Global Warming

What is it?

What is Global Warming and What

is the Greenhouse Effect?

Global Warming: Global warming refers to an average increase in

the Earth's temperature, which in turn causes changes in the global
climate.

The Greenhouse Effect: The warming of the atmosphere by the

trapping of long wave radiation being radiated to space. The gases
most responsible for this effect are water vapor and carbon dioxide.

But how does the Greenhouse Effect work?

A Greenhouse Effect we can all relate to!

The Greenhouse Effect

The Greenhouse Effect is unquestionably real and helps to

regulate the temperature of our planet. It is essential for life on Earth
and is one of Earths natural processes.

Without a natural greenhouse effect, the temperature of the Earth

would be about (-18C) instead of its present (14C).

The concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect,
but whether human activities are leading to an enhancement of the
greenhouse effect

The Concern is real and the reality is that we are in deed

enhancing the greenhouse effect!!!

What are the Greenhouse Gases?

Many chemical compounds found in the Earths atmosphere act as

greenhouse gases. These gases allow sunlight to enter the
atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earths surface, some
of it is reflected back towards space as infrared radiation (heat).
Greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation and trap the heat
in the atmosphere.

There are many gases which exist that either directly or indirectly
act as greenhouse gases. Furthermore, some gases have more
dramatic effects then others.

Direct Greenhouse Gases

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Carbon dioxide is without doubt the most well known greenhouse
gas. It is also the greenhouse gas man contributes to most, primarily
through burning fossil fuels. Since the industrial revolution
concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere have increased
at an even faster rate.

So how quickly are CO2 levels rising?

Main Sources of CO2

1) Stationary energy consumption (eg. power stations)
- coal fuelled power generation is the worst culprit for carbon dioxide emissions
-Oil and gas fuelled energy generation tends to have a lower carbon dioxide
emission but due to its high use, still accounts for about half of all human
caused C02 emissions.
- Even those energy generation strategies without apparent use of fossil fuels

generally have some associated carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power, for
instance, relies on large amounts of electricity for fuel processing and so
indirectly results in carbon dioxide emissions.

Main Sources of CO2

2) Transportation

Globally, transport related emissions of carbon dioxide are growing rapidly.

The use of petroleum as a fossil fuel for transportation dominates carbon
dioxide emissions from this source.

Despite the rising costs of fuel, fuel consumption levels continue to rise.
The large consumption of gas through vehicles is impacted by many factors
including the following; number of vehicles on the road, types of vehicles on
the road (SUVs, smart cars, transport trucks, etc), traffic conditions, urban
sprawl (distance vehicles have to travel), and maintenance of vehicles
(emissions tests, oil changes).

Energy use (stationary and transportation) are the main contributors to

human made CO2.

Direct Greenhouse Gases

Methane (CH4)

Sources: Natural - Wetlands,

Termites, the Oceans
Human Made - Ruminants
(livestock), Waste Treatment, Rice
Agriculture, Biomass Burning

Direct Greenhouse Gases

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

Sources: Natural The Oceans,

the Atmosphere, Soils
Human Made Agricultural soils,
Biomass burning, Livestock,
Transportation

Other Direct Greenhouse Gases

Tropospheric Ozone
Water Vapor (in the stratosphere)
CFCs Chlorofluorocarbons
HFCs Hydrofluorocarbons
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur
hexafluoride (SF6) with atmospheric
lifetimes of more than 1000 years.

Indirect Greenhouse Gases

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) act as indirect greenhouse gases by producing the

tropospheric greenhouse gas 'ozone' during their breakdown in the
atmosphere.

Carbon monoxide (CO) - can lead to the formation of the tropospheric

greenhouse gas 'ozone'.

Hydrogen (H2) - hydrogen increases the lifetime of some direct greenhouse

gases, such as methane.

Volatile organic compounds or VOCs - encompasses many compounds

including hydrocarbons, alcohols, and organic acids. Man-made emissions
tend to be concentrated in highly populated areas such as cities

What Might Happen?

