sun’s heat in the atmosphere.
• You can also visit our website at: http://www.heatingearth.webs.com/ .

Greenhouse Effect

• The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs on Earth.
• Caused by gases that trap the sun’s heat in the earth’s atmosphere.
• This process allows the Earth to a temperatures suitable for human survival.
• Process:
• The earth receives energy from the sun. About half is absorbed by the earth.
• As the sun’s rays reach our atmosphere, there are both reflected and absorbed.
• Some of the radiation is emitted into space. The rest is reflected to earth.
• The absorption causes the Earth to warm which then releases the heat outward.

Greenhouse Effect (cont.)

• Gases that cause this effect are called greenhouse gases.
• Greenhouse gas examples: Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, water vapour.
• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect:
• Caused by too much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.
• More heat is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere.
• Causes an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface.

Greenhouse Effect (cont.)

Black Body Radiation

• A black body is an object that absorbs all the electromagnetic radiation (e.g. Sun’s rays) which touches it’s surface.
• From this comes black body radiation — thermal radiation which is radiated back out .
• Measurement of black body surfaces are determined by their emissivity on a scale from 0-1 .
• 1 being a perfect black body (i.e. Dark and dull surfaces-coal, ocean water, etc.) .
• 0 being complete opposite (i.e. Shiny surfaces- metal, ice, etc.).
• Over 2/3 of the world is covered by oceans - adds to thermal radiation which adds to global warming.
• Dry land has a relatively high scale on emissivity - another factor which adds to heat forming on earth.
• Although ice has a low emissivity, the water which comes from the ice when it melts has a black appearance and absorbs much of the electromagnetic radiation – goes in a continuous circle (can be seen in the north/ south poles).

Causes

• Almost all human activities contribute to global warming.
• Some major causes include:
• Fossil fuel combustion
• Used to produce electricity.
• Produces carbon dioxide.
• Examples: Producing electricity with coal, transportation systems.
• Burning waste products.
• Used to get rid of garbage.
• Produces Carbon Dioxide when garbage is incinerated.
• Agriculture.
• Use fertilizers to yield better crops. Produces nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.
• As the population increases, more animals are needed as a source of food. This creates more waste products and thus, more methane.

Causes (c0nt.)

• Other causes include:
• Deforestation.
• Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
• By cutting down trees, more carbon dioxide would be in the atmosphere.
• General home electronics.
• Examples: lamp, television, computers (a server computer may produce as much carbon dioxide as an SUV).
• Mining coal and oil.
• Allows methane to escape into the atmosphere.
• Methane gas being released from tundra and wetlands (generally a natural phenomenon).

Global Warming Effects

Comparisons between changes in global average surface area, global average sea level, and Northern Hemisphere snow cover from 1850-2000. Representing the serious changes caused by Global Warming, which is affecting many different aspects on Earth.

Effect on the Environment

• The extinction of many animals and plants that cannot adapt.
• Cause an imbalance in the food web.
• May cause overpopulation and starvation of certain species.
• Some species may flourish due to the increased temperature.
• Cause a lot of competition for other species.
• Insufficient food sources.
• Many animals may migrate to cooler areas.
• An ecosystem may lose certain species. May cause entire ecosystem to collapse.
• Example: birds are migrating later into the season compared to the past .
• Example: Deer and other land animals are migrating further north due to each increasing warm season.

Effect on Environment (cont)

• Depletion of Ozone Layer.
• Scientists believe that Global Warming will result in a weaker ozone layer.
• The Ozone layer protects all life on earth from the harmful Ultraviolet radiations coming from the Sun.
• The Ozone prevents illnesses and diseases to occur due to UV radiation.
• Since CO2 is trapped in water due to the oceans' temperature rise, the pH level is increased harming the inhabiting fish.
• Increased precipitation.
• Caused by the melting glaciers.
• Desalinization of the ocean.
• Caused by melting of polar ice caps.
• Interrupt many ecosystems.
• Forest fires are likely to become more frequent and severe as the soil becomes drier.

Effect on the Environment (cont)

• Example: the Alaskan ecosystem has undergone a transition from tundra to wetland due to melting glaciers.

Effect on the Environment (cont)

Some consequences for the arctic ecosystem include:

• Decay of micro-organisms of the accumulated detritus.
• Once released from its permafrost state, it releases a huge amount of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Previously locked in dead organic matter.
• Contributes to further global warming.
• Appearance and growth of conifers.
• Forms boreal forests (also known as taiga).
• There areas absorb radiant heat energy from sunlight and contribute to further warming of the region, since they replace ice, snow and frozen tundra.
• Increased presence of pathogens that parasitize the expanded range of animal and plant life the changing habitat supports.

Effect on Environment (cont)

• Change in latitude and altitude of plant or animal species’ habitat

For example:

Species	Location	Observed Changes
Treelines	New Zealand	Advancement towards higher altitudes
Arctic shrub vegetation	Alaska	Expansion of shrubs in previously shrub-free areas
Alpine plants	European Alps	Elevational shift of 1-4 m per decade
Antarctic plants and invertebrates	Antarctica	Distributional changes
Zooplankton, intertidal invertebrate and fish communities	North Atlantic	Increasing abundance of warm-water species
Red fix and Artic fox	Canada	Northward expansion of red fox range and simultaneous retreat of Arctic fix range

Effect on Human Lives

• Increase in sea level.
• Caused by the melting of glaciers.
• Drowns many coastal cities.
• Seawater may seep into some freshwater sources.
• Increase in temperature.
• Cause many health problems.
• Examples: heatstroke, diseases spread quicker (many disease-carrying insects flourish in warm weather).
• Increase in respiratory illnesses due to changes in atmosphere.
• Natural disasters.
• Draughts (irregular precipitation patterns).
• Hurricanes (warmer waters).
• Heat waves.
• Floods (increased evaporation due to higher temperature).
• Longer periods of intense heat or rain on different regions of earth.

Effect on Human Lives (c0nt.)

• Many people would immigrate to areas with a more comfortable temperature, cause overpopulation in some areas.
• Transportation.
• May need to be changed as they are subject to more extreme weather changes.
• Example: pipeline, cars, bus, plane, ships.
• Agriculture.
• Some areas may no longer be suitable for agriculture due to climate change.
• Some areas may become better suited for agriculture.
• Many types of food my become unavailable as those species may become extinct.
• Changes in soil quality, temperature, and nutrients present.
• Change in weather conditions (rainfalls and floods). Increase crop destruction.
• According to the IPCC, "Climate change is likely to have wide-ranging and mostly adverse impacts on human health with significant loss of life."

Economic Impacts

• Real Estate, construction, recreation, and tourism will be negatively affected by changes.
• Insurance companies will be affected due to an increase in severe weather conditions (hurricanes).
• Poor nations will be affected greatly by global warming.
• Dependent on agriculture (food, exports, GDP).
• Lack of water resources to cope with high temperatures.
• Financial resources to deal with Global Warming.

The Kyoto Protocol

• An international agreement to attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emission.
• 187 countries have signed AND ratified.
• Some less advanced countries are allowed to increase emission.
• Example: Greece (+25%), Spain (+15%), Ireland (+13%)
• The protocol puts a heavier burden on developed countries.
• Developed countries had a greater impact on the environment due to 150 years of industrial development and activities.
• Commits 37 developed countries and the general European community to reduce greenhouse gas.

The Kyoto Protocol (cont.)

• Emission Trading (Carbon Market).
• Participants are allowed to have a limited amount of greenhouse gas emissions (emission reduction units).
• If a participating country have emission to “spare”, the leftover emission can be sold to another participating country whose emission exceeds the limit.
• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
• Allows a participating country with emission-reduction/limit commitment to establish emission-reduction projects in developing countries.
• Joint Implementation.
• Allows a country to earn emission reduction units from an emission-reduction project.
• Project must result in reduction in emission that reduces the amount that would have occurred without it.

Canada and the Kyoto Protocol

• Under former Prime minister Jean Chretien, Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
• Current Prime minister and former leader of the opposition Stephen Harper was against this notion.
• Labeled the treaty as a ‘socialist scheme designed to suck money out of rich countries’.
• After coming into power, Harper was accused of neglecting the accord.
• Since then, the Canadian government has realized the importance of Global warming and is now participating in several programs similar to the Kyoto protocol such as the Asia-Pacific partnership on Clean Development and climate.

Possible Solutions

• Use clean energy sources.
• Burning fossil fuels create carbon dioxide.
• Example: electricity, solar energy, wind energy, hydro energy.
• Real life examples.
• Niagara falls is used to generate hydroelectricity.
• Many countries are beginning to adopt electric-powered cars.
• 70% of the energy needs of Solar Valley Micro-E Hotel in china is provided by solar panels.
• Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technologies-preventing greenhouse gases from entering into the atmosphere through the use of technological methods.
• Neutralizing Carbon Dioxide.
• Carbon dioxide is acidic, and so can be neutralized with a base.
• Sodium hydroxide can react with carbon dioxide to create water and sodium carbide.
• Sodium carbide has industrial uses so it is not wasted.
• Limits can be put on the carbon dioxide emission of factories.

Possible Solutions (cont.)

• Transportation is a major cause of Global Warming. Possible solutions:
• Fuel efficient vehicles.
• Hybrid vehicles.
• Changes from road transportation to rail and public transit.
• Alternatives such as walking or cycling.
• Urban planning - essential to promote the use of alternatives .
• Energy efficient buildings can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• include efficient lighting (fluorescent light bulbs).
• energy efficient appliances.
• heating and air conditioning (clean the filters, and refrigerants).
• solar heating and cooling (ceiling fans, evaporative cooler, solar panels).
• Recycling (minimally packaged goods; choose reusable products over disposable ones.
• efficient electrical equipment.

Possible Solutions (Cont.)

• Forestry.
• Reduced. deforestation.
• Improved Forest Management.
• Reforestation.
• Use of forestry products to replace fossil fuels.

• Agriculture.
• carbon stored away in carbon sinks (reservoir that can absorb Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere).
• producing crops for energy use.
• manure management to reduce methane emissions.
• improving fertilizer application to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.

• Plant Trees- helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Possible Solutions (cont.)

• Establish more international agreements concerning global warming.
• For example Kyoto Protocol, which attempts to make a balance with the emission.
• In future if every carbon emission has an offset, we can maintain the level of carbon we have reached and probably even reduce as we progress.
• Driving more eco-friendly cars.
• Breaking our oil addiction and retooling plants to manufacture the fuel-efficient cars that consumers are demanding, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

Possible Solutions (cont.)

• Create green homes and buildings in our community.
• New buildings should meet strong new energy-efficiency standards that maximize energy savings.
• Existing homes and commercial spaces can be retrofitted to save energy by weatherizing and installing energy efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems.
• Build better communities and transportation.
• Building walkable communities near transportation hubs instead of far-flung, car-dependent suburbs.
• Invest in and expand public transit ,such as commuter rail to give people real transportation choices.

Government Solutions

• Taxes and charges can be set on greenhouse gases (cost for each unit of greenhouse emissions).
• Subsidies and tax credits can provide financial incentives for the development of new technologies.
• Agreements between industry and governments can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and raise awareness to other companies and individuals.
• Awareness campaigns can possibly affect decisions of individuals regarding greenhouse gas emissions positively.
• Government funding could create incentives for companies to invest into products, and technology that are energy efficient.
• Climate Change policies that promote energy efficient and renewable energy resources can benefit the economy.
• Decrease in air pollution.
• Increase in biodiversity (decrease in natural habitat loss, and deforestation) as a result of implementing climate change policies.

Problems with Solution

• Renewable energy sources are expensive.
• For example wind power is a renewable energy source which is expensive, unreliable and won’t save very much natural gas.
• In U.K. electricity customers were forced to pay a total of over $1 billion to the owners of wind turbines. That figure is due to rise to over $6 billion a year by 2020 given the government's plan to build a nationwide infrastructure with some 25 gigawatts of wind capacity.
• When the wind drops or blows too hard, turbines stop spinning and you get no power.
• By putting limits on carbon dioxide emissions manufacturers may risk the development of products in the factories.
• Factories will have to find a way in which they can reduce carbon dioxide emissions which will cost time and money.
• This can result in the factor to be financially unstable, putting a risk to the development of their products.

Problems with Solutions (cont.)

• Our world today has a high demand for energy needs.
• rapid industrialization, growth and current life style has brought us to a point where our demand for high energy needs is growing every day, making the primary source of this demand to be fulfilled by coal and petroleum.
• Despite all the research we have failed to find any alternate reliable sources of energy other than the fossil fuels.
• Even after decades of research and innovations we still haven’t been able to find any other source of energy which can remove dirty fuels from their dominance.
• Wind, Solar, Bio, Nuclear all exist but they haven’t been able to come out and make a mark since they show more problems than they solve.

Problems with Solution (cont.)

• Cleaner public transportation methods are available to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• However due to the growth of our economy, and barriers such as consumer preferences, individuals will continue to choose their choice of transportation.
• There are no policies present to solve the problem with transportation and its contribution to Global Warming
• New buildings are installed with energy efficient products, and the latest technology to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• It will cost a lot of money and work to update older buildings that release large amounts of greenhouse gases in developing and industrialized countries.
• Our population continues to increase significantly, which is a major cause of Global Warming.

Future Predictions

• According to http://www.greenfacts.org/climate-change/global-warming/global-warming.htm, the future predictions that are caused as a result of global warming are:
• global mean temperature should increase by between 1.4 and 5.8°C (2.5 to 10°F).
• the Northern Hemisphere cover should decrease further, but the Antarctic ice sheet should increase.
• the sea level should rise by between 9 and 88 cm (3.5" to 35").
• other changes should occur, including an increase in some extreme weather events.
• Solutions to achieve Stabilization.
• Use of current technology along with future development technology.
• Increased energy efficiency measures.
• World wide investments.
• Installing low emission technologies.
• Research into new energy resources.

Influential Figures: Al Gore

• A promising leader who is striving to help save the Earth.
• He started his efforts by writing the book Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit.
• During his time as vice-president he preached to protect the environment which could also aid the economy.
• He also wrote the best-selling book and now a film, An Inconvenient Truth which helped raise the awareness of Global Warming.
• Campaigned for the president of the US in 1999 with the intention of reducing global warming.
• Lost campaign.

Influential Figures: David Suzuki

• Japanese Canadian, born March 24, 1936
• Award winning scientist, environmentalist, broadcaster.
• Produced much influential work focusing on sustainability of the earth.
• Some works include Its a Matter of Survival (1991), and David Suzuki's Green Guide (2008).
• Hosted many radio/TV shows, such as The Nature of Things, A Planet for the Taking and Quirks and Quarks.
• Recognized as a world leader in sustainable ecology as he won “United Nations Environment Program Medal”.
• Co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation - to raise awareness of climate change .