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Energy and Climate Change

(ESE-832)
Dr. Rabia Liaquat
Centre for Energy Systems (CES)
National University of Sciences
& Technology (NUST)
Email: rabia@uspcase.nust.edu.pk

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Climate Change Has an Impact on:
Ecosystems • Biodiversity, carbon storage, habitats, …

Human systems • Agriculture, fresh water, health, …

Urban systems • Transport, buildings, lifestyle, …

• Energy, manufacturing, natural capital

Economic systems industries, …

Social systems • Equity, migration, peace and conflict, …

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 Climate Forcing

• Volcanic activity :
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RleDV5tzIZo
Green Land is Melting:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKKYt6fWob8

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 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
 In the stratosphere, ozone naturally occurs in much higher
concentration and it plays a significant role to protect earth.
 The stratospheric ozone layer intercepts much of the ultraviolet
(UV) part of the radiation emitted by the sun. Invisible to the human
eye, this UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancers, eye
infections and immune system problems in humans.
 Reduction in stratospheric ozone concentrations, up to 50% in some
polar regions, have been recorded.
 Smaller reductions of 5-10% have been detected in middle and
upper latitudes, while tropical regions appear to be unaffected thus
far.
 Sustained reductions of 10% in ozone concentrations could lead to a
25% increase in skin cancers and a 7% increase in eye damage from
cataracts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU6pxSNDPhs
Mechanism of Ozone depletion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz9sc5Jgsvc
 Mechanism of Ozone depletion
CFCl3 + UV Light ==> CFCl2 + Cl
Cl + O3 ==> ClO + O2
ClO + O ==> Cl + O2
The free chlorine atom is then free to attack another
ozone molecule
Cl + O3 ==> ClO + O2
ClO + O ==> Cl + O2
and again ...
Cl + O3 ==> ClO + O2
ClO + O ==> Cl + O2
and again... for thousands of times
 Impacts of Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
 Exposure to UV radiation can damage agricultural yields, phytoplankton
(an essential food chain element of marine environments), and terrestrial
ecosystems in two general ways.

• First, ultraviolet light causes damage to biological functions in plants

and micro-organisms, which can result in stunted growth and lowered
viability.

• Second, UV radiation can modify the genetic material in plant and

animal cells (DNA), resulting in potential damage to cell function and
mutations that can influence the viability of seeds, pollen, eggs.

• Formation of Cancerous cells in human beings and blindness is very

common due to ozone depletion.
 Montreal Protocol

 In 1985 the Vienna Convention established mechanisms for

international co-operation in research into the ozone layer and the
effects of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs)1985 also marked the
first discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole.

 On the basis of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol on

Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was negotiated and signed
by 24 countries and by the European Economic Community in
September 1987.

 The Protocol called for the Parties to phase down the use of CFCs,
halons and other man-made ODCs.
 Ozone Depleting substances
 After a series of rigorous meetings and negotiations, the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was finally agreed upon on 16
september 1987 at the Headquarters of the International Civil Aviation
Organization in Montreal.

The Montreal Protocol stipulates that the production and consumption of

compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 Halons
 Carbon tetrachloride
 Methyl chloroform
are to be phased out by 2000 (2005 for methyl chloroform)

 Scientific theory and evidence suggest that, once emitted to the atmosphere,
these compounds could significantly deplete the stratospheric ozone layer
that shields the planet from damaging UV-B radiation.
 Ozone Depleting
   substances
 Man-made chlorines, primarily chloroflourobcarbons (CFCs), contribute to
the thinning of the ozone layer and allow larger quantities of harmful
ultraviolet rays to reach the earth.
•   
 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is one
of the first international environmental agreements that includes trade
sanctions to achieve the stated goals of a treaty.

 It also offers major incentives for non-signatory nations to sign the

agreement. The treaty negotiators justified the sanctions because depletion
of the ozone layer is an environmental problem most effectively addressed
on the global level.

 Furthermore, without the trade sanctions, there would be economic

incentives for non-signatories to increase production, damaging the
competitiveness of the industries in the signatory nations as well as
decreasing the search for less damaging CFC alternatives.
Why Stratospheric Ozone Depletion is over Antarctic?
 During winter, the Antarctic stratosphere is isolated from the rest of the stratosphere
by winds swirling around Antarctica, creating what is referred to as the "polar vortex.“
Because of its extreme isolation, temperatures inside the vortex drop to very low
levels (minus 90 degrees C, or minus 160 degrees F!)

 Winter temperatures within the vortex are cold enough for the scant water vapor
present in that dry air to freeze (must be -80C for freezing to occur). It does so,
forming "polar stratospheric clouds" or "PSC's". (These are more common over
Antarctica than over the Arctic as the stratosphere over the Arctic isn't as isolated –
and hence not as cold – during winter.)

 The cloud particles act as surfaces on which reactions that free chlorine from its
reservoirs can proceed more rapidly than in a purely gaseous environment. Hence, all
during winter, Cl is being freed rapidly from various reservoirs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b-1gme0bsM
 Temperature Factor
 The atmosphere is changing, and one of the
key changes is that the ozone layer is
getting colder.

 And when it gets colder, particularly during

the winter, we can get clouds actually
forming in the ozone layer, and these clouds
are the key factor.
 Chemistry can take place on them that
activates the chlorine and makes it very
much easier for it to destroy the ozone.

 It's getting colder because of the

greenhouse gases that are being liberated
by all the emissions we have at the surface.
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