2. • Human activities are now changing the composition
of the atmosphere in ways that most authorities
conclude will be damaging or, in the long
run, disastrous.
• Global warming
–Changes in atmospheric composition
–Average temperature of the Earth’s surface is
increasing

5. • CO2 strongly absorbs electromagnetic radiant
energy at some of the wavelengths that are critical
for the global heat budget.
• Greenhouse gases
– CO2
– Methane
– Nitrous oxide

7. • Many insects and amphibians breed earlier in the
year
• Many plants flower earlier
• Concerns:
– The rate of warming today is rapid
– Natural areas no longer cover the whole landscape
– As temperature increases

8. Rising sea levels
Other climatic effects
Effects on agriculture
Effects on human health
Solving the problem

9. • Two effects of global warming
– The melting of polar ice
and glaciers, adding water
to the ocean
– The increase of average
ocean temperature, causing
an increase in volume because
water expands as it warms

10. • Frequency or severity of extreme meteorological
events
– Heat waves
– Droughts
– Severe storms
– Hurricanes
– El Niño
– Rainfall patterns

11. • Positive side
– Warmer temperatures and increase atmospheric CO2
tend to increase growth of some crops and thus may
increase agricultural yields.
• Negative side
– Droughts
– Changes in rainfall patterns
– Temperature
– Pest distributions

12. • Loss of safe drinking water
– Epidemics of cholera
• Human diseases
– Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes
• Temperatures above 16⁰C
– Malaria
• Temperatures above 10⁰C
– Yellow fever
– Dengue fever
• Higher temperature
– Malaria pathogens mature
more rapidly

13. • “green” technologies
• Concerted efforts from:
– Citizens
– Corporations
– Governments