the causes and effects of climate change
DESCRIPTION
The document gives an introduction to climate change. it gives a definition for weather, climate and climate change. it gives the causes and effects of climate change and strategies that can be implemented to mitigate climate change.TRANSCRIPT
INTRODUCTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Colin MattisClimate Change Officer
National Climate Change Office
Ready Preparedness Proposal (R-PP) Consultation
August 20th 2013
Overview
What is Climate Change
The Causes of Climate Change
Some evidences of Climate Change
The Effects of Climate Change
Dealing with Global Climate Change
Weather
Weather: the state of the atmosphere at some particular time and place…
It is measured through wind, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness, and precipitation.
Is it raining outside? How hot is it? Is it windy?
Climate
Climate is defined as an area's long-term weather patterns The average temperature and
precipitation over time The type and the timing of precipitation The average wind speeds and directions
Food, water, and energy supply systems are optimized to the current average climatic conditions
What is Climate Change……..? Any significant change in the measures of
climate lasting for an extended period of time (10 to 100s of years). In other words, climate change includes major changes in: Temperature Precipitation Winds other indicators
Climate change can involve both changes in average conditions and changes in variability, including, for example, extreme events.
The Causes of Climate Change
Life on Earth is possible because of the warmth of the sun. Some radiation trapped by a
delicate balance of gases making up the atmosphere.
Without this layer of insulation, Earth would simply be another frozen rock hurtling through space.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important gas in this layer of insulation.
Natural greenhouse effect
Causes…….-The Industrial Revolution
Major turning point in History Hand production methods
to machines New chemical
manufacturing and iron production processes
Development of machine tools
Shift from wood and other bio-fuels to Fossil Fuels
Causes…….Increased Emission of Green House Gases
Sources of Emissions Transportation-cars, trucks, ships, trains,
and planes Electricity production Manufacturing Industry Agriculture Commercial and Residential Land Use and Forestry
Causes- Increased Emission of Greenhouse Gases
Causes……Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Atmosphere contains 32 per cent more carbon dioxide than at the industrial revolution.
Atmosphere is now like a thick, heat-trapping blanket
Atmospheric balance disrupted that keeps climate stable climate changes, and it gets
warmer
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Causes……Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Evidence-Our Climate is changing……
Evidence-Global Temperature
Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.4°F over the past century Projected to rise another 2 to 11.5°F
over the next hundred years. Each year of the 21st century has
ranked among the 14 hottest since record keeping began in 1880. 2010 is the warmest year of the 21st
Century
Evidence- Melting Ice
1957
1998
Greenland lost 150 to 250 cubic kilometers (36 to 60 cubic miles) of ice per year between 2002 and 2006
Evidence-Sea Level Rise
Evidence-Warming Oceans
The oceans have absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean showing warming of 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.
Rise in global ocean heat content 1955-2005
Evidence-Annual Precipitation (1901 – 1995)
Green = increasing, Brown = decreasing
Effects of Climate Change
World’s industrial powers (OECD) account for 20% world’s population, but are responsible for >50 % of global emissions – the cause of global warming and resultant climate change.
Developing countries emit < 25 % of total GHG emissions.
Countries such as Belize emit < 1% of global emissions. Belize is among the most vulnerable groups
to GCC
Effects……….Energy
GCC will affect how much energy we need and when we need it. As temperature
rises, more energy needed
Harder to produce certain types of electricity, such as hydropower.
Effects……Water Supplies
GCC will affect where, when, and how much water is available for use
Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increasing droughts will affect the amount of water in lakes, rivers, and streams
Effects……Human Health Increased number of heat-related
illnesses and deaths
Effects……. Agriculture
Difficult to anticipate Productivity will increase in some areas and
decrease in others Rise in sea level will inundate flood plains
and river valleys (lush farmland) Proliferation of pests and diseases Warmer temperatures will decrease soil
moisture- requiring more irrigation Location (i.e. elevation and altitude) where
certain crops can be grown may have to change
Effects……. Plants, Animals and Ecosystems
Disappearing habitats- up to one/fourth of all the plants and animals on Earth could become extinct within 100 years
Migration of species to cooler locations
Effects …..Coral Bleaching Coral reefs can be bleached (right)
due to increase in water temperature Loss of attractiveness of the region as a
destination Loss Employment
Effects…….. Forests
Wildfires start more easily, spread faster, and burn longer.
Bark beetle infestation affected 75% of the pine forest
Effects…….Coast
Increased coastal flooding
Rising sea levels erode beaches and damage many coastal wetlands
Total destruction of certain beaches and islands
Increased storms
Dealing with Climate Change To avoid the worst of climate change,
CO2 levels must be stabilized at 550ppm Two ways to attempt to manage climate
change Mitigation▪ Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to
moderate global climate change Adaptation▪ Focuses on learning to live with to the
environmental changes and societal consequences brought about by global climate change
Dealing with Climate Change
End of Presentation
Thank You