Unit 2: Living with the Climate PDF

# Unit 2: Living with the Climate ## Recall the Consequences of Global Warming - Identify the consequences of global warming. - Explore ways of preventing global warming. - Explain the relationship between extreme weather and climate change. - Discuss the main threats of climate change. - Identify...

# Unit 2: Living with the Climate ## Recall the Consequences of Global Warming - Identify the consequences of global warming. - Explore ways of preventing global warming. - Explain the relationship between extreme weather and climate change. - Discuss the main threats of climate change. - Identify ways in which climate change affects life in general. - Differentiate the climatic patterns of a national and an international city. - Describe ways in which the climate of coastal areas and river plains affect the lifestyles of people living there. ## Inquire how Climate Change is Affecting Human Life - Inquire how climate change is affecting human life in terms of food supply and farms. - Gather, organize, and interpret data to investigate reasons for climate change and global warming. - Examine the consequences of climate change in developing countries. - Explore how people adapt to various climatic conditions drawing examples from Pakistan. - Examine ways in which climate change is affecting farms and our food supply. ## Climate Climate is a pattern of weather which occurs at a place for 35 years. Meteorologists measure and average various weather parameters such as temperature, precipitation, air pressure, humidity, and the number of days of sunshine etc. to find out an area's climate. ## Extreme Weather Extreme weather is when a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern. This may take place over one day or a long period. Three common examples of extreme weather are tornadoes, droughts, and hurricanes. ## Hurricanes The strongest tropical storms are called hurricanes, typhoons, or tropical cyclones. Hurricanes can last a month. Although they travel very slowly - about 24 km/h - wind speeds can reach over 120 km/h. They need a lot of heat to form and a sea surface temperature of at least 26°C, which is why they usually occur over tropical seas. They also need to be between 5° and 20° North or South of the Equator. The intense winds of tropical storms can destroy whole communities, buildings, and communication networks. These winds can generate abnormally high waves and tidal surges. **Diagram showing the structure of a hurricane:** - Warm, moist air is forced to rise. - Air spirals upwards. - Cooling and condensation produces cumulonimbus clouds and heavy rain. - Cold air in the centre sinks. ## Impact of Hurricane Katrina on People - Death: Over 1,300 people died as a result of the hurricane. - Homeless: Over 500,000 people were listed as homeless. - Water: Drinking water was contaminated by sewage for 5 months. - Electricity: 3 million people were left without access to an electricity supply. - Education: 18 schools were destroyed and another 74 were badly damaged. - Jobs: Businesses lost around 230,000 jobs as a direct consequence of the hurricane putting factories and businesses out of business. Prices for oil and petrol went up. - Health: There were many different health hazards caused by the dirty water and unclaimed dead bodies. - Law: Local people lost around 230,000 jobs as a direct consequence of the hurricane putting factories and businesses out of business. Prices for oil and petrol went up. - Flooding: The damage (mostly caused by flooding) cost over $108 billion. In flooded. Some areas were flooded to a depth of 3 meters. - Housing: Over 1 million houses were damaged along the Gulf coast. 300,000 homes were destroyed by the flood. - Debris: Some debris caused by the flood still could be found in New Orleans over 5 years later. In 2017 there are still vacant homes in New Orleans because of the flood. - Rebuilding: Rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina continues till today. ## Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Property - The damage (mostly caused by flooding) cost over $108 billion. - The city failed and over 80% of the city was flooded. Some areas were flooded to a depth of 3 meters. - Over 1 million houses were damaged along the Gulf coast. 300,000 homes were destroyed by the flood. - Some debris caused by the flood still could be found in New Orleans over 5 years later. In 2017 there are still vacant homes in New Orleans because of the flood. ## Droughts - Droughts are very dry periods, caused by a lack of precipitation over a long period. - They are a risk to water security and can damage crops. - The drought of 1998-2002 in Pakistan is considered the worst in 50 years. - Western and central parts of Balochistan remain in the grip of a drought almost all year round. ## Floods - Floods occur when water covers land that is otherwise dry. - They are caused by too much precipitation in a short period of time. - It damages property, washes away roads & crops, can cause loss of life, and damage property. ## Extreme Hot Spells - Extreme hot spells can occur during the summer and can lead to drought and thunderstorms. - High temperatures can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, and sunburn for humans. - Hot spells can also lead to wildfires as vegetation becomes dry and catches fire easily. ## Extreme Cold Spells - Climate change is directly responsible for extreme cold events in moderate latitudes. - Extremely cold weather can bring heavy snow and ice, creating dangerous walking and driving conditions. - It can cause illness in people, such as hypothermia and increased risk of influenza. - Texas, a state in the USA with mild winters, faced record- low temperatures in February 2021. - Snow and ice made roads impassable and the state's electric grid operator lost control of the power supply, leaving millions without access to electricity. ## World Climatic Zones - The Earth's climates are classified and are organized into the various types that exist. - Climatologists use a system