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Group Members
Salman Jamal * Benedict Frederick Sharoon Alfred Naeem Jawahar Kamran Sajjad Ausaf Ahmad Jalal

BY SALMAN JAMAL & BENEDICT FREDERICK

Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earths atmosphere, which increases the temperature. This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot successfully adapt to the changing environment, resulting in death of species, eventually.

The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the suns heat and light is trapped in the earths atmosphere. This is like when heat is trapped in a car or a greenhouse. On a very hot day, the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot. This is because the heat and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it cannot radiate out as much as the amount which entered earlier. This is what the greenhouse effect does to the earth. The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it cannot get out. As a result, the temperature rises which affects the ecosystem!

The suns heat can get into the car through the windows but is then trapped. This makes whatever the place might be, a greenhouse, a car, a building, or the earths atmosphere, hotter. This diagram shows the heat coming into a car as visible light (light you can see) and infrared light (heat).Once the light is inside the car, it is trapped and the heat builds up, just like it does in the earths atmosphere.

Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die. They would die because there would be less food (plants like corn, wheat, and other vegetables and fruits). This would happen because the plants would not be able to take the heat. This would cause us to have less food to eat, but it would also limit the food that animals have. With less food, like grass, for the animals that we need to survive (like cows) we would even have less food. Gradually, people, plants, and animals would all die of hunger

Greenhouse gases are gases in the earths atmosphere that collect heat and light from the sun. With too many greenhouse gases in the air, the earths atmosphere will trap too much heat and the earth will get too hot. As a result people, animals, and plants would die because the heat would be too strong

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming makes the sea levels to rise, submerging low lying areas. The water covers the plants and causes most of them to die. This disrupts the food chain; the animals lose a source of food, along with their habitat. Although, animals have a better ability to adapt to environmental changes than plants do, they may die also, and in large numbers due to absence of food. Death of animals and plants further affects the humans. Due to floods, man is deprived of adequate shelter too. One can notice how global warming sets up a chain reaction!

The oceans are getting affected by global warming in other ways, as well. Many ongoing processes in the ocean are linked to global warming. Warm water due to global warming is doing harm to algae in the ocean. Algae is a producer that you can see floating on top of the water. (A producer is something that makes food for other animals through photosynthesis, like grass.) This floating green algae is food to many consumers in the ocean. (A consumer is something that eats the producers.) One kind of a consumer is small fish. There are many others like crabs, some whales, and many other animals. Fewer algae is a problem because there is less food for us and many animals in the sea.

Global warming harms people as well as animals and plants. It is killing algae, but is also destroying many huge forests. The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain. Acid rain gradually destroys almost everything it touches. Global warming is also causing forest fires due to rise in global temperatures.

Several reasons are responsible for the cause of global warming. One thing that causes global warming is thermal pollution. Electricity causes pollution in many ways, some worse than others. In most cases, fossil fuels are burned to produce electricity. Fossil fuels are made of dead plants and animals. Some examples of fossil fuels are oil and petroleum. Many pollutants (chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land) are sent into the air when fossil fuels are burned. Some of these chemicals are called greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases will be explained in detail, later on.

To quench the thirst of energy for the progress of mankind, we use non-renewable sources of energy much more than the renewable sources. Petroleum, one of the sources of energy, is of a great demand. It is used for transportation, generating electricity, and in industry. Although, petroleum is also responsible for the greenhouse effect, it meets 38% of the United States energy needs.

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Some other examples of using energy and polluting the air are: Turning on a light Watching T.V. Listening to a stereo Washing or drying clothes Using a hair dryer Riding in a car Heating a meal in the microwave Using an air conditioner Playing a video game Using a dish washer

Such human activities are causing more greenhouse gases to be sent into the atmosphere. If one takes note of the magnitude of daily human activities in a household, one s mind may burst! Also register that you are not alone! That turns out to be a lot of pollutants going into the air a day because of people like us using our natural resources carelessly. CONSERVATION IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

TURNING OFF UNNECESSARY LIGHTS SAVES ENERGY SIGNIFICANTLY

When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to landfills. Landfills are open lands left for throwing garbage. In incinerators, the garbage is burned which releases toxic pollutants in the environment, thus further worsening the situation. Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut down trees. Deforestation on a large scale reduces the photosynthetic process and the concentration carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas, is not brought under control

Carbon dioxide is the gas that our body lets out when we breathe. Plants collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they give back oxygen that we breathe in (Photosynthesis). This means that it is very important to protect our trees to stop the greenhouse effect. This gas, CO2, collects light and heat (radiant energy), produced by the sun, and this makes the earth, warmer. The heat and light from the sun is produced in the center of the sun. (The sun has layers just like the earth).

