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asp CAUSES
Carbon dioxide, air pollution in atmosphere Trap suns heat Industrial revolution- 1700s Sources of CO2- coal burning power plants International panel on Climate Change- United Nations- scientists Review scientific findings, to summarize- representing a consensus among hundreds of leading scientists Greenhouse gases- CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide Human emissions- through cars, factories, electricity production(carbon dioxide) Human emissions- landfill, agriculture(grazing animals) (methane) Human emissions- fertiliser, gases for refrigeration and industrial processes(nitrous oxide) ALSO- deforestation- loss of storage of CO2 Methane responsible for 20 times warming than C02 Nitrous oxide, 300 times more powerful than CO2 Chlorofluorocarbons- thousands times > CO2 However concentrations of these gases are much lower CO2 still most influential to the atmosphere Statistic- since 1990, yearly emissions have increased by 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, > 20%
Burning fossil fuels-for energy(electricity and transport)- Australia primary source of electricity- coal(most greenhouse intensive fuel) Deforestation-burning and removing vegetation- plants take in CO2 release O, deforestation(stored carbon- carbon dioxide) Farming- Cattle produce methane, fertilisers release Nitrous Oxide, GREENHOUSE GASES Waste- CO2 and methane are released(decay of food, vegetation, paper in landfill, sewage) Industry- cement production, liquid natural gas production, coal mining, emit greenhouse gases.
Gases in atmosphere absorb and reflect solar energy Dust particles also trap heat
Environmental
Melting polar ice, Ocean expansion >>>> flooding coastal areas, swamps, wetlands, river deltas, small islands Increased tropical storms and cyclones Flooding and erosion agriculture plots >>>>>> damage crops, soils= decrease harvest Change/shift of ecosystem = decrease biodiversity Water supplies evaporate= drinking water scarce Saltwater penetration of groundwater zones Extreme weather >>>>> hotter, drier summer, and colder winters Increase contagious disease, environment more suitable for pathogens and dangrious insects= malaria mosquito
Economic
http://www.global-climate-change.org.uk/2-7.php
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