The presentation analyses the causative factors, phenomenon and effects of global warming and tries to find answers to this perplexing problem facing mankind

1. M. Raj
Associate Professor, Department of
Zoology
Darrang College : Tezpur

2. Fact:
Global warming/Climate change is
being brought about by Green
House Effect
Basic Question
Is Green House Effect Pollution?
Yes/No

3. In its press release, the Nobel Prize
Committee said:
...the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007
is to be shared, in two equal parts,
between the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr.
for their efforts to build up and
disseminate greater knowledge
about man-made climate change,
and to lay the foundations for the
measures that are needed to
counteract such change.

4. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has been
serving as the chairperson of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) since 2002, which was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2007during his tenure.
He has also been the director general of
TERI, a research and policy organization in
India, and chancellor of Teri University

5. GREEN HOUSE GASES
MAKING THE CONNECTION

6. GHG’s Form Pre ind
ppbv
1994
ppbv
Atm
Life-yr*
Sources GWP
Carbon-
di-oxide
CO2
278,000 358,000 Variable Fossil fuel
Combustion
Land use
Conversion
Cement prod
1
Methane CH4
700 1,721 12.2+/-3 Fossil fuels
Rice paddies
Waste dumps
Live stock
21
Nitrous
Oxide
N2
O 275 311 120 Fertilizer
Industrial
Processes
Combustion
310
CFC-12 CCl2
F2
0 0.503 102 Liquid
coolants
Foam
6200-7100
HCFC-22 CHClF2
0 0.105 12.1 Liquid
coolants
1300-1400
Perfluoro
Methane
CF4
0 0.070 50,000 Production of
Aluminium
6500
Sulfur
hexa
fluoride
SF6
0 0.032 3200 Dielectric
fluid
23,900
The Main Green House Gases

9. India Today-Nov 6,2006-pp65

10. GLOBAL WARMING AND CHANGING CLIMATE :
FROM THEORY TO REALITY
• Melting polar ice
• Rising sea level
• Loss of Mountain
Glaciers and Snow
Pack
• Changing Weather
patterns
• Impact on agriculture
• Health And Disease
• Effects on ecosystems
• Dramatic Effects on
Biodiversity

11. Melting polar ice
Arctic Climate Impact Assessment - November 2004, 300 scientists from 15
countries predicted that at least half the summer sea ice in the Arctic will melt by
the end of this century.
Science. February 2006 - showed that the second largest land-based ice sheet in the
world is losing ice twice as fast as scientists had estimated. A complete melting of
this ice sheet could raise global sea level by almost 20 feet.
Science March 2006 - revealed that Antarctica also is losing massive amounts of
ice to the melting and slipping of glacier ice into the ocean, a natural process that
has been accelerated by global warming.
THE RESULT - net loss of polar ice adding billions of tons of water each year to
the world’s oceans and more intense global warming.

12. Rising sea level
Major causes –
1. “thermal expansion” of the oceans—put simply as the oceans continue to warm,
they will expand.
2. Melt water from polar and mountain glaciers.
National Centre for Atmospheric Research –showed that even if no more
greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, global sea level will rise by four
inches over the next century because of thermal expansion alone.
Rate of rise - currently rising rate of 1/10 inch per year. Due to the CO2 already in
the atmosphere, sea level is projected to continue rising for several centuries.
Projections for the year 2100 show great uncertainty, ranging from several inches
to nearly three feet.
Impacts -loss of coastal ecosystems, flooding of cities, displacement of coastal
inhabitants, and increased vulnerability to storm surges.

13. Impacts Of Sea Level Rise On
Humans
• Flooding Bangladesh-projected to lose 17.5% of its land if sea level rises
about 39 inches (1 m). Tens of thousands of people are likely to be displaced.
• Disappearing Islands - Many of the islands will simply disappear under the
rising seas Tourism and local agriculture will be severely challenged.
• Urban Flooding -Thirteen of the world’s fifteen largest cities are on coastal
plains. Many smaller cities, such as Alexandria, Egypt’s ancient center of
learning, also face a severe risk of inundation with a 39-inch (1m) rise in sea
level. Cities at risk cover a wide range of economic circumstances, yet many
will require extensive infrastructure development to minimize the potential
impacts of flooding.
• Adapting to Rising Seas -Rising sea level requires many different local
responses. Cities may require extensive infrastructure development to assure
fresh water supplies, secure transportation, and protect people from flooding
and storm surge. Sea walls can be built to protect cities and roads from rising
seas. More robust building construction may also be required to withstand
the increasingly intense storms.

