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Nature of Global Warming, Reasons Consequences- Atmosphere, Oceanic Life etc ..

Global Dimming

BRIEF OUTLINE
y Global Warming is the increase in the average

temperature of Earth s near-surface air and ocean s. y The Definition generally applies to the increase in temperature caused due to Anthropogenic activityunrestricted fossil fuels burning, deforestation etc y Anthropogenic Activity causes Increase in Greenhouse gases, chiefly Water Vapor, Carbon-Di-Oxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Ozone, deforestation further adding to the effects of Greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases
y Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and

emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth's surface would be colder than at present.
Gas Co2 CH4 N2O CFC-12 Pre-Industrial Level 280 ppm 700 ppb 270 ppb 0 Current Level 393 ppm 1798 ppb 317 ppb 533 ppt Increase Since 1750 113 ppm 1098 ppb 47 ppb 533 ppt

Carbon-Di-Oxide
y Carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere is considered a trace

gas currently occurring at an average concentration of about 393 parts per million by volume or 591 parts per million by mass. y Its concentration varies seasonally and also considerably on a regional basis, especially near the ground. In urban areas concentrations are generally higher and indoors they can reach 10 times background levels. y The Reason for it s vary in concentration is due to the amount of heat reflected back onto the space, mostly during Winters, reflection amount is high and as Glaciers melt during summers, reflection amount is low and Water itself absorbs the heat, further making a runaway process of Glacier Melting.

The Keeling Curve


y The Keeling Curve is a graph showing the variation in

concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide since 1958. It is based on continuous measurements taken at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii under the supervision of Charles David Keeling. Keeling's measurements showed the first significant evidence of rapidly increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Many scientists credit Keeling's graph with first bringing the world's attention to the effects that human activity was having on the Earth's atmosphere and climate. y The Reason Mauna Loa was chosen because it lies above the Thermal Inversion Layer and hence contamination effects from other volcanic events are least possible.

Carbon in Oceans
y There is about fifty times as much carbon dissolved in

the sea water of the oceans in the form of CO2 and carbonic acid, bicarbonate and carbonate ions as exists in the atmosphere. The oceans act as an enormous carbon sink, and have taken up about a third of CO2 emitted by human activity. Gas solubility decreases as the temperature of water increases (except when both pressure exceeds 300 bar and temperature exceeds 393 K, only found near deep geothermal vents) and therefore the rate of uptake from the atmosphere decreases as ocean temperatures rise. y Conclusion: Temperature increase has adverse effects!

Anthropogenic Problems Faced, Related to CO2


y Deforestation releases back CO2 into the atmosphere. y The amount of Fossil Fuels burning is also increasing, further

y y y

leading to an increase of Greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The Oceans get heated up because of increase in concentrations of CO2 in atmosphere. Gas Solubility of Oceans decreases as the temperature of water increases. Leads to Acidification of Oceans, due to fossil fuel burning. Glaciers melt as Ocean Temperature rises, hence reducing the amount of reflection, that is generally sent back to space. Worst Case Scenario, CO2 concentrations are projected to rise up to 500 ppm, towards end of 21st Century.

Study of Paleoatmoshpere conditions from Ice-Core


y An ice core is a core sample from the accumulation of snow

and ice over many years that have recrystallized and have trapped air bubbles from previous time periods. The composition of these ice cores, especially the presence of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, provides a picture of the climate at the time. y Description of Image in next page: 19 cm long section of GISP 2 ice core from 1855 m showing annual layer structure illuminated from below by a fiber optic source. Section contains 11 annual layers with summer layers (arrowed) sandwiched between darker winter layers

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