Lesson 37-38 Global Warming

and its Effects

Miller(eds) Environmental Science 9th Edition

 Greenhouse versus Global
Warming
• The Greenhouse Effect is a natural causing effect
that keeps the earth moderately warm to grow crops
in and hence enable it to support life.
• Global warming is a process whereby man-made
gases trap more heat than necessary.
– Global warming is also known as the Enhanced
Greenhouse Effect
 Role of the Atmosphere
• Atmospheric greenhouse gases comprise less than
0.1 percent of the air.
• They are necessary gases to maintain an equitable
climate on Earth.
– Examples would be water vapour and carbon
dioxide.
• However, the atmosphere is vulnerable to human
action. Such actions are caused by two main factors
– Population pressures (mainly survival purposes)
– Wealth and technology (mainly luxury purposes)
 Role of the atmosphere
• Allows heat to enter
• But allows very little
heat to from escaping.
• Keeps earth constantly
warm
– Human Habitation
– Growing of Crops

http://www.uweb.ucsb.edu/~equintero/images2.htm
 Natural Greenhouse Effect

http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/images/global_warming/ghouse_effect.jpg
Global Warming
• GW is an enhanced
version of the
greenhouse effect.
• Caused by imbalance in
the amount of
greenhouse gases
caused.
• http://www.epa.gov/
globalwarming
/kids/global_warming_version2
 The Culprits
• 4 greenhouse gases are
responsible for global
warming.
• They are:
– CO2(Carbon Dioxide)
– NO2(Nitrous oxide)
– CFC (man-made)
– CH4 (Methane)(20 times
better than CO2 at
trapping radiation)
www.epa.com
 Causes (1)-Carbon Dioxide
• Carbon Dioxide is in terms
of volume the largest
greenhouse gas.
• CO2 is emitted due to
many factors
– Industrialized countries
– Factories and Cars
– Throw away society
– Low Environmental
Awareness Mentality
• Deforestation
– No trees….less
photosynthesis..
Miller(eds) Environmental Science 9th Edition
 Deforestation

http://www.anselm.edu/homepage/jpitocch/genbios/55-00x-Deforestation.
jpg
Deforestation
Deforestation-Is this your
Attitude?
Carbon Emissions
Causes (2)-Nitrous Oxides
• Nitrous oxide are found
in chemical fertilizers
• It is also found in
vehicle exhaust

Miller(eds) Environmental Science 9th Edition

 Causes (3)-CFC and Substitutes
• CFC’s are man made
substances.
• CFC and CFC’s
derivatives are both
greenhouse gases and
Ozone Depleters .
• Irony: making fridges
might make the earth
hotter Why?
– Substitute gases are
greenhouse gases

Miller(eds) Environmental Science 9th Edition

 Cause 4-Methane
• Caused by increase in population/wealth
– More arable land and food needed
– Increase in the consumption of meat. Meat(esp.
beef) seen as a status symbol(symbol of
wealth/progress) in newly rich countries like China.
• Growing of crops and rearing of animals
– Rice growing(in flooded conditions) gives off
methane
– Belching of cows (digestive system of livestock)
 Causes (4)

Miller(eds) Environmental Science 9th Edition

 Rice paddy and beef
http://www.sterlingtimes.org/roast_beef1.jpg

http://www.mindanao.com/blog/?cat=5&paged=2
Effects of Global Warming
 Effects of Global Warming
• Global warming causes
greater changes in
weather patterns.
• Resulting in more
droughts and floods
leading to famine
• Also the spread of
tropical borne diseases
to temperate climates.

http://www.movinghere.org.uk/gallery/hardship/famine.htm
 Effects on humans
• This may affect
humans directly or
indirectly.
– Less food
supply
– Less arable land
– More tropical
diseases
– More water
borne diseases
– Flooding
http://www.news.wisc.edu/news/images/map_climate_change_Patz05.gif
 Malaria
• Diseases like malaria will
spread to previously cooler
areas spread by the
migrating pests.
• The danger here is that
many people may lack the
immunity against such
predators and there may be
few natural predators found
in the new areas.
• Or people might be too poor
to afford medical care
http://www.foogle.biz/malaria_mosquito/malaria_mosquito_feeding.jpg
Malaria-Compare 1997 and 2000
http://www.malariavaccine.org/images/malaria-endemic-2000-b.gif
 Malaria-effects on Humans
http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/images/
hdc_0001_0002_0_img0166.jpg

http://sickle.bwh.harvard.edu/malariacycle.jpg
 Impact on food supply

• Unpredictable weather
patterns esp. rain(too
much or too little)
affects the growing
period of food which in
term might cause
starvation.
• Growth of weeds and
pests might also reduce
food supply

http://www-scf.usc.edu/~aarsenau/Famine.gif
 Effects of GW

http://www.fao.org/NEWS/FACTFILE/FF9721-E.HTM
 Flooding
• Global climate change
may result from GW
• Flooding could be
caused by the melting
of ice-caps
• Flooding could also be
caused by fluctuations
in rainfall
– This in turn might
flood arable land and
low lying areas
– Pacific Islands
http://www.goma.demon.co.uk/eco/Car-in-flood.gif
 Flooding

http://www.lambiek.net/artists/uyanik_ufuk/uyanik_pee.jpg
 Useful Links
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
• http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/
• http://www.climatehotmap.org/
• http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/default.asp

http://www.kidzworld.com/img/upload/article/a4514i0_
Conclusion
So who is really guilty??