14. Impacts Of Sea Level Rise On
Nature
• Disappearing Wetlands Coastal wetlands are especially vulnerable because
they are within a few feet of sea level. In the United States, a sea level rise of
one foot (0.3m) could eliminate 17–43% of today’s wetlands, with more than
half the loss in Louisiana.
• Coral Bleaching Corals weakened by a variety of stresses are susceptible to
“bleaching.” This occurs when the microscopic algae that give corals their
brilliant color die. Over the next century, warming of the oceans, in
combination with other stressors such as sea level rise and water pollution,
could lead to an increase in bleaching events.
• Coastal Erosion Over the past century, approximately 70% of the world’s
shorelines have been retreating due to sea level rise and increased erosion.
Over the next century, increased erosion is likely as sea level rises. Erosion will
increase along different types of unprotected shoreline, including the low-
lying barrier dunes.

15. Loss of Mountain Glaciers and Snow Pack
©Woods Hole Research Center, 2006(South Cascade Glacier, Washington)
1928 1979 2003

16. Vanishing Glaciers in India
India Today – Nov6,2006 – page61

17. Changing Weather patterns
• Extreme Weather Scientists predict that climate change will have a
significant effect on global weather patterns, causing both more
floods and more droughts, extended heat waves, more powerful
storms, and other extreme weather events
• Stronger hurricanes Because hurricanes draw their strength from the
heat in ocean surface waters, therefore, as ocean waters grow
warmer, hurricanes will become more powerful on average, a trend
that is already evident over the past 35 years.
• More droughts and flooding Impacts from climate change include a
higher incidence of drought and flooding and changes in precipitation
patterns. According to the IPCC future changes in weather patterns
will affect different regions in different ways- precipitation will
increase in high-latitude regions of the world in summer and winter,
while southern Africa, Australia and Central America may experience
consistent declines in winter rainfall.

18. Impact on agriculture
• Differences in productivity - farms and forests may be more
productive in some regions and less productive at others. Among the
reasons: precipitation will increase in high-latitude regions of the
world in summer and winter, while southern Africa, Australia and
Central America may experience consistent declines in winter rainfall
• Effects on agriculture - agriculture in developing countries will be
especially at risk. Wheat, for example, may virtually disappear as a
crop in Africa, while experiencing substantial declines in Asia and
South America.

19. Health And Disease
• Infectious Diseases - Warmer, wetter weather could increase the spread of
malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. The possible increase in flooding
and damage to water and sewage infrastructure can further encourage the
spread of disease.
• Increased Air Pollution -The concentration of photochemical pollutants,
such as ozone, tends to increase with warmer temperatures. Ozone
damages lung tissue and is especially harmful to people with asthma and
other lung conditions. In Central Europe alone, 21,000 deaths are tied to air
pollution each year.
• Hotter Summers & Warmer Winters- A 1995 heat wave killed more than
500 people in the Chicago area, and heat intensity is likely to rise in the
future. Statistical studies estimate that a temperature rise of 2°F could
double or triple the number of heat-related deaths in Atlanta, in part
because the heat index will increase exponentially as temperature rises.

20. Effects on ecosystems
• Forests Migration between 100 and 340 miles in the direction of the poles in the next
100 years, decline in species composition.
• Rangelands Changes in growing seasons and shifts in the boundaries between
grasslands, forests, and shrub lands.
• Deserts Heating up of deserts, process of desertification irreversible due to drier soils
and land degradation through erosion and compaction.
• Mountain Regions Shift in the distribution of vegetation to higher elevations, extinction
of living creatures that exist only at high elevations
• Lakes, Streams, Wetlands Alterations in water temperatures, flow regimes, and levels;
increase in biological productivity at high latitudes, but extinctions for low latitude, cool
and cold water species; reduction in water quality, biological productivity, and the
habitat in streams due to increased variability in flow.
• Coastal Systems erosion of shores and associated habitat, increase in the salinity of
estuaries and freshwater aquifers, change in tidal ranges in rivers and bays, change in
sediment and nutrient transport, change in the pattern of chemical and microbiological
contamination in coastal areas, increase in coastal flooding.
• Oceans change in patterns of ocean circulation, vertical mixing, wave climate, and
quantities of sea-ice cover.