This central layer is called the core. The temperature is a very high one, about 27,000,000F. This heat escapes out of this layer to the next layer, the radioactive zone. This layer is cooler, about 4,500,000F. Gradually, the heat and light will pass through the convection zone at a temperature of around 2,000,000F. When it gets to the surface, the temperature is about 10,000F. Finally, the heat and light is sent into space. This is called radiant energy (heat and light). The radiant energy reaches the earths atmosphere. As a result of this process we get light and heat. When you pollute, you send chemicals into the air that destroy our atmosphere, so more heat and light cannot escape from the earths atmosphere.

People are doing many things to try to stop global warming. One thing people are doing is carpooling. Carpooling is driving with someone to a place that you are both going to. This minimizes the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air by a car. Another thing that people are doing is being more careful about leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights. A lot of people are taking time away from the television, and instead, they are spending more time outdoors. This helps our planet out a lot. Now, more people are even riding busses, walking to school, and riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Planting trees and recycling also helps. If you recycle, less trash goes to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer greenhouse gases in our atmosphere

Many things, such as hairspray and deodorant, now are made to have less of an impact on the atmosphere. Less greenhouse gases will rise into the air, and global warming will slow down.

Globally, The Clean Air Act was passed, to reduce air pollution. The Clean Air Act is making many companies change their products to decrease the pollutants. Part of the law says that you may not put a certain amount of pollutants in the air. Hairspray and some other products, like foam cups, had this problem. Making and using these products lets out too much volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozonedestroying chemicals {chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)}, and related chemicals (such as CO2) into the air. Now, almost all of these products have a label on them telling people what this product can do to the environment. By 2015, all products listed on the Clean Air Act will have this label on them:

Almost all of the other chemicals that could be harmful will have this label on them hopefully by this time (2015) as well.

Ozone- Ozone is produced when other pollution chemicals combine. It is the basic element of smog. It causes many different kinds of health issues dealing with the lungs. It can damage plants and limit sight. It can also cause a lot of property damage. VOCs (volatile organic compounds, smog formers)- VOCs are let into the air when fuel is burned. This chemical can cause cancer. It can also harm plants NOx (nitrogen dioxide)- This chemical forms smog. It is also formed by burning sources of energy, like gas, coal, and oil, and by cars. This chemical causes problems in the respiratory system (including the lungs). It causes acid rain, and it can damage trees. This chemical can eat away buildings and statues. CO (carbon monoxide)- The source of this chemical is burning sources of energy. It causes blood vessel problems and respiratory failures

PM-10 (particulate matter)- The source of this chemical is plowing and burning down fields. It can cause death and lung damage. It can make it hard for people to breathe. The smoke, soot, ash, and dust formed by this chemical can make many cities dirty. Sulphur Dioxide- This chemical is produced by making paper and metals. This chemical can cause permanent damage to the lungs. It can cause acid rain which kills trees and damages building and statues and results in the weathering of limestone

ITS TIME YOU KIDS LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS FOR GOOD! GLOBAL WARMING IS A GLOBAL ISSUE. STEP UP! THE FUTURE IS YOURS!

Although adults do many things to help stop global warming, kids can do just as much. Kids cant make a law, but can do easier things like not watching much TV. You can listen to your parents when they say, turn off your lights or go play outside. Listening to them and actually trying to help can help you, your environment, and the world!

There's a lot of information floating around about climate change. Most people know it has something to do with industrial pollution, changing weather and car exhaust, and they kind of get what Al Gore was trying to say in An Inconvenient Truth. But when asked to explain the problem in lay terms, they get tripped up in a lot of verbal stumbling. In a nutshell, climate change occurs when long-term weather patterns are altered for example, through human activity. Global warming is one measure of climate change, and is a rise in the average global temperature.

