Climate ChangeLesson 5

How humans effect greenhouse gas production

SNC2P Nicole Klement

Greenhouse Gases Produced By Humans

• Greenhouse Gases Produced by Humans:1. ozone 2. water vapour 3. Freon and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) 4. methane 5. nitrogen oxide 6. carbon dioxide

Note: we learned earlier about natural greenhouse gases. What differs is when humans produce more the LEVELS become MUCH higher.

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Anthropogenic Greenhouse Effect

• When greenhouse gas levels are increased because of humans – we call this effect:

The Anthropogenic Greenhouse effect

Carbon Dioxide produced by humans

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

• The burning of fossil fuels (such as oil, coal, and natural gas) used in industry, transportation, heating, electricity generation, and cooking.

• the burning of forests (by humans) and deforestation. • Cutting down trees takes away a natural means of storing

carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide Produced by humans

• Forests are considered to be carbon dioxide “sinks” because they store carbon dioxide.

• In 2005, deforestation caused almost 3% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.

• Worldwide, deforestation accounts for approximately 20% of human caused greenhouse gas emissions.

• Deforestation releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because it disrupts trees and soil in the forest.

Water Vapour produced by humans

• Water vapour is added to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels.

Methane Gas produced by Humans

• Methane Gas (CH4):

• A waste gas when anaerobic bacteria break down organic material such as garbage,

• rice cultivation, • industries, • leaks in gas pipes, • the flatulence of cattle.

Cow farts Bad for the greenhouse effect

• Cow farts – methane being used – news: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8QCDHAG9tk

Methane Gas produced by Humans (animals)

• Methane enters the atmosphere and absorbs the reflected heat from the Earth.

• Methane gas, though less in quantity is more potent in its ability to absorb heat than carbon dioxide.

• This enhances the natural greenhouse effect and causes the Earth to increase in temperature

Nitrous oxide (N2O):

• Nitrous oxide is produced during the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles, burning of fossil fuels in industries, manufacturing of nylon, and the use of nitrogen fertilizers.

Ground Level Ozone (O3):

Ground-level ozone• produced when solar energy reacts with

emissions from industries and vehicles and with gases from solvents.

• Ozone has a sharp odour and stings the eyes.

Atmospheric Vs. Ground level Ozone

• Did you know that upper-level ozone is important because it absorbs some of the harmful UV radiation from the Sun preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface?

• CFCs break down and release chlorine gas that harms the protective ozone layer. One atom of chlorine can destroy over 100 000 molecules of ozone.

Annual Green House Gas Emission

The circle graphs show the human activities that produce carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide gases (year 2000). Data is estimated by the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs):

Chlorofluorocarbons released into the air during the manufacturing or when the products are used carelessly.

• Some products that use CFCs are:• refrigerators• air conditioners • insulating gas in foam plastics, • as a propellant in aerosol sprays, • The use of CFCs has been linked to the ozone depletion and ozone holes

that have developed over the North and South Poles.

Did you know?

• Did you know that the use of CFCs have been banned in Canada?

• In 1987, the Montreal Protocol agreement was signed by 46 nations to plan a reduction in the production and use of chlorofluorocarbons.

Big Ideas

• Global climate change is affected by both natural and human factors

• Climate change affects living things and natural systems in a variety of ways, most notably by causing global warming.

Global warming

Over the past decades scientists have noticed an increase in average GLOBAL temperature. Though the earth’s average temperature is increasing it is possible for some specific locations to not get warmer.

Refers to an average increase in ONE part of weather – air temperature.

Green house gas simulator

• MIT created a simulation using the idea of a bathtub to explain anthropogenic greenhouse gas levels and required changes:

• http://scripts.mit.edu/~jfmartin/sip/master/