Climate Change

What is CLIMATE CHANGE?

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns
when that change lasts for an extended period of time.

-Synonymous with ANTHROPOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING

What is Anthropogenic Global Warming?

The term Anthropogenic designates an effect or object
result from human activity.

Global warming is rise in the temperature of the earth.

Anthropogenic Global Warming simply means a rise or an

increasing temperature of the earth due to
irreverent act of human.
Natural variability Climate
- change is a normal part of the Earths natural variability,
which is related to interactions among the atmosphere, ocean,
and land, as well as changes in the amount of solar radiation
reaching the earth. The geologic record includes significant
evidence for large-scale climate changes in Earths past.
Human-induced change

Greenhouse Gases - Certain naturally occurring gases,

such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O), trap
heat in the atmosphere causing a greenhouse effect.
Burning of fossil fuels, like oil, coal, and natural gas is
adding CO2 to the atmosphere. The current level is the
highest in the past 650,000 years. The Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
concludes, that most of the observed increase in the
globally averaged temperature since the mid-20th century
is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic
greenhouse gas concentrations.
Although the Earths climate has changed many times
throughout its history, the rapid warming seen today
cannot be explained by natural processes alone. Human
activities are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere. Some amount of greenhouse gases is
necessary for life to exist on Earththey trap heat in
the atmosphere, keeping the planet warm and in a state
of equilibrium. But this natural greenhouse effect is
being strengthened as human activities (such as the
combustion of fossil fuels) add more of these gases to
the atmosphere, resulting in a shift in the Earths
equilibrium.
Is the climate warming?

Yes. Earths average surface air temperature has

increased by about 0.8 C (1.4 F) since 1900, with much
of this increase taking place since the mid-1970s (figure
1a). A wide range of other observations (such as
reduced Arctic sea ice extent and increased ocean heat
content) and indications from the natural world (such as
poleward shifts of temperature-sensitive species of
fish, mammals, insects, etc.) together provide
incontrovertible evidence of planetary-scale warming.
How do scientists know that recent climate change is largely
caused by human activities?
Scientists know that recent climate change is
largely caused by human activities from an
understanding of basic physics, comparing
observations with models, and fingerprinting the
detailed patterns of climate change caused by
different human and natural influences.
CO2 is already in the atmosphere naturally, so why are
emissions from human activity significant?

Human activities have significantly disturbed

the natural carbon cycle by extracting long-
buried fossil fuels and burning them for energy,
thus releasing CO2 to the atmosphere.
 Rising fossil fuel burning and land use changes have
emitted, and are continuing to emit, increasing quantities of
greenhouse gases into the Earths atmosphere. These
greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4)
and nitrogen dioxide (N2O), and a rise in these gases has
caused a rise in the amount of heat from the sun withheld in
the Earths atmosphere, heat that would normally be radiated
back into space. This increase in heat has led to the
greenhouse effect, resulting in climate change. The main
characteristics of climate change are increases in average
global temperature (global warming); changes in cloud cover
and precipitation particularly over land; melting of ice caps
and glaciers and reduced snow cover; and increases in ocean
temperatures and ocean acidity due to seawater absorbing
heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
 The major impacts and threats of global warming are
widespread. Increasing ocean temperatures cause thermal
expansion of the oceans and in combination with meltwater
from land-based ice this is causing sea level rise. Sea levels
rose during the 20th century by 0.17 metres. By 2100, sea level
is expected to rise between 0.18 and 0.59 metres. There are
uncertainties in this estimate mostly due to uncertainty about
how much water will be lost from ice sheets (Bindoff et al.
2007).
For example Greenland is showing rising loss of mass in
recent years (UNEP 2007). Increased melting of sea ice and
freshwater influx from melting glaciers and ice sheets also has
the potential to influence global patterns of ocean circulation.
 As a result of global warming, the type, frequency
and intensity of extreme events, such as tropical
cyclones (including hurricanes and typhoons), floods,
droughts and heavy precipitation events, are
expected to rise even with relatively small average
temperature increases. Changes in some types of
extreme events have already been observed, for
example, increases in the frequency and intensity of
heat waves and heavy precipitation events.
 Changes in rainfall pattern are likely to lead to
severe water shortages and/or flooding.
Melting of glaciers can cause flooding and soil erosion.
Rising temperatures will cause shifts in crop growing
seasons which affects food security and changes in
the distribution of disease vectors putting more
people at risk from diseases such as malaria and
dengue fever.
Temperature increases will potentially severely
increase rates of extinction for many habitats and
species (up to 30 per cent with a2C rise in
temperature). Particularly affected will be coral
reefs, boreal
 Plant native, drought-resistant trees and shrubs
around your home and outdoor air conditioning unit.
Use an electric or push mower instead of a gasoline-
powered mower to cut your lawn.
Replace your current home appliances (refrigerator,
washing machine, dish washer) with high-efficiency
models.
Buy food and other products with reusable or
recyclable packaging instead of those in non-
recyclable packaging.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact
fluorescent bulbs.
 Install a solar heated system to provide your hot
water.
Recycle your home's waste newsprint, cardboard,
glass and metal.
Leave your car at home (walk, bike or take mass
transit instead).
Insulate your home, clean your air conditioning filters
and install energy efficient showerheads.
Purchase a fuel-efficient car (rated at 32 mpg or
more) to replace your most frequently used
automobile.