Global warming poses one of the greatest threats to humanity. It is caused by increased levels of greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere and raising temperatures. This is already causing effects like sea level rise, stronger hurricanes, and harm to wildlife populations. To control global warming, people need to conserve energy through practices like using renewable resources, reducing consumption, and recycling materials to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

1. Global WarmingGreatest Threat To HumanityT. Umapathysivam10. 08. 2010

2. Our Focus Global warming – OverviewCauses of global warmingEffects of global warmingControl global warming

3. What is Global Warming? Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they die.

4. Global Warming - ExamplesDec 2003June 2002Colorado River, Arizona

5. Global Warming - Examples19142004Portage Glacier, Alaska

6. Why it is happening?

7. Main causeRaise in normal temperatureImbalance in greenhouse effect

8. Greenhouce GasesCarbon dioxideNitrous oxideMethaneSulfur hexafluorideWater

9. Greenhouse EffectThe Sun’s energy passes through the car’s windshield.This energy (heat) is trapped inside the car and cannot pass back through the windshield, causing the inside of the car to warm up.

10. Why it happens?C+O2=CO2Burning carbon-containing fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide

11. CO2 Significant greenhouse pollutant Humans have increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere by more than 37% since the Industrial Revolution. - NOAA 2008

12. The most carbon dioxide(385 ppm) in 800,000 years. - Prof. Thomas Blunier, Univ. of Copenhagen; Monaco Declaration 2008.Methane from rice paddies both ends of animals, garbage in landfills and mining operations

13. Global Warming - EffectsGeographical effects

14. Climate change

15. Wildlife

16. humans23% smaller than previous minimum; 39% smaller than average

17. Ice 53% thinner in region of North Pole between 2001 and 2007 (NOAA Report Card 2008)

18. Ice only 3 feet thick in most locations (NOAA FAQ, 2007

19. In September 2007 an area the size of Florida (69,000 square miles) melted in six days (NSIDC 2007)

20. Humpback whales spotted in Arctic Ocean for first time in 2007Melting Sea Ice7

21. Melting Sea IceThe Arctic Ocean could be ice-free in summer by 2040(U.S National Center for Atmospheric Research, 2006)“Society can stillminimize the impacts on Arctic ice.”Dr. Marika Holland, National Center for Atmospheric Research20002040

22. Sea-level rise projections : a few inches to a few feet2 ft: U.S. would lose 10,000 square miles

23. 3 ft: Would inundate Miami

24. Affects erosion, loss of wetlands, freshwater supplies

25. Half of the world’s population lives along coasts

26. Big question: Ice sheetsSpread of diseaseAs northern countries warm, disease carrying insects migrate north, bringing swine flu and other disease with them. Warmer waters and more hurricanesAs the temperature of oceans rise, so will the probability of more frequent and stronger hurricanes.

27. Increased probability and intensity of droughts and heat waves

28. Increase in frequent volcanic eruptions due to rise in temperatures

29. Forest fire increased due to hot winds

30. Nitrous oxide from fertilizers and other chemicals

31. Climate ChangeImportant factor affected as a result of global warmingClimate change happens when there is a change inSun’s outputEarth’s orbitDrifting continentsVolcanic eruptionsGreenhouse gases

32. Weather Vs ClimatePhoto courtesy of Parker Rittgers / ADN reader submission“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” Mark TwainUS National Weather Service

34. Wildlife effects

35. Wildlife effectsEffects of global warming on animals is one of serious threat to BiodiversityExtinction Some species migrates from one place to other for survival

36. Polar BearPolar bear who depend on sea ice announced as an endangered speciesThe numbers in the western Hudson bay down by 22% in 17 yearsThe cubs perished from 61 to 22 per 100 femalesIncrease in cannibalism

37. Brown BearFactors of Concern:Diet impairment: fish and berries (Kenai Brown Bears – fish 90% of diet v. black bears 10%)

38. Hibernation disturbances for reproducing females (Jan-May)

39. 2 months to implant

40. Cub growth

41. Flooding of dens

42. Reduction in productivity and survival rates following salmon decline in Caribou The Western Arctic Caribou Herd shrank by 113,000

43. Since 1989, the Porcupine Caribou Herd has declined at 3.5% per year to a low of 123,000 animals in 2001Freezing rain coats lichen

44. Changing rivers

45. Less tundraBirds Threatened Birds flying higher, farther away

46. Lakes and rivers too low

47. Fewer birds seenMigratory BirdsPopulation appears to be “in peril”(Consensus Report, 2006)

48. Declined from over 7 million to 3.39 million

49. Record low in 2006: 3.2 million

50. 70% breed in western boreal forest;

51. Fastest rate of decline there “Declines reflect breeding season events.