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According to the UK Government, the main contributors of man made causes of climate change in the UK are: * 4% of carbon emissions come from industrial processes * 7% come from agriculture for example methane emissions from livestock and manure, and nitrous oxide emissions from chemical fertilizers 21% carbon emissions from transport 65% come from the use of fuel to generate energy (excluding transport) About 40% of carbon emissions in the UK are the result of decisions taken directly by individuals. The biggest sources of emissions for most people are likely to be: * Energy use in the home (the main use is heating) * driving a car * Air travel There other elements of peoples homes that contribute to climate change indirectly. Everything, from furniture to computers, from clothes to carpets, all use energy when it is produced and transported and this causes carbon emissions to be released.

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Sea level is rising Arctic sea ice is melting The temperatures of large lakes are warming Crops are withering Warmer temperatures affect human health

GOLDEN TOAD IN CENTRAL AMERICA

Polar Bears

Colourful Algae

Baltimore Oriole

American goldfinch

Black-capped

Step 1: A very simple way to save some energy is by changing all of your regular incandescent light bulbs with a compact fluorescent light bulb which are more efficient.
Step 2: To prevent climate change, unplug electronics when not in use. A small amount of electricity is used even when a device is not on but still plugged in. Step 3: Remove yourself from mailing lists to save on paper. Step 4: To prevent climate change, wash your clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot water. This can save you 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year. Some people do not believe in climate change or do not even care but think about your children and their children. If we dont start protecting the planet, future generations wont have a beautiful planet to experience life on.

Ozone

is a bluish gas that is formed by three atoms of

oxygen  The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays sent down by the sun The stratosphere reaches 30 miles above the Earth, and at the very top it contains ozone. The suns rays are absorbed by the ozone in the stratosphere and thus do not reach the Earth.

Ozone is a form of oxygen. The oxygen we breathe is in the form of oxygen molecules (O2) - two atoms of oxygen bound together. Normal oxygen which we breathe is colourless and odourless. Ozone, on the other hand, consists of three atoms of oxygen bound together (O3). Most of the atmosphere's ozone occurs in the region called the stratosphere. Ozone is colourless and has a very harsh odour. Ozone is much less common than normal oxygen. Out of 10 million air molecules, about 2 million are normal oxygen, but only 3 are ozone

Ozone is both beneficial and harmful to us. Near the ground, ozone forming as a result of chemical reactions involving traffic pollution and sunlight may cause a number of respiratory problems, particularly for young children. However, high up in the atmosphere in a region known as the stratosphere, ozone filters out incoming radiation from the Sun in the cell-damaging ultraviolet (UV) part of the spectrum. Without this ozone layer, life on earth would not have evolved in the way it has.

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The highest regions of the stratosphere contain about 90% of all ozone. The fact that the ozone layer was being depleted was discovered in the mid-1980s. The main cause of this is the release of CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons. Concentrations of ozone in the stratosphere fluctuate naturally in response to variations in weather conditions and amounts of energy being released from the Sun, and to major volcanic eruptions. Nevertheless, during the 1970s it was realised that man-made emissions of CFCs and other chemicals used in refrigeration, aerosols and cleansing agents may cause a significant destruction of ozone in the stratosphere, thereby letting through more of the harmful ultraviolet radiation. Then in 1985 evidence of a large "ozone hole" was discovered above the continent of Antarctica during the springtime. This has reappeared annually, generally growing larger and deeper each year. More recently, fears have emerged about significant ozone depletion over the Arctic, closer to the more populous regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Protecting the ozone layer is essential. Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun can cause a variety of health problems in humans, including skin cancers, eye cataracts and a reduction in the body's immunity to disease. Furthermore, ultraviolet radiation can be damaging to microscopic life in the surface oceans which forms the basis of the worlds marine food chain, certain varieties of crops including rice and soya, and polymers used in paints and clothing. A loss of ozone in the stratosphere may even affect the global climate.

