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The greenhouse gases (GHG) are:. nitrous oxide. water. carbon dioxide. ozone. F. Cl. Cl. methane. CFCs. Cl. According to scientists, a [CO2] above 350 ppm has the potential to threaten our civilization. What’s Causing the Carbon Dioxide Level in Our Atmosphere to Increase?.
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The greenhouse gases (GHG) are: • nitrous oxide • water • carbon dioxide • ozone F Cl Cl • methane • CFCs Cl
According to scientists, a [CO2] above 350 ppm has the potential to threaten our civilization.
What’s Causing the Carbon Dioxide Level in Our Atmosphere to Increase? 1. Burning of fossil fuels. CO2 Much of the world’s electricity is generated by the burning of coal, oil, & natural gas. Gasoline is burned as a source of fuel in automobiles.
Evidence for Global Warming The average global temperature increased by 0.6 o C during the 20th century.
The average global sea level increased 10 – 20 cm during the 20th century.
Extreme weather events have increased in intensity, duration, & frequency. 2005 was the hottest, driest, & stormiest year on record!
What’s the Future Likely to Bring? Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) The IPCC, a panel made up of 2,500 of the world’s top climate experts.
According to the IPCC, the Earth’s temperature is expected to rise between 1.4 – 5.8 o C over the next 100 years.
Why Should We Be Worried? The threshold of dangerous climate change is 2 o C, 0.6 o C of which has already occurred!
Many species became extinct during the Ice Ages, even though the temperature was “only” changing by about 5 o C over thousands of years. What will happen if the Earth’s temperature rises by 5 o C in 100 years?
The flooding of coastal areas is very likely to become more severe & frequent.
Just as wet areas are expected to become wetter, dry areas are expected to become drier, possibly leading to desertification. Just as wet areas are expected to become
The frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather events are likely to increase.
Global warming may be causing the algae that corals need for food to die, a phenomenon called coral bleaching.
When carbon dioxide reacts with water, carbonic acid is formed. This acid is dissolving the calcium carbonate that make up the skeletons of corals.
What About Canada? More forest fires in B.C.?
The spread of tropical diseases? (e.g.- malaria, West Nile virus)
The culture & lifestyle of Canada’s Inuit population will probably be impacted. home sinking in melting permafrost sea ice is necessary for the Inuit to hunt