developed in 1918 by Wladimir Koppen to classify climates. He classified climates by using the temperature and precipitation of regions that had different plant types. This system has categorized global climates into the following groups: **1. Tropical:** - These are hot and humid areas present around the equator. - These areas receive heavy rainfall with an average temperature of every month above 18°C. **2. Arid:** - These are found in arid or dry climates where the evapo-transpiration exceeds precipitation on the average throughout the year. **3. Mediterranean:** - These areas have hot and dry summers and cooler wetter winters. - They are influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. **4. Temperate:** - These areas have mild summers and not too cold winters are the properties of temperate climates. **5. Continental:** - Continental climates are found in the areas far away from the sea. Here the winters are cold and short with hot summers. **6. Polar:** - Areas characterized by long periods of extreme cold are Polar climate. ## Climatic Regions of Pakistan - A climatic region is characterized by similarities in the various climatic elements, such as precipitation (rainfall, snowfall, hail, temperature, air pressure, wind, etc.) - In Pakistan dry and most frequently used to help define climatic regions are temperature and precipitation. - In Pakistan dry and humid climates have been determined on the basis of its temperature, while the subgroups, have been determined on the basis of its temperature on the basis of which each region's climate is classified. - The Northern Highlands, with their distinct climate, constitute a separate climatic region and are dealt with accordingly. - The following climatic regions are found in Pakistan: **Arid:** 1. With warm summer and mild winter - Pasni, Jiwani 2. With warm summer and mild winter - Bahwalpur, Sukkur 3. With warm summer and cool winter - Sibbi, Khuzdar **Semi-Arid:** 4. With hot summer and mild winter - Faisalabad, Lahore 5. With warm summer and cool winter - Quetta, Barkhan **Humid:** 6. With hot summer and mild winter - Jhelum, Sialkot 7. With warm summer and cool winter - Balakot, Kakul 8. Highland climate - Chitral, Skardu **Did you know, on the 27 December 2021, Karachi broke a 13-year record and experienced the coldest day with the maximum temperature dropping to 19°C (66°F). This was due to climate change.** ## Contrasting Climates ### Climate of Karachi - Karachi has a moderating arid climate since it is located on the coast, bordering the Arabian Sea. - It has two main seasons: summer and winter. Summer season persists for the longest period during the year. - It also receives the rainfall from July to September (Summer Monsoon). - The city experiences a tropical climate encompassing warm winters and hot summers. - The humidity levels usually remain high from July to September, while very low in winter as the wind direction in winter is north-east. - The temperature in winter season sometimes goes below 10˚C and day temperature is about 26˚C. ### Climate of New York - The climate of New York City is subtropical humid, with some parts of the city facing a humid continental climate. - This means the city has cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers with abundance of rainfall all year round. - It snows infrequently in the city but can be heavy when it occurs. ## Topography and Latitude **Karachi:** - As you know temperatures are warmer in areas closer to the Equator. - Karachi is nearer to the equator (24.8607° N, 67.0011° E). - It has hot summers with temperatures touching 50°C. - The temperature in winter season ranges 26-10°C. **New York City:** - As you know temperatures are cooler approaching the poles. - New York city is closer to the poles (40.7128° N, 74.0060° W). - The maximum temperature in New York during summers is 30°C, while during winters it is especially cold, with minimum temperatures reaching 2°C. ## Effect of Altitude **Karachi:** - The topography within 2 miles of Karachi contains only modest variations in altitude, with a maximum elevation change of 177 feet. - Within 50 miles there are significant variations in elevation (3,547 feet). **New York City:** - New York City has a very low elevation of just 33 feet above sea level. ## Effect of Sea on Land **Karachi:** - The coastal city has a moderate climate in summers and winters because of the winds emerging from the Arabian sea on land. **New York City:** - The New York area lies alongside the Gulf Stream. ## Winds **Karachi:** - From April 14 to September 18, the average wind speed is more than 10.8 mph. - The windiest month of the year in Karachi is June, with an average hourly wind speed of 14.5 mph. - The calmest month of the year in Karachi is November, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.9 mph. **New York City:** - From October 14 to April 25, the average wind speed is more than 8.3 mph. - The windiest month of the year in New York City is February, with an average hourly wind speed of 10.2 mph. - The calmest month of the year in New York City is July, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.4 mph. ## Global Warming - Global warming means that the average global temperature of the Earth is rising. - The most likely reason for global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. - An increase in greenhouse gases increases the greenhouse effect. - In the last 100 years, the surface temperature on the Earth has increased about 1°C. - If the Earth's average temperature continues to rise at this speed, glaciers and layers of permafrost would melt, causing a rise in sea levels and flooding in low-lying coastal areas. - Already some ice caps and small glaciers are beginning to melt and recede. ## Greenhouse Effect - The greenhouse effect is a natural heating that occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat. - Radiation from the Sun strikes the Earth's surface and causes it to warm. Some of this heat then is radiated back towards the space. - These gases in the atmosphere absorb a