Chapter 5 Global environmental change

1. Chapter 5 Global environmental change Professor Liu Jingling School of Environment, Beijing Normal University jingling@bnu.edu.cn

2. latest new search • There are 1,630,000 items are searched form Google • Global environmental change, climate change and human health, 《Science News》 The writer: Tony • Michel The Chief of Centre of National Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University In this field, whether concepts or methods far exceed the scope of the standard textbooks. But so far it still lacks the backbone of a research team familiar with the field and appropriate mathods. Of course, researchers including a large number of young PhD are fighting for committed to this field of research.In the next 10 years, it will become the mainstream of health science research - an international theme on sustainable development. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

3. Main content • Global warming • Ozone depletion • Harm of Acid rain • The global ecosystem degradation • Environmental safety • Case studies School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

4. Global warmingandglobal environmental change School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

5. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

6. Discussion on the concepts • Global environmental problems are various phenomena appeared in global environment, which are not conducive to human survival and development.That can be divided into two categories Primitive environmental problems:Primitive environmental problems are caused by the forces of nature, also known as the first environmental problems, such as environmental problems caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, etc. Secondary environmental problems:The damage to ecosystems and environmental pollution caused by the production and living activities of human in return endangers human survival and development.This phenomenon is called secondary environmental problems,also known as the second  environmental problems. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

7. Secondary environmental problems Ecological destruction, environmental pollution and waste of resources, etc. Mainly include: • The global climate change • Ozone depletion and loss • Acid rain pollution • Desertification • Destroyed the forest vegetation • declined the biodiversity • Marine resource destruction and pollution • Organic pollution School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

8. Global warming • The main reason of global warming is that human heavy use fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, etc.),and discharge large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in nearly a century . Because these greenhouse gases have highly permeability to the visible light radiated from the sun, and highly absorbency to the on long-wave radiation reflected from the earth.It is often called "greenhouse effect", leading to global warming.In addition to greenhouse gases carbon dioxide,there are methane, nitrous oxide and others to cause greenhouse effect. Burning of fossil fuels, agriculture and animal husbandry,waste disposal, and others will discharge greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

9. The possible effect by global warming • Sea-level rise Economically developed and densely populated delta, coastal and lowland area are submerged and cause loss. • Climatic zones northward *Tropical rainy areas will face the threat of flood prone. coastal towns will suffer frequent storm hit. * The polar permafrost zone will release a large number of  CH4, speeding up global warming. *provide appropriate hotbed for the breeding and spreading of many bacteria. • Loss of the world economy According to UNEP reports,if taking no measure on greenhouse gas emissions,  annual global economic losses caused will be up to 300 billion U.S. Dollars in the next 50 years School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

10. Possible effect on China • Cause natural disasters, damage the positive cycle of ecosystem , harm to biodiversity • Increasing the instability of Chinese agricultural production • Ecological problem and environmental problem • Unbalanced water resources • Snow disaster in the South of China and warm winter, drought in the north of China School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

11. Beginning of 2008, south of China was suffered the most extensive and the largest,the longest snow disasters. Severe rain and snow had caused the most severe ice storm and snow disaster since past fifty years. Some areas had been without food.A wide range of areas were powered off. Locomotives were trapped. Passengers were stranded.Seven thousand people were affected and suffered hungry and cold School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

12. Economic loss • In 2008 Chinese snow disasters,there were 19 provincial administrative regions subjected to low temperature, rain, snow, ice disaster since January 10th.These regions were Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui,Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. 60 persons died;  2 persons were missing.1.759 million persons were evacuated urgently; 7270.8 thousand hectares of crops suffered the disaster . 223 thousand houses collapsed.862 thousand houses were damaged.The direct economic loss was 53.79 billion yuan.therein six regions were affected most severely, including Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Anhui School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

13. Reason andreflection • There are two main reasons for the snow, respectively illustrating from the macro global climate change and the specific weather process of this south snow.  • The first reason (the macro reason), this year we are in a La Nina state, that is, sea surface temperature of the equatorial eastern Pacific is 0.5 degree lower than the average years.This phenomenon impact on the climate of China is very obvious,resulting in the meridional circulation anomaly in East Asia under the influence of La Nina phenomenon. such a circulation is very conducive to the cold air going down to the south. It takes us a cold winter, so we can see this cold winter this year. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

14. The second reason (the specific reasons), snow or rain must meet two conditions:1.there is warm and humid airflow from the tropics. 2. there is cold airflow from the high-cold region. Winter snowfall regions (summer rainfall regions work the same way) locate near the frontal surface, that is, the junction of cold and warm air masses. Since entering 2008, the Asian high pressure is very active, continuously form  cold air mass southward to influence the Country, resulting in large-scale wind cool weather. But because the warm air mass of the south this year is also very active.A large number of warm and humid airflow from the Pacific, Indian Ocean frequently patronize the southern region. The powerful cold air mass coming from Mongolia, Siberia rapidly goes to the south, and later meets with the warm air mass. the cold, and the warm air mass just hang together. By the combined effect of these two airflow, especially in the Yangtze River there are more rain and snow, and the cold weather will be maintained for a long time in the most recent period. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

15. Reflection and essence of problems School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

16. Warm winter and drought in west China • Drought is a climatic disaster.It leads to the largest economic losses in disasters caused by meteorological.  Meanwhile, drought disaster have