Cause and Effects
1) Global temperatures will rise!!!

Is the climate warming? YES!

Global surface temperatures have increased about 0.6C since the

late-19th century, and about 0.2 to 0.3C over the past 25 years

How about each year, how hot is it really getting? Lets take a look at
the average temperatures since the 1880s and see the projections of
where we are going.

Then we can look at the top 20 hottest ever recorded yearly

temperatures!

3) Oceans Currents

Warmer oceans can be mean colder continents within a hotter

globe.

Larger amounts of fresh water are being added to our oceans.

If oceans becomes diluted by freshwater, the salt concentration

drops, and the water gets lighter, idling on top and stalling some
currents.

Ocean currents running between warm and cold regions serve as

natural thermoregulators, distributing heat from the equator toward
the poles.

5) Flora and Fauna

Hot, dry land can be murder on flora and fauna, and both are taking
a bad hit. Wildfires in such regions as Indonesia, the western U.S.
and even inland Alaska have been increasing as timberlands and
forest floors grow more parched. The blazes create a feedback loop
of their own, pouring more carbon into the atmosphere and reducing
the number of trees, which inhale CO2 and release oxygen.
With habitats crashing, animals that live there are succumbing too.
Environmental groups can tick off scores of species that have been
determined to be at risk as a result of global warming.
In Alaska, salmon populations are at risk as melting permafrost
pours mud into rivers, burying the gravel the fish need for spawning.
Small animals such as bushy-tailed wood rats, alpine chipmunks
and pion mice are being chased upslope by rising temperatures,
following the path of the fleeing trees.

Costa Rica announced that two-thirds of 110 species of colorful

harlequin frogs have vanished in the past 30 years

The Quiver tree (S. Africa), is starting to die off as it struggles to survive
in arid conditions that are now worsening

Tornadoes are increasing in number and in severity, perhaps an effect

of global warming

Hurricanes are increasing in numbers and in severity, Hurricanes

require warm ocean temperatures in order to form.

India

India signed and ratified the Protocol in August, 2002. Since India is
exempted from the framework of the treaty, it is expected to gain
from the protocol in terms of transfer of technology and related
foreign investments. At the G-8 meeting in June 2005, Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh pointed out that the per-capita emission
rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the
developed world.

Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibility,

India maintains that the major responsibility of curbing emission
rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated
emissions over a long period of time.

What Can We Do?

Knowledge is Power! Just being informed on the issue of global

warming is one huge step forward. Sharing our knowledge with
others and showing them that we care is the best thing we can do.

The next best thing is to be a leader and to live a life that reflects our
beliefs. We can only provide others with the information we know
but we can not force our beliefs on to them.

As such, we must make the changes to our own lives that will better
benefit the environment and global warming as a whole. Believe it
or not, one person can make a difference!

So what will you do

Top 10 Things You can do to

stop Global Warming
10.Plant a couple of additional trees around your
home.CO2 reduction = 20 lbs/year
9.Use a push mower to cut your lawn instead of a power
mower.CO2 reduction = 80 lbs/year
8.Replace your homes refrigerator with a high-efficiency
model.CO2 reduction = 220 lbs/year
7.Buy food or other products with reusable or recyclable
packaging instead of non-recyclable packaging.CO2
reduction=230 lbs/year
6.Replace your washing machine with a low-energy, lowwater-use machine.CO2 reduction = 440 lbs/year

Top 10 Things You can do to

stop Global Warming
5. Install a solar thermal system to help provide your hot
water.CO2 reduction = 720 lbs/year
4. Recycle all of your homes waste: newsprint,
cardboard, glass and metal.CO2 reduction = 850
lbs/year
3.Leave your car at home two days a week (walk, bike or
take public transportation to work instead).CO2
reduction = 1,590 lbs/year
2. Insulate your home, tune up your furnace, and install
energy efficient shower heads.CO2 reductions = 2,480
lbs/year
1.Purchase a fuel efficient car (rated up to 32 mpg or
more) to replace your most frequently used automobile.

DONE BY:
M.SATHYA
VII A1