portion of this heat and it keeps the Earth warmer than it would be otherwise. - There are many natural greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. - Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane are some of the most important ones. - Without these greenhouse gases, life would not be possible on the Earth. - Like Mars, the Earth would be too cold. However, if the greenhouse effect is strong, the Earth could get too warm. - High levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere indicate that this has happened on the planet Venus. ## Causes of Climate Change - Sediments in many parts of the world confirm that glaciers covered large areas of the Earth at different times in past million years. - Geographers call this the ice age. - During the past million years, ice ages have alternated with warm periods called interglacial intervals. - Ice ages are estimated to have existed for 60,000 to 100,000 years. - However, most interglacial periods are shorter, lasting 10,000 to 15,000 years. - We are now in an interglacial period that began about 11,500 years ago. - Scientists find these patterns through ice cores which record climate in a way similar to studying tree rings to know the lifespan of a tree. - Climate change occurs due to a host of reasons: **1. Natural Factors** - Catastrophic events, including meteorite collisions and large volcanic eruptions, can affect climate over short periods of time. - These events add solid particles and liquid droplets to the upper atmosphere, which can change the climate. - Solar output, which is the amount of energy given off by the Sun, also directly impacts the rate of climate change. **2. Changes in the Earth's Movement in Space** - Changes in the Earth's movement in space affects climate over thousands of years while movements of the Earth's crustal plates can also alter climate. ## Impact of Pollution On Climate - The vast and mismanaged dumping of domestic, agricultural, and industrial waste has polluted both land and air around us. - This pollution comes from cars, factories, homes, and power plants that burn fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. - This increases temperature and affects our lifestyle, wildlife, and our environment. - Air pollution from this contaminates water, soil, and can reduce crop yields. - It is also responsible for killing young trees and other plants affecting the biodiversity of land and water. ## Impact of Climate Change ### Melting Ice - Thinning of the ice sheets in the North and South poles ice is perhaps the most obvious effect of global warming. - Many glaciers - the huge rivers of ice that flow in slow motion down mountains due to gravitational force - are disappearing completely. - Melting ice contributes to rising sea levels, flooding of low-lying areas, coastal erosion and a surge in sea storms. ### Rise In Sea Level and Flooding - Sea levels have already risen by 8 inches (200 mm) over the last 100 years. - Before too long, climate change will be responsible for flooding of many low-lying villages, towns, cities, and islands. ### Change in Weather Patterns - Rising average global temperature is associated with widespread changes in the weather patterns. - This explains how climate change can cause both heavy rainfall and severe droughts. - We are already experiencing the effects of changing rainfall as it induced urban floods. - As sea temperatures rise, existing climate problems such as drought, desertification, and flooding may become more common and more destructive. - Some scientists predict that global warming will make many wet regions even wetter and dry regions even drier. ### Wildfires - As temperatures rise, forests and farms can dry out and catch fire to create massive wildfires. Left unchecked, these fires can burn vast areas of precious forest and destroy homes. - Wildfires have struck home burning acres of forest in Sulaiman Range, Buner, Shangla, Bannu, Mohmand, Lower Dir, Torah, Swabi, North and South Waziristan. ### Tropical Cyclones - Cyclones, also called hurricanes and typhoons, form over tropical oceans, where they are powered by warm surface waters. - Between 1979 and 2017, there was a global increase in the proportion of tropical cyclones. - As seas get warmer, these monster storms are expected to become even stronger. - A tropical cyclone generates winds that exceed 119 km/h and in extreme cases winds may exceed 240 km/h. - These winds are accompanied by torrential rains and a storm surge, an elevation of the sea surface that can reach 6 metres (20 feet) above normal levels. - Every year during the late summer months (July-September in the Northern Hemisphere and January-March in the Southern Hemisphere), cyclones strike regions as far apart as the Gulf Coast of North America, northwestern Australia, eastern India, and Bangladesh. ### Heatwaves - Prolonged hot weather can be deadly, especially for young children and old people. - The number and length of heat waves are expected to rise because of global warming. - According to experts, a heatwave would have had a one in ten times a chance of occurring in any given year in pre-industrial climate. - Now it has almost three times more chances to occur and be 1.2°C hotter. - Record heatwaves in 2022 affected millions of people across Asia, America, Europe, North Africa, Australia, and the Pacific islands. - According to Amnesty Organisation, Pakistan recorded some of the highest temperatures in the country in the last 60 years from March to May, 2022. ### Economic Loss - Climate change is the biggest threat to economic stability of a country. - Frequent and longer heat waves, irregular weather patterns, and increasing natural disasters can damage property and critical infrastructure. - It limits human productivity and provision of healthcare. - This can also lead to scarcity, inflation, shutting down of small businesses, loss in investment, slowing down the rate of economic growth, and can put a strain on governments to use their limited resources for rehabilitation and rebuilding supply chains. | Year | Natural Disaster | Economic Loss | |--------|---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | 2005 | Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, USA | $125 billion dollars | | 2011 | Earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan | $434 billion dollars | | 2017 | Hurricane Harvey in Texas, USA | $125 million dollars | | 2020 | South Asian floods in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh | $105 billion dollars | | 2021 | Winter storm in North America | $197 billion dollars | | 2022 | Flash floods in Pakistan | $30 billion dollars | ### More Diseases - A rise in temperature around the world is expected to cause an increase in infectious diseases. - Flooding could transmit diseases such as typhoid and cholera that easily spread in water. - Also, the number of insects that carry diseases may increase, move to warmer areas, and spread sicknesses to new places, such as malaria and encephalitis. - For example, if the temperature of San Diego, California, rises by 2°C, the number of cases of dengue fever will almost double. ### Loss of Biodiversity - Over the course of the Earth's history, plant and animal species have naturally died out. - But we are now losing species at 1,000 times the natural rate, and almost all of this is caused by humans. - Hunting and habitat destruction play a major role in the loss of biodiversity by increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. - More than 16,000 plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction. ## Impact of Climate Change on Pakistan - Pakistan ranks among the top 10 most vulnerable countries on the Climate Risk Index since 2000. - This is due to 10,000 fatalities due to climate-related disasters and financial losses amounting to about $4 billion from 173 extreme weather events every few years. - According to Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority, the floods in 2022 have affected more than 33 million people and destroyed or damaged more than 1 million houses. ## Sustainable Climate Action - Climate change is one of the most complex issues we face today. - It is a global problem that will be around for thousands of years since carbon dioxide and the heat-trapping greenhouse gases, linger in the atmosphere for thousands of years. - Hence even if humans stopped emitting all greenhouse gases today, global warming and climate change will continue to affect future generations. ## Adaptation - We can adapt to climate change by making informed social, political, and economic choices on individual, communal, and national levels. - We can also reduce our vulnerability to its impacts by adopting the following measures: - Moving to higher ground to avoid rising sea levels. - Planting new crops that will thrive under new climate conditions, such as crop rotation, drought tolerant seeds, and less vulnerable to climate related natural disasters. - Buying local goods and products to avoid increasing the demand for extraction of fossil fuels. - Practicing organic farming to help reduce the pollutants from pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides, etc. to become part of our food chain. - Using renewable energy and alternative energy resources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy, to reduce carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels. - Building eco-friendly homes ensures that our homes are safe from any chemical or other toxins that can harm the environment. - Protecting and restoring coastal wetlands so they prevent flooding, improve water quality by trapping slowly releasing surface water, rain, melted snow, groundwater, and flood waters. - Promoting sustainable agro-forestry which is land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. ## Mitigation - Collective, committed, and organised steps to reduce and stabilise emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can help us decelerate the rate of global warming. - The following steps can help us in this endeavour: - Promoting ecological industry, such as farming, fishing, etc. and by ensuring that all economic and development projects consider their impact on the environment. - This will reduce the environmental stress caused by industries while encouraging innovation, resource efficiency, and sustained growth. - An example of this is converting grease or cooking oil to bio-diesels that fuel vehicles. ## Practice Food Sustainability. - This can be done by conserving water during farming; preserving biodiversity by conserving and maximizing the utility of the land without disruption of the natural habitat; switch to organic farming by avoiding chemical pollutants such as pesticides and fertilisers; practice crop rotation as opposed to monoculture which depletes the soil of nutrients; minimizing food waste; use sustainable packaging; buying and selling locally to reduce demand for fossil fuels. ## Practicing the 3Rs rule (reduce, reuse, recycle) By Consuming Responsibly. - Place quotas, taxes, and strict measures to hold greenhouse gas emitting organisations accountable. - For example, carbon pricing is set by governments or markets. - It covers a part of a country's total greenhouse gas emissions, charging GHG polluters for each ton released through a tax or a fee. - It is an efficient and effective way to reduce carbon emissions. - Pooling of resources through political, economic, and social collaborations between countries. - Government and civil societies should pool resources for monitoring and evaluation of all activities that contribute to climate change and impact the environment. ## It’s a Fact! - The Kyoto Protocol and Paris Climate Agreement calls for countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to help societies and ecosystems adapt better to climate change. - Participation is voluntary and countries are not penalised if they do not meet their commitments. - Is your country a signatory of these Agreements? What have they done to lower their carbon footprint? ## A Bike stand At Metro in Dubai Shows how Pooling in Resources Can Help