GLOBAL WARMING

Global Warming an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth ’ s surface and in the troposphere1, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns

an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth ’ s surface and in the troposphere1, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns

Causes Burning of fossil fuels (Coal/Crude oil) Power plants  generate electricity Transportation-----fuels for transports (E.g. LPG, kerosene, fuel oil) Industrial processes (E.g. manufacture of cement, steel, aluminium)

Burning of fossil fuels (Coal/Crude oil)

Power plants  generate electricity

Transportation-----fuels for transports (E.g. LPG,

kerosene, fuel oil)

Industrial processes (E.g. manufacture of

cement, steel, aluminium)

Causes Other greenhouse gases emission Agriculture Forestry Other land uses Waste management

Other greenhouse gases emission

Agriculture

Forestry

Other land uses

Waste management

Besides carbon dioxide, other gases such as methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrogen oxides and ozone also contribute to the greenhouse effect. Example : Using natural gas to cook CH 4 + 2O 2  CO 2 + 2H 2 O

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ↓ Some infrared radiation is trapped ↓ Greenhouse effect Serious greenhouse effect Global Warming

How serious the problem is?...

Increase in greenhouse gases Concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is highly increasing by human activities -> Leads to the increasing seriousness of global warming

Concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is highly increasing by human activities

-> Leads to the increasing seriousness of global warming

Global surface temperatures increased about 0.6°C/century since the late19th century increased to 2°C/century over the past 25 years

increased about 0.6°C/century since the late19th century

increased to 2°C/century over the past 25 years

Increase in Global temperatures

Temperature difference between different parts of atmosphere troposphere temperatures (the lowest 8 kilometers of the Earth's atmosphere) collected since 1979 also indicate warming Cooling effect in higher parts of the atmosphere: stratospheric temperatures have been decreasing

troposphere temperatures (the lowest 8 kilometers of the Earth's atmosphere) collected since 1979 also indicate warming

Cooling effect in higher parts of the atmosphere: stratospheric temperatures have been decreasing

NOT globally uniform warming Warming parts: North America Eurasia Cooling parts: parts of the southeastern U.S.

Warming parts:

North America

Eurasia

Cooling parts:

parts of the southeastern U.S.

Increasing temperature extremes Regions that have temperatures (1-3°C) warmer than the average: United States Most of the Europe Regions that have temperatures (1-3°C) cooler than the average: Australia

Regions that have temperatures (1-3°C) warmer than the average:

United States

Most of the Europe

Regions that have temperatures (1-3°C) cooler than the average:

Australia

Regional Temperatures

Sea level rising rising at an average rate of 1 - 2 mm/year over the past 100 years

rising at an average rate of 1 - 2 mm/year over the past 100 years

Environmental and Human Effects

Direct Temperature Effects Increase in average temperature More extreme heat waves during the summer; Less extreme cold spells during the winter Harmful to those with heart problems, asthma, the elderly, the very young and the homeless

Increase in average temperature

More extreme heat waves during the summer; Less extreme cold spells during the winter

Harmful to those with heart problems, asthma, the elderly, the very young and the homeless

Extreme Events Extreme Events: Heat waves; Cold waves; Storms; Floods and Droughts Global warming An increase in the frequency of extreme events More event-related deaths, injuries, infectious diseases, and stress-related disorders

Extreme Events:

Heat waves; Cold waves; Storms; Floods and Droughts

Global warming

An increase in the frequency of extreme events

More event-related deaths, injuries, infectious diseases, and stress-related disorders

Climate-sensitive diseases Increase the risk of some infectious diseases [particularly that appear in warm areas; are spread by mosquitoes and other insects] E.g. Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis Algal blooms occur more frequently as temperatures warm (particularly in areas with polluted waters) Diseases (e.g. cholera) accompanying algal blooms become more frequent

Increase the risk of some infectious diseases

[particularly that appear in warm areas; are spread by mosquitoes and other insects]

