What is Global Warming?

Increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere during the last 50 years (water vapour, Carbon-dioxide, methane, ozone, etc.) Alarming Increase in Temperature Global Temperature rise

Greenhouse effect
Incoming radiation Energy: Sunlight reaches Earth's surface some part is absorbed by the earth the rest is radiatedOutgoing back to the atmosphere Radiation wavelength of radiated light Energy: Some longer than the sunlight of these radiations are absorbed by Greenhouse Energy trapped by gases in the Greenhouse gases: atmosphere Greenhouse gases act before they reflect like a mirror and are Reflecting back of heat energy by backlost to space heat some of the energy to the earth

the atmosphere

Greenhouse

Constituents of Greenhouse Gases

Major Constituents and their impact (but not limited to): Water vapour (clouds not included) about 36-70% Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) 9-26% Methane 4-9% Ozone 3-7% Nitrous oxide Sulphur hexafluoride Hydro fluorocarbons Perfluorocarbons Chlorofluorocarbons

Cause for global warming: Carbon dioxide emissions in million tons per year over the last 200 years. (Graph taken from http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Global_Carbon_E

Trends for greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (NOx) concentrations in the atmosphere are still increasing. For the other major greenhouse gases, the steady upward trend has been broken. (Graph taken from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/Major_greenhouse_gas_trends.png)

By the beginning of the 21st century, Earths temperature was roughly 0.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term (19511980) average. (NASA figure adapted from Goddard Institute for Space Studies Surface Temperature

Effects of Global Warming

There are two major effects of global warming: Increase of temperature on the earth by about 3 to 5 C (5.4 to 9 Fahrenheit) by the year 2100. Rise of sea levels by at least 25 meters (82 feet) by the year 2100. Increasing global temperatures are causing a broad range of changes. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns increase the frequency, duration, and intensity of other extreme. The oceans are turning to acid! Geologists recently projected a 10 percent to 20 percent drop in rainfall in north western and southern Africa by 2070.

Arctic Circle

1950

2007

Alaska
1800
2011

Steps to control global warming

Improve fuel efficiency Control emission of Greenhouse gases Shifting from a carbon based economy to hydrogen based economy Using renewable sources of energy Not using more energy than that is needed

Click edit CO2 tolevel Master text styles Atmospheric Second Third level Measurements Fourth level

Fifth level

CO2 Measurements Since 1958 Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Simple steps we can take at home

Switch to energy efficient lighting Replace traditional bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs Carbon dioxide emission is lessened by 700 pounds per bulbs life Improve efficiency of appliances at home Look for the Energy Star symbol when buying Reduce energy needed for heating and cooling Heating & cooling generate about billion ton of Carbon dioxide per year from United States alone Wear warm clothes instead of turning on heat Use a small fan than turning on the air conditioner Move your thermostat two degrees cooler in winter and two degrees warmer in the summer Use clothes line for drying instead of a dryer Turn off appliances not in use Computers, TV, Lights & Cell phone chargers