CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY CRISIS

1. INTRODUCTION:
 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body that
evaluates climate science, released its report on global climate change. The report’s
important conclusions were the following: The world’s climate has changed significantly
over the past century; the significant change has human influence; using climate models
and if the trend continues, the global mean surface temperature will increase between
1˚ and 3.5˚ by 2100.

Why should a few degrees of warming be a cause for concern? According to experts,
global climate change could have a greater potential to change lives on our planet than
anything else except a nuclear war. These changes will also lead to several potentially
serious consequences.

But first, what is climate change?

ANSWER: Climate change refers to the statistically significant changes in climate for a

continuous period. Factors that contribute to climate change can be natural internal
processes, external processes, and persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition
of the atmosphere or land use.

Anthropogenic changes – are alterations that result from human action or human
activity.

Example: Increased production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases

(Methane, Nitrous oxide, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) ), deforestation, water pollution,
combustion, and other contribution acted by human beings.

This lesson will present the causes of climate change and its effects on society.

LESSON PROPER

All the discussions regarding the interaction among science, technology, and society
will conclude with a controversial topic – climate change. It is currently in the sense
that it has been put under the international spotlight since the start of the 21 st century.
Data that have been accumulated are used by scientists to determine if there is a
significant change in the earth’s climate. But what does climate change mean? Doesn’t
the climate always change?
CLIMATE – refers to the long-term weather patterns prevailing over a given area of the
Planet. The term comes from a Greek word kline in  meaning “to slope”. It evolves
into Klima,  connoting a zone or region of the Earth as characterized by its atmospheric
conditions.

BASIS FOR COMPARISON WEATHER CLIMATE

Meaning Weather is day-to-day
information of the changes in
the atmospheric condition in
any area.
Duration The short-term atmospheric
condition of any place is the
weather, which may vary by
time-to-time.
Affected By Weather is affected by
temperature, pressure,
humidity, cloudiness, wind,
precipitation, rain, flooding, ice
storms, etc.
It affects the The weather may affect the
day-to-day occupation, and it
may hamper transportation
services, agriculture, etc.
Changes observed The changes in the weather
condition can be observed very
frequently.
Studied by Weather forecasting is
observed by the Meteorological
Department of any place, and
the study is known as
Meteorology.
Climate is statistical weather
information that provides
information about the average
weather condition of a
particular place over a long
period.
The long-term average weather
atmospheric condition of a
place or country is the climate.
The climate is the long-term
observations of the
atmospheric conditions at any
location like humidity,
temperature, sunshine, wind,
etc.
Climate significantly affects
agriculture, industries, the
livelihood of the people.
Climate changes take a longer
time to change.
The Climate Prediction Centre
predicts climate, and its study
is known as Climatology.

CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

          The causes of climate change could be natural or human activities.

NATURAL CAUSES
 

·       ORBITAL CHANGES

Earth’s orbit can also cause climate change. This was proposed by Slovak scientist and
meteorologist Milutin Milankovitch. The Milankovitch theory states, “that as the Earth
travels through space around the Sun, cyclical variations in three elements of Earth-Sun
geometry combine to produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches
Earth.”

The three elements that have cyclical variations are eccentricity, obliquity, and
precession. Also known as MILANKOVITC PARAMETERS

ü  ECCENTRICITY – is a term used to describe the shape of the Earth’s orbit around the
sun.  Currently, Earth’s eccentricity is 0.016. According to Academic Emporia (2017),
states that “Eccentricity influences the seasonal differences: when the earth is closest
to the sun, it gets more solar radiation. If the perihelion occurs during winter, the winter
is less severe. If a hemisphere has its summer while closest to the sun, summers are
relatively warm.”

    Aphelion – refers to the point in the orbit of the Earth farthest from the sun

    Perihelion – refers to the point in the orbit of the Earth closest to the sun.

NOTE: This can only be experienced by countries with four seasons. As to us, living in
the Philippines we only have two seasons. (Wet and Dry)

·       OBLIQUITY – is the variation of the tilt of Earth’s axis away from the orbital plane.
As this tilt changes, the seasons become more exaggerated. The obliquity changes on a
cycle taking approximately 40,000 years. Academic Emporia (2017) states, “the more tilt
means more severe seasons – warmer summers and colder winter; less tilt means less
severe seasons – cooler summers and milder winters”

    Earth’s axial tilt – is the inclination angle of the earth’s rotational axis about a line
perpendicular to its orbital plane. Earth’s tilt is responsible for the different seasons of
the Earth. Today, the Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from the plane of its orbit
around the sun.

·       PRECESSION – is the change in orientation of the rotational axis of the Earth. The
precession cycle takes about 19,000 to 23, 000 years. Precession is caused by two
factors: a wobble of Earth’s axis and a turning around of the elliptical orbit of Earth
itself. Obliquity affected the tilt of the Earth’s axis precession affects the direction of
Earth’s axis. The change in the axis location changes the dates of perihelion and
aphelion, and this increases the seasonal contrast in one hemisphere. Currently, Earth is
closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere winter, which makes the winter less
severe. (Academic Emporia, 2017).