The ozone layer is not really a layer at all, but has become known as such because most ozone particles are scattered between 19 and 30 kilometers (12 to 30 miles) up in the Earth's atmosphere, in a region called the stratosphere. The concentration of ozone in the ozone layer is usually under 10 parts ozone per million. Without the ozone layer, a lot of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun would not be stopped reaching the Earth's surface, causing untold damage to most living species. In the 1970s, scientists discovered that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) could destroy ozone in the stratosphere. Ozone is created in the stratosphere when UV radiation from the Sun strikes molecules of oxygen (O2) and causes the two oxygen atoms to split apart. If a freed atom bumps into another O2, it joins up, forming ozone (O3). This process is known as photolysis. Ozone is also naturally broken down in the stratosphere by sunlight and by a chemical reaction with various compounds containing nitrogen, hydrogen and chlorine. These chemicals all occur naturally in the atmosphere in very small amounts.

The stratosphere is the second major layer of the atmosphere and lies above the troposphere, the lowest layer. It occupies the region of atmosphere from about 12 to 50 km above the Earth's surface, although its lower boundary tends to be higher nearer the equator and lower nearer the poles. Most ozone in the atmosphere is found in the stratosphere in a region between 19 and 30 km above the Earth's surface, known as the ozone layer. Stratospheric ozone absorbs ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun providing an invisible filter to help protect all life forms from the Sun's damaging rays.

Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs (also known as Freon) are non-toxic, non-flammable and non-carcinogenic. They contain fluorine atoms, carbon atoms and chlorine atoms. The 5 main CFCs include CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane - CFCl3), CFC-12 (dichloro-difluoromethane CF2Cl2), CFC-113 (trichloro-trifluoroethane - C2F3Cl3), CFC-114 (dichloro-tetrfluoroethane - C2F4Cl2), and CFC-115 (chloropentafluoroethane - C2F5Cl). CFCs are widely used as coolants in refrigeration and air conditioners, as solvents in cleaners, particularly for electronic circuit boards, as a blowing agents in the production of foam (for example fire extinguishers), and as propellants in aerosols. Indeed, much of the modern lifestyle of the second half of the 20th century had been made possible by the use of CFCs. Man-made CFCs however, are the main cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. CFCs have a lifetime in the atmosphere of about 20 to 100 years, and consequently one free chlorine atom from a CFC molecule can do a lot of damage, destroying ozone molecules for a long time.

Ozone depletion occurs when the natural balance between the production and destruction of stratospheric ozone is tipped in favour of destruction. Although natural phenomena can cause temporary ozone loss, chlorine and bromine released from man-made compounds such as CFCs are now accepted as the main cause of this depletion. It was first suggested by Drs. M. Molina and S. Rowland in 1974 that a man-made group of compounds known as the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were likely to be the main source of ozone depletion. However, this idea was not taken seriously until the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica in 1985 by the British Antarctic Survey.

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Chlorofluorocarbons are not "washed" back to Earth by rain or destroyed in reactions with other chemicals. They simply do not break down in the lower atmosphere and they can remain in the atmosphere from 20 to 120 years or more. As a consequence of their relative stability, CFCs are instead transported into the stratosphere where they are eventually broken down by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun, releasing free chlorine. The chlorine becomes actively involved in the process of destruction of ozone. The net result is that two molecules of ozone are replaced by three of molecular oxygen, leaving the chlorine free to repeat the process: Cl + O3 ClO + O2 ClO + O Cl + O2

Only a few factors combine to create the problem of ozone layer depletion. The production and emission of CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons, is by far the leading cause. Discovered in the 1930s by American chemist Thomas Midgley, CFCs came to be used in refrigerators, home insulation, plastic foam, and throwaway food containers.

In 1974, Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina followed the path of CFCs. Their research proved that CFCs were entering the atmosphere, and they concluded that 99% of all CFC molecules would end up in the stratosphere. Only in 1984, when the ozone layer hole was discovered over Antarctica, was the proof truly conclusive. At that point, it was hard to question the destructive capabilities of CFCs.

Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs (also known as Freon) are non-toxic, non-flammable and non-carcinogenic. They contain fluorine atoms, carbon atoms and chlorine atoms. The 5 main CFCs include CFC-11 (trichlorofluoromethane - CFCl3), CFC-12 (dichloro-difluoromethane CF2Cl2), CFC-113 (trichloro-trifluoroethane - C2F3Cl3), CFC-114 (dichloro-tetrfluoroethane - C2F4Cl2), and CFC-115 (chloropentafluoroethane - C2F5Cl). CFCs are widely used as coolants in refrigeration and air conditioners, as solvents in cleaners, particularly for electronic circuit boards, as a blowing agents in the production of foam (for example fire extinguishers), and as propellants in aerosols. Indeed, much of the modern lifestyle of the second half of the 20th century had been made possible by the use of CFCs. Man-made CFCs however, are the main cause of stratospheric ozone depletion. CFCs have a lifetime in the atmosphere of about 20 to 100 years, and consequently one free chlorine atom from a CFC molecule can do a lot of damage, destroying ozone molecules for a long time.

Every time even a small amount of the ozone layer is lost, more ultraviolet light from the sun can reach the Earth. Every time 1% of the ozone layer is depleted, 2% more UV is able to reach the surface of the planet. UV increase is one of the most harmful consequences of ozone depletion because it can cause skin cancer. In addition to this more cases of malaria and infectious diseases and catracts is feared.

The environment will also be negatively affected by ozone depletion. The life cycles of plants will change, disrupting the food chain. Effects on animals will also be severe, and are very difficult to foresee. Oceans will be hit hard as well. The most basic microscopic organisms such as plankton may not be able to survive. If that happened, it would mean that all of the other animals that are above plankton in the food chain would also die out. Other ecosystems such as forests and deserts will also be harmed.

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The planet's climate could also be affected by depletion of the ozone layer. Wind patterns could change, resulting in climatic changes throughout the world. The ozone layer protects us from the harmful effects of certain wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. The danger to humans from UV radiation comes mainly from the UV-B range of the spectrum, although UV-A poses some risk if exposure is long enough. UV radiation is harmful to the eyes, can damage the immune system and over time can lead to the development of skin cancers. If ozone in the stratosphere is destroyed, more UV radiation will reach the Earth's surface, and incidences of these health effects will increase.

Plankton form the foundation of aquatic food webs. Plankton are generally found in the upper layer of the oceans in which there is sufficient sunlight to support the photosynthesis of food. Since UV radiation has the ability to penetrate up to 20 meters down in clear water, plankton and other light dependent organisms often experience cell damage, much as human DNA can be damaged by the strong solar radiation. Both plant (phytoplankton) and animal (zooplankton) species are damaged by UV radiation even at current levels. Since UV radiation is absorbed by only a few layers of cells, large organisms are more protected, whilst smaller ones, such as plankton are among the most severely affected by UV radiation. As plankton make up the base of the marine food chain, changes in their number and species composition will influence fish and shellfish production worldwide. These kinds of losses will have a direct impact on the food supply.

UV radiation has also been found to cause damage to the early developmental stages of fish, shrimp, crab, amphibians and other animals. The most severe effects are decreased reproductive capacity and impaired larval development. Even at current levels, UV radiation is a limiting factor, and small increases in UV exposure could result in a significant reduction in the size of the population of animals that eat these smaller creatures.

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The CFCs would remain in the stratosphere for another 100 years even if none were ever produced again. So in the long run CFCS should be replaced by HfCs In the Montreal Protocol, 30 nations worldwide agreed to reduce usage of CFCs and encouraged other countries to do so as well. We should personally avoid the usage of products which contain CFCs and other harmful gases such as sprays which would contribute to ozone damaging.

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There are a number of things that we can do to safeguard our health against the effects of increasing UV radiation from the Sun. Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UV-A and UV-B protection will greatly reduce sunlight exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label when buying sunglasses. A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck - areas particularly prone to overexposure. Tightly woven, loose-fitting clothes offer excellent protection against UV radiation. Any clothing is better than none at all. A sunscreen with protection factor of at least 15 blocks most harmful UV radiation. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every 2 hours when working, playing, or exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can come off when you dry yourself off with a towel. The Sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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