CLIMATE CHANGE

By Alex Stagg

The Greenhouse Effect

A process which aids in heating the

Earth's surface and atmosphere
Atmospheric gases (eg. Carbon dioxide &
methane) absorb longwave radiation
from the Earths surface, changing the
energy balance of the planet.
Without it, temperature would = -18
Celsius, rather than15 Celsius.

Heating of ground by sunlight causes

Earths surface to become a radiator of
infrared.
Majority of outgoing infrared radiation is
absorbed by the greenhouse gases.
As the amount of these gases in the
atmosphere increases, the amount of
infrared radiation in the lower
atmosphere increases, raising
temperatures.

Gas

Source

Use

% increase of
global
warming

Water
vapour

Oceans, lakes, rivers,

reservoirs. Humans have little
impact upon levels.

Absorbs limited
outgoing radiation.

Responsible for
nearly 98% of the
natural
greenhouse
effect.

Carbon
dioxide

Burning of fossil fuels, and

forests, breathing animals, less
produced by southern
hemisphere (less land).

Absorption of long
wave radiation

50%

Methane

Much from break down of

organic matter by bacteria,
cows, swamps marshes.

As above

18%

Ozone

Naturally from some oxygen

atoms. Ozone in the
troposphere is due to chemical
reactions between sunlight
and agents of pollution.

Filters short wave

UV radiation.

CFCs

Fridges and aerosols.

25%, but
increasing due to
ability to survive
within the
atmosphere for
100 years.

Effects of climate change

Temperatures are
rising and ice is
melting
Sea levels are
rising, leading to
flooding
Low-lying land is
threatened
Sea defenses will
be under more
stress and the
ocean circulation
may also be
disrupted

Extreme weather conditions

Stronger and more frequent hurricanes &

storms
Increased precipitation
Higher frequency of heat waves, floods &
drought
Drought could lead to increased
desertification

Altered habitats

Can affect animals and plants with further

changes in rainfall and temperature
30% of land-based bird species could become
extinct
Falling penguin population in Antarctica
Species that depend on one another may become
out of sync
If sea ice disappears polar bears could become
extinct

Economic effects

Could affect global water availability effect on food

production as less water available for agricultural
purposes
Decreased crop yields- Less crops = increasing prices
Desertification Agricultural land on the edge of
deserts may become useless
Additional use of energy resources for cooling needs
Increased insurance
Tourism problems eg. less snow in mountain resorts

Sir Nicholas Stern said in his review of financial

implications of climate change (The Stern Review)
that Climate change is fundamentally altering the
planet; that the risks of inaction are high; and that time

Social & Health effects

Migration from areas suffering drought

Increased emigration of those from poorer or lowlying countries to wealthier or safer countries
Decrease in the supply of melt water from
glaciers
Less fresh water available
Increased water borne infectious diseases, eg.
Malaria
Rise in heat waves

Advantages of global
warming

More plant growth and milder climates in

frozen regions of the earth
Next ice age may be prevented from
occurring
Easier and cheaper trade, eg. North Canada
Fewer deaths or injuries due to cold
weather growing population
Longer growing seasons increased
agricultural production

How are humans to blame?

Human activities such as deforestation and

the burning of fossil fuels has encouraged
global warming
Greenhouse gases trap heat
Additional Co2 in the atmosphere comes
mainly from coal and oil
Deforestation releases a large amount of Co2
Plants and trees use Co2 to grow- less trees
to absorb the extra Co2- more of it stays in
the atmosphere, trapping more heat

Alternative theories?

Some believe that humans are not to blame for the

rise in global temperatures and that we are
experiencing part of a natural cycle.
One alternative theory is that the climate is governed
by atomic particles coming from exploded stars,
believing that there is a possible link between the
influences of cosmic rays on the earth's climate and
cloud formation.
Cloud cover increases when the intensity of cosmic
rays grows, and decreases when the intensity declines.
Cloudiness keeps changing because the sun's
magnetic field varies in its ability to repel cosmic rays
coming from the galaxy, before they can reach the
earth.