Another consequence of the precession is a shift in the celestial poles. Five thousand
years ago, the North Star was Thuban in the constellation  Draco. Currently, the North
Star is Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor.

·       VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

Volcanic eruptions are one of the natural causes of climate change. When volcanoes
erupt, it emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxides, salt
crystals, volcanic ashes, or dust, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.
The volcanic eruption can cause a cooling effect to the lithosphere because its emitted
aerosol can block a certain percentage of solar radiation. This cooling effect can last for
one to two years.

What happens in violent volcanic eruptions is the release of ash particles in

the stratosphere.

NOTE: (Stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere and the calmest layer in the
atmosphere. Commercial jet aircraft fly and airplanes fly in the lower part of the
stratosphere to avoid turbulence. The infamous ozone layer is also found here in this
layer.)
The volcanic ashes which have sulfur dioxide combine with water vapor. It then forms
sulfuric acid and sulfurous aerosols. The sulfurous aerosols then are transported by
easterly or westerly winds. Volcanoes located near the equator are more likely to cause
global cooling because of the wind pattern, the sulfurous aerosols are confined in pole
areas.

Several recorded major volcanic eruptions cause climate change.

·       Mount Tambora of Indonesia erupted in 1816. It was considered the largest known

eruption in human history. The eruption caused snowfall in the northeastern United
States and Canada.

·       The eruptions of Mount Krakatau of Indonesia in 1883 and Mount Pinatubo of the

Philippines in 1991 contributed, too, to the cold years of planet Earth.

THE CARBON DIOXIDE THEORY

          Carbon dioxide (CO2) is added when power and heat are produced by burning
coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is transparent to sunshine but not
invisible to infrared (heat) radiation in the air and returns it to the ground keeping the air
near the surface warmer than it would be if the carbon dioxide did not act like a blanket.
As to date, doubling the carbon dioxide raises the temperature to 2˚C to 3˚C.

HUMAN ACTIVITIES

          Human activities contribute to climate change. The largest known contribution

comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas into the
atmosphere. Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar
radiation and outgoing infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth’s energy
balance.

Since the start of the industrial era (about 1750), the overall effect of human activities
on climate has been a warming influence. The human impact on climate during this era
greatly exceeds that due to known changes in natural processes, such as solar changes
and volcanic eruptions.

Human activities result in emissions of four principal greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2o), and halocarbons (a group of gases
containing fluorine, chlorine, and bromine).
The greenhouse gases mentioned are natural. However, the high level of these gases in
the atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse effect.

What is the greenhouse effect?

ANSWER: The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface.
When the Sun’s energy reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected in space,
and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases.

The absorbed energy warms the atmosphere and the surface of the Earth. This process
maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would
otherwise be, allowing life on Earth to exist.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere - some of this is reflected in
space.

Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the
Earth.

Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space.

Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping
the Earth warm enough to sustain life.

Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, and land clearing are
increasing the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

Step 6: This is trapping extra heat and causes the Earth's temperature to rise.

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

Global warming refers to the increase in annual average temperatures across the globe.
As the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, the planet becomes
warmer and warmer on average. Global warming is happening due to the greenhouse
effect combined with increased greenhouse gas emissions by human activities.

HOW IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT RELATED TO GLOBAL WARMING?

Explanation:
The greenhouse effect is the process during which radiation from the sun is trapped
within the earth's atmosphere, which warms the planet. This effect occurs naturally.
Since the industrial revolution, the greenhouse effect has been magnified due to
greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by humans. Thus, as humans emit more
greenhouse gases and those gases are trapped in the atmosphere, more heat is
retained. This causes average annual warming across the globe.

The increasing amount of these gases is due to human activities. A high level of carbon
dioxide comes from fossil fuel use in transportation, and the building, heating, cooling,
and manufacture of cement and other goods. Deforestation releases carbon dioxide
and reduces its uptake by plants. High methane emission is related to agriculture,
natural gas, distribution, and landfills. High nitrous oxide is also emitted by human
activities such as fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning. Halocarbon gas concentrations
have increased primarily due to human activities. Principal halocarbons include the
chlorofluorocarbons (e.g., CFC-11 and CFC-12) which were used extensively as
refrigeration agents and in another industrial process before their presence in the
atmosphere was found to cause stratospheric ozone depletion.

ENERGY CRISIS

The energy crisis is a broad and complex topic. Most people do not feel connected to its
reality unless the price of gas at the pump goes up or there are lines at the gas station.
The energy crisis is ongoing and getting worse, despite many efforts. The reason for
this is that there is not a broad understanding of the complex causes and solutions for
the energy crisis that will allow for an effort to happen that will resolve it.

What is the Energy Crisis?

The energy crisis is the concern that the world’s demands on the limited natural
resources that are used to power industrial society are diminishing as the demand rises.
These natural resources are in limited supply. While they do occur naturally, it can take
hundreds of thousands of years to replenish the stores. Governments and concerned
individuals are working to make the use of renewable resources a priority, and to lessen
the irresponsible use of natural supplies through increased conservation.

