Global Atmospheric Changes PDF

GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES  What do we need to know? A. Weather and Climate B. What determines Earth’s climate C. Greenhouse gases D. Potential effects of global warming E. Examples of strategies to mitigate or adapt to global climate change F. Importance of the ozone layer  Weather -co...

GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES  What do we need to know? A. Weather and Climate B. What determines Earth’s climate C. Greenhouse gases D. Potential effects of global warming E. Examples of strategies to mitigate or adapt to global climate change F. Importance of the ozone layer  Weather -conditions in the atmosphere at a given place and time. -occurs in a short period of time -includes: temperature, atmospheric pressure, precipitation, cloudiness, humidity and wind. -changes every minute, hour, day or even week. Climate -long-term average of weather or conditions of atmosphere in a long period of time. -determined by: sun’s intensity, Earth’s distance from the sun, tilt of the Earth, distribution of water and landmasses across Earth’s surface, composition of gases in the atmosphere. -major factors: temperature & precipitation -other factors: latitude, elevation, distance from the ocean, geographic location, wind, humidity, fog, cloud cover, and in some areas: lightning (Texas, Mexico, North and South pole areas, etc.) -occurs in several weeks, months or years Climate Global Climate Change Climate change -significant and long-lasting change in the Earth’s climate and weather patterns. -can threaten the food production, rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, way of living for survival and etc. Key factors that sustain life: -Solar energy, biogeochemical cycles and gravity -a lot of research and studies documented and explained the changes in temperature, amount of precipitation, shrinking of snow and glaciers, and unending human activities. -Human activities such as emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and land-use change, are primarily responsible for the climate changes observed in the industrial era, especially over the last six decades Global Climate Change Causes of Climate change -Natural causes: Volcanic eruption: ashes or dust, toxic gases (CO2, Sulfur dioxide, salt crystal, etc.) Orbital Changes -Earth’s orbit -Milutin Milankovitch: Milankovitch theory. Carbon Dioxide theory -as the amount of carbon dioxide increases, the atmosphere becomes opaque over a larger frequency interval; the outgoing radiation is trapped more effectively near the Earth's surface and the temperature rises  Greenhouse Gases -greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halocarbons are responsible for greenhouse effect. Greenhouse effect -natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. -This process maintains the Earth’s temperature at around 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would otherwise be, allowing life on Earth to exist. -The problem we now face is that human activities – particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas), agriculture and land clearing – are increasing the concentrations of greenhouse gases. -causing now an enhance greenhouse effect or commonly known as global warming and this is the main leading cause why we have global climate change Greenhouse effect (take note step 5 & 6) Health Effects or Risks: -“climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year” between 2030 and 2050. -as global temperatures rise, so do the number of fatalities and illnesses from heat stress, heatstroke, and cardiovascular and kidney disease. - As air pollution worsens, so does respiratory health—particularly for the 300 million people living with asthma worldwide; there’s more airborne pollen and mold to torment hay fever and allergy sufferers, too. -Extreme weather events, such as severe storms and flooding, can lead to injury, drinking water contamination, and storm damage that may compromise basic infrastructure or lead to community displacement. An example is what happened currently in our country because of typhoons (Roly and Ulysses) Health Effects or Risks: -A warmer, wetter world is also a boon for insect-borne diseases such as dengue fever, West Nile virus, and Lyme disease. Loss of Natural resources and indirect threats to life and property -The capacity of ecosystems like forests, barrier beaches, and wetlands to buffer the impacts of extreme events like fires, floods, and severe storms is being overwhelmed. -The rising temperature and changing chemistry of ocean water is combining with other stresses, such as overfishing and pollution, to alter marine-based food production and harm fishing communities. Changes in Natural habitats & food supply -The Arctic is heating twice as fast as any other place on the planet. As its ice sheets melt into the seas, our oceans are on track to rise one to four feet higher by 2100, threatening coastal ecosystems and low-lying areas. -Some climate changes currently have beneficial effects for specific sectors or regions. For example, current benefits of warming include longer growing seasons for agriculture and longer ice-free seasons. At the same time, however, longer growing seasons, along with higher temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, can increase pollen production, intensifying and lengthening the allergy season. -Destruction of extreme weathers such as tropical storms or typhoons destroys the habitat lands or areas not only in humans but for all living