21. Dramatic Effects on Biodiversity
• Decline in biodiversity and in the goods and services provided by
most ecosystems
• Possible climatically associated shifts in animal ranges and densities
have been noted on many continents and within each major
taxonomic group of animals. (IPCC, 2001).Along with it changes in
body size, and shifts in the timing of events, change in the timing of
flowering, migration and other activities are also anticipated.
• Extinction - For instance, in the past 20 years dozens of species of
mountain frogs in Central America have disappeared because of a
disease that formerly did not occur where they live. Nature (2006).
• Wildlife in the arctic regions will be seriously affected. Observations
of walrus in 1996-99 showed them to be thin and in poor condition,
partly due to receding sea ice

22. WHAT CAN BE DONE
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

23. The greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere because
of human activity will continue to warm the planet for several
centuries. In other words, some level of continued climate change
is inevitable, meaning that humanity is going to have to take
action to adapt to a warming world. However, scientists say it is
still possible—and necessary—to reduce the magnitude of climate
change by “stabilizing” atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse
gases The science makes it abundantly clear: the time to act is
now. The world is already facing severe consequences; we must
respond to the overwhelming scientific evidence and take strong
action to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate
change.

24. Who is responsible for greenhouse gas
emissions and climate change?
• Once emitted, GHGs can remain in the atmosphere for many years, from
approximately 10 years to thousands of years, depending on the gas. This
means that emissions from a long time ago are still in the atmosphere and
still affecting the Earth's climate system.
• Countries in the developed world have been emitting substantial quantities
of GHGs since the start of the industrial revolution in the mid-18th Century.
The United States, for example, is responsible for approximately 29 percent
of the world's emissions of GHGs to date.
• Emissions of GHGs from developing countries are rapidly catching up with
those of the developed world, and some estimates indicate that emissions
from developing countries, particularly those from China and India, will
exceed those of the United States and Europe in coming decades.
• Determining responsibility for climate change necessitates consideration of
these complex patterns of development, past, present, and future

25. International Efforts
• The Kyoto Protocol, an
international agreement
adopted in December 1997 in
Japan, entered into force on
February 16, 2005. The
Protocol sets binding targets
for developed countries to
reduce greenhouse gas
emissions on average 5.2
percent below 1990 levels, in
order to address global
warming.

26. Alternatives for the future
 Alternative technologies
• wind and biomass energy
• solar energy
• hybrid-electric vehicles like the
Toyota Prius.
• hydrogen-powered fuel cells
• biofuels
 Better policies
• transportation emission
mitigation
• better traffic management
• better urban design
• promotion of telecommuting

27. Can we really live without fossil fuels,
- Yes, we can move away from fossil fuels, but not overnight.
- Our economy is currently dependent on fossil fuels, but it is not
necessary that it remain dependent on them.
- Over time, with innovation, market incentives, and the right policies, we
can transition to different fuels, different infrastructure, higher efficiency,
and different technologies.
-We need to concentrate on the development of alternative energy
sources such as wind energy and solar power.
-Technological innovation in energy efficiency is also important.

28. What can the average individual do
Participation by individuals is key to ultimately curbing global climate
change. The following are examples of effective, yet simple activities:
reducing energy use at home by purchasing energy efficient home
appliances;
planting trees to absorb carbon from the atmosphere;
walking or taking public transportation instead of driving;
making smart consumer choices by purchasing environmentally
sound products and energy-efficient vehicles;
and practicing waste minimization, product reuse, and recycling.

29. Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa (/ m nˌ ɔː ə lo .ˈ ʊ ə/ or / ma n lo . /; Hawaiian: [ m un low ]) isˌ ʊ ə ˈ ʊ ə ˈ ɔ ə ˈ ə
one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawai i inʻ
the Pacific Ocean. Mauna Loa is the largest subaerial volcano in both mass and
volume, and has historically been considered the largest volcano on Earth. Mauna
Loa's most recent eruption occurred from March 24 to April 15, 1984.