E.g. Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, encephalitis

Algal blooms occur more frequently as temperatures warm (particularly in areas with polluted waters)

Diseases (e.g. cholera) accompanying algal blooms become more frequent

Air Quality An increase in the concentration of ground-level ozone Damage lung tissue Harmful for those with asthma and other chronic lung diseases

An increase in the concentration of ground-level ozone

Damage lung tissue

Harmful for those with asthma and other chronic lung diseases

Food supply Rising temperatures and variable precipitation Decrease the production of staple foods in many of the poorest regions Increasing risks of malnutrition

Rising temperatures and variable precipitation

Decrease the production of staple foods in many of the poorest regions

Increasing risks of malnutrition

Population displacement Rising sea levels Increase the risk of coastal flooding (Necessitate population displacement) More than half of the world's population now lives within 60km of the sea. Most vulnerable regions: Nile delta in Egypt, the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh, many small islands, such as the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.

Rising sea levels

Increase the risk of coastal flooding

(Necessitate population displacement)

More than half of the world's population now lives within 60km of the sea.

Most vulnerable regions: Nile delta in Egypt, the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh, many small islands, such as the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.

UV Exposure (Australia) Skin Cancer an abnormal growth of skin tissues. Premature aging make the skin thick, wrinkled, and leathery Cataracts No longer have transparent lenses in their eyes

Skin Cancer

an abnormal growth of skin tissues.

Premature aging

make the skin thick, wrinkled, and leathery

Cataracts

No longer have transparent lenses in their eyes

UV Exposure (Australia) Other Eye Damages Skin cancer around the eyes Degeneration of the yellow spot Suppression of Immunity Overexposure to UV radiation  suppress proper functioning of the body's immune system and natural defenses of skin UV-B radiation weakens the immune system  increases the chance of infection and disease

Other Eye Damages

Skin cancer around the eyes

Degeneration of the yellow spot

Suppression of Immunity

Overexposure to UV radiation  suppress proper functioning of the body's immune system and natural defenses of skin

UV-B radiation weakens the immune system  increases the chance of infection and disease

Measures on controlling the problem Government * set some laws to limit the amount of pollutants produced by factories * develop the skills of using renewable fuels , e.g. solar energy, wind energy

Government

* set some laws to limit the amount of pollutants produced by factories

* develop the skills of using renewable fuels , e.g. solar energy, wind energy

* encourage the factories to replace fossil fuels by renewable fuels, which would not cause environmental pollution * carry out energy saving scheme -> reduce the pollution produced by burning fossil fuels * build more plants -> reduce the pollutants e.g. CO 2 Measures on controlling the problem

* encourage the factories to replace fossil fuels by renewable fuels, which would not cause environmental pollution

* carry out energy saving scheme -> reduce the pollution produced by burning fossil fuels

* build more plants -> reduce the pollutants e.g. CO 2

Measures on controlling the problem Citizens * reduce the use of plastic bags -> as burning plastic emit CH4 * recycle the resources, e.g. plastic * reduce the use of sprays -> as CFCs would be emitted out

Citizens

* reduce the use of plastic bags -> as burning plastic emit CH4

* recycle the resources, e.g. plastic

* reduce the use of sprays -> as CFCs would be emitted out

Measures on controlling the problem * reduce the use of air-conditioner, which will emit CFCs * use public transportation instead of private cars -> reduce the pollutants emitted by cars

* reduce the use of air-conditioner, which will emit CFCs

* use public transportation instead of private cars -> reduce the pollutants emitted by cars

Sources http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/en/ http://resources.emb.gov.hk/envir-ed/text/globalissue/e_m2_2_6.htm http://epa.gov/climatechange/effects/index.html http://www.tchps.edu.hk/greenweb/greenMaindGMsg5.htm http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/en/

http://resources.emb.gov.hk/envir-ed/text/globalissue/e_m2_2_6.htm

http://epa.gov/climatechange/effects/index.html

http://www.tchps.edu.hk/greenweb/greenMaindGMsg5.htm

http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html

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