Energy and Climate

Albron Culiqi
4A
Topics:

(alternative) forms of energy

Global warming
Climate change
Rainforests
Deforestation
 Alternative forms of energy

Alternative energyis any energy source that is an alternative tofossil fuel.

These alternatives are intended to address concerns about fossil fuels, such as its high carbon
dioxide emissions, an important factor inglobal warming.
Marine energy,hydroelectric,wind,andsolar powerare all alternative sources of energy.
Common types of alternative energy

Hydro electricitycaptures energy from falling water.

Nuclear energyuses nuclear fission to release energy stored in the atomic bonds of heavy
elements.

Wind energyis the generation of electricity from wind, commonly by using propeller-like turbines.
Solar energyis the use of sunlight. Light can be changed into thermal (heat) energy or directly into
electricity via photovoltaic devices.

Geothermal energyis the use of the earth's internal heat to boil water for heating buildings or
generating electricity.

BiofuelandEthanolare plant-derived gasoline substitutes for powering vehicles.

Hydrogencan be used as a carrier of energy, produced by various technologies such as cracking of
hydrocarbons or water electrolysis.
Global Warming
Global warming is the term used to describe a gradual increase in the average temperature of
the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the
Earths climate.
The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of
fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture, and other human activities, are believed to be the
primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years.
Global mean surface-temperature
change from 1880 to 2016, relative
to the 19511980 mean. The black
line is the global annual mean and
the red line is the five-yearlowess
smooth. The blueuncertainty
barsshow a 95% confidence
interval.
Observed and expected environmental and social effects

Extreme weather
Sea level rise
Ecological systems
Long-term effects
Large-scale and abrupt impacts
Food
Health
Habitat inundation
Economy
Infrastructure
 There is great debate among many people, and sometimes in the news, on whether global
warming is real (some call it a hoax).
But climate scientists looking at the data and facts agree the planet is warming.
The scientific consensus on climatic changes related to global warming is that the average
temperature of the Earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 C over the past 100 years.
Climate change

Climate changeis a change in the statistical distribution ofweatherpatterns

when that change lasts for an extended period of time (decades to millions of
years).
Climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in
the time variation of weather around longer-term average conditions.
Climate change is caused by factors such asbioticprocesses, variations
insolar radiationreceived by Earth,plate tectonics, andvolcanic eruptions.
Certain human activities have also been identified as significant causes of
recent climate change, often referred to asglobal warming.
Global temperature anomalies
for 2015 compared to the 1951-
1980 baseline. 2015 was
thewarmest yearin
theNASA/NOAAtemperature
record with starts in 1880. It
has since been superseded by
2016 (NASA/NOAA; 20 January
2016)
Causes

Factors that can shape climate are calledclimate forcing'sor "forcing

mechanisms". These include processes such as variations insolar radiation,
variations in the Earth's orbit, atmosphere, and oceans,mountain-
buildingandcontinental driftand changes ingreenhouse gasconcentrations.
Forcing mechanisms can be either "internal" or "external".
Internal forcing mechanisms are natural processes within the climate system
itself
External forcing mechanisms can be either natural or anthropogenic
(increased emissions of greenhouse gases and dust).
Internal forcing mechanisms

Ocean-atmosphere variability
Life
glaciation2.3 billion years ago triggered by the evolution of oxygenicphotosynthesis,
which depleted the atmosphere of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and introduced
free oxygen.
another glaciation 300 million years ago ushered in by long-term burial
ofdecomposition-resistantdetritusof vascular land-plants (creating acarbon
sinkandforming coal),
termination of thePaleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum55 million years ago by
flourishing marinephytoplankton
reversal of global warming 49 million years ago by800,000 years of arctic azolla blooms
global coolingover the past 40 million years driven by the expansion of grass-
grazerecosystems
External forcing mechanisms

Orbital variations
Solar output
Volcanism
Plate tectonics
Human influences
Rainforests

Rainforestsareforestscharacterized by highrainfall, with annual rainfall in the case oftropical

rainforestsbetween 250 and 450 centimetres (98 and 177in),and definitions varying by region
fortemperate rainforests.
Themonsoon trough, alternatively known as theintertropical convergence zone, plays a
significant role in creating the climatic conditions necessary for theEarth's tropical rainforests.
Layers
Emergent layer
Canopy layer
Understory layer
Forest floor
Flora and fauna

More than half of the world's species of plants and animals are found in the
rainforest. Rainforests support a very broad array offauna,
includingmammals,reptiles,birdsandinvertebrates.
Mammals may includeprimates,felidsand other families.
Reptiles includesnakes,turtles,chameleonsand other families; while birds
include such families asvangidaeandCuculidae.
Fungiare also very common in rainforest areas as they can feed on the
decomposing remains of plants and animals.
Effect on global climate

A natural rainforest emits and absorbs vast quantities ofcarbon dioxide. On a

global scale, long-term fluxes are approximately in balance, so that an
undisturbed rainforest would have a small net impact on atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels,though they may have other climatic effects.
Human-induced deforestation plays a significant role in causing rainforests to
release carbon dioxide,as do other factors, which result in tree death, such
as burning and drought.
WHY ARE THEY BEING DESTROYED?

CATTLE RANCHING
LOGGING
AGRICULTURE
MINING
OIL COMPANIES
DAMS
Deforestation

Deforestation,clearanceorclearingis the removal of aforestor stand of

trees where theland is thereafter convertedto a non-forest use.
Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches,
or urban use.
The most concentrated deforestation occurs intropical rainforests.
About 30% of Earth's land surface is covered by forests
Causes

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

secretariat, the overwhelming direct cause of deforestation is agriculture.
Subsistence farmingis responsible for 48% of deforestation;
Commercial agricultureis responsible for 32%;
Loggingis responsible for 14%,
Fuel wood removals make up 5%.
Problems with deforestation

Atmospheric
Hydrological
Soil
Biodiversity
Top 10 Most Endangered Forests 2011
Thank you for your
attention!!!