organisms. -Many species are seeking out cooler climates and higher altitudes, altering seasonal behaviors, and adjusting traditional migration patterns. Also. It can result to the disappearance or extinction of some organisms. Changing ocean chemistry/ acidification -The earth’s oceans absorb between one-quarter and one-third of our fossil fuel emissions and are now 30 percent more acidic than they were in preindustrial times. -The warmer the Earth (primarily due to carbon pollution), the more acidic ocean. -acidification poses a serious threat to underwater life, particularly creatures with calcified shells or skeletons like oysters, clams, and coral. It can have a devastating impact on shellfisheries, as well as the fish, birds, and mammals that depend on shellfish for sustenance. -Rising ocean temperatures are also altering the range and population of underwater species and contributing to coral bleaching events capable of killing entire reefs—ecosystems that support more than 25 percent of all marine life So what now? - Despite of the effects of global climate change, there’s nothing to debate, climate change is a reality. Warming the climate system is unequivocal or no doubt even during the 1950s (industrial revolution). -The responsibility to reverse this worrying trend lies with us. At least 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists endorse the consensus position that humans are the lead drivers of climate change. -That’s why we do have mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change. PROTOCOLS 1. Montreal Protocol- Phasing out of ozone-depleting gases (hydrofluorocarbons) 2. Kyoto Protocol- Fight global warming and address climate change by reducing greenhouse gases. Aimed to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and presence of greenhouse gases (GHG). 3. Philippine Environmental Jurisprudence- Locally implemented environmental laws: Mitigation -mitigate or reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Reducing energy use, for example, driving less Increasing efficiency, for example, by switching to hybrid cars (electronic cars, solar cars, etc.) Policies such as energy-pricing strategies (carbon taxes) and elimination of energy subsidies Planting and maintaining forests (tree planting programs and wildlife protection) Carbon management – ways to separate and capture the CO2 produced during the combustion of fossil fuels and then sequester (store) it. (filtering technology, a carbon collector) Use of technological innovations that efficiently trap CO2 from smokestacks Increasing efficiency of coal-fired power plants Replacing coal-fired power plants with renewable energy sources Insulating buildings to reduce the need for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer Improving management of agricultural soils. (less use of pesticides or other chemicals) Adaptation -adapting to life in a changing climate – involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. -to protect coastal land from the rising sea level o Construction of massive sea walls o People living in coastal areas could move inland o Rivers and canals could be channeled to prevent salt water intrusion -Adapt to shifting agricultural zones -other ways: flooded areas can build tall houses and strong foundations, readiness or preparedness during calamities.. So classmates: are you going to adapt or mitigate? Or do both? ☺ Ozone Layer Depletion -The ozone layer screens out 99% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The fragile shield is created as ozone molecules form and break down in the atmosphere. Thinning of the ozone layer will substantially increase the amount of UV radiation received by Earth. -Ozone depletion does not cause global warming, but both of these environmental problems have a common cause: human activities that release pollutants into the atmosphere altering it. -Ozone depletion occurs when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons (gases formerly found in aerosol spray cans and refrigerants) are released into the atmosphere. -As we all know UV radiation (a type of solar radiation) bring harm to living things. Ozone Layer Depletion -UV radiation can cause health problems, from eye damage to skin cancer. - ‘ozone hole’ refers to the depletion of the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) over Earth's polar regions. -In the 1980s, scientists discovered that the ozone layer was thinning in the lower stratosphere, with particularly dramatic ozone loss—known as the "ozone hole"—in the Antarctic spring (September and October) - Montreal Protocol was agreed on in the 1980s– an international commitment to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals that was universally ratified by all countries that participate in the UN. However, we can still observe the use of some chemicals over the past years. - Ozone Layer Depletion -Tiny sulfate particles (aerosols) blasted into the stratosphere by the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 caused measurable decreases in ozone for several years following the eruptions. -Good thing during the year 2011 & 2018 there is reduction and healing of the ozone hole that means there is a depletion of used of harmful chemicals. - This 2020, because of the pandemic, accordingly the ozone layer is rapidly healing due to the lesser pollution and lesser industrial progress or operations. -That’s it classmates, at the end of the day, we humans are primarily responsible to reverse the effect of our problems: climate change and global warming.