Causes of the Energy Crisis

It would be easy to point a finger at one practice or industry and lay the blame for the
entire energy crisis at their door, but that would be a very naive and unrealistic
interpretation of the cause of the crisis.

1. Overconsumption: The energy crisis is a result of many different strains on our

natural resources, not just one. There is a strain on fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal
due to overconsumption – which then, in turn, can put a strain on our water and oxygen
resources by causing pollution.

2. Overpopulation: Another cause of the crisis has been the steady increase in the

world’s population and its demands for fuel and products. No matter what type of food
or products you choose to use – from fair trade and organic to those made from
petroleum products in a sweatshop – not one of them is made or transported without a
significant drain on our energy resources.

3. Poor Infrastructure: Aging infrastructure of power generating equipment is yet

another reason for energy shortage. Most of the energy-producing firms keep on using
outdated equipment that restricts the production of energy. It is the responsibility of
utilities to keep on upgrading the infrastructure and set a high standard of performance.

4. Unexplored Renewable Energy Options: Renewable energy remains unused are most

countries. Most of the energy comes from non-renewable sources like coal. It remains
the top choice to produce energy. Unless we give renewable energy a serious thought,
the problem of the energy crisis cannot be solved. Renewable energy sources can
reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RESOURCES

For millions of years ago, certain plants and animals living on Earth died, and eventually, their
bodies decayed and became part of the soil. The energy held in their bodies did not disappear of
course. As time passes by, additional layers of soil and rocks piled up on the ancient matter.
These organic materials were buried deep in the Earth and were exposed to extremely high
pressures and temperatures. They were transformed into new substances such as coal, oil, and
natural gas. These forms are non-renewable energy resources. That means, once they are being
used, then it will take millions of years again to make such fossils. But we do not have to wait
such long years to support the energy we need every day of our lives. Good thing we have the
so-called alternative energy.
There are two major categories of resources: renewable and non-renewable.

Natural resources can be classified as renewable and nonrenewable resources.

A renewable resource can be replaced at the same rate in which the resource is used
Common renewable resources used to produce energy include, Solar, solar panels
converting solar energy into electricity. 

A nonrenewable resource is a resource that forms at a rate that is much slower than the
rate that it is formed. Coal is an example. It takes millions of years to create coal and
once it is used up it is no longer available You can use CON to remember three popular
nonrenewable resources. This stands for Coal Oil Natural Gas

Non-renewable energy resources are available in limited supplies, usually because they

take a long time to replenish. The advantage of these non-renewable resources is that
power plants that use them can produce more power on demand. The non-renewable
energy resources are:

·       Coal

·       Oil

·       Natural gas

·       Nuclear Power: Energy that is produced through slow-fission reactions. Rods of

uranium or other radioactive elements heat water to generate steam, which in turn spins
turbines to generate electricity.

Renewable resources, on the other hand, replenish themselves. The five major

renewable energy resources are:

·       Solar

·       Wind
·       Water (also called hydro)

·       Biomass or organic material from plants and animals

·       Geothermal which is naturally occurring heat from the earth.

Alternative Energy refers to energy sources other than fossil fuels.  This includes

all renewable sources.  Nuclear is not classified as a renewable energy source.
A renewable energy source is produced from sources that do not deplete or can be
replenished within a human’s lifetime. Nuclear is produced from mined elements like
uranium and thorium which cannot be replenished.

TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY:

Hydroelectricity: This refers to energy generated by hydroelectric dams, where falling
water (i.e. rivers or canals) is channeled through an apparatus to spin turbines and
generate electricity.

Solar Power: Energy harnessed directly from the Sun, where photovoltaic cells (usually
composed of the silicon substrate, and arranged in large arrays) convert the Sun’s rays
directly into electrical energy. In some cases, the heat produced by sunshine is
harnessed to produce electricity as well, which is known as solar-thermal power.

Wind Power: Energy generated by airflow, where large wind turbines are spun by the
wind to generate electricity.

Geothermal Power: Energy generated by heat and steam produced by geological

activity in the Earth’s crust. In most cases, this consists of pipes being placed in the
ground above geologically active zones to channel steam through turbines, thus
generating electricity.

Tidal Power: Energy generated by tidal harnesses located around shorelines. Here, the
daily changes in tides cause water to flow back and forth through turbines, generating
electricity that is then transferred to power stations along the shore.

Biomass: This refers to fuels that are derived from plants and biological sources – i.e.
ethanol, glucose, algae, fungi, bacteria – that could replace gasoline as a fuel source.
Hydrogen: Energy derived from processes involving hydrogen gas. This can include
catalytic converters, where water molecules are broken apart and reunited by
electrolysis; hydrogen fuel cells, where the gas is used to power internal combustion
engines or heated and used to spin turbines; or nuclear fusion, where atoms of
hydrogen fuse under controlled conditions to release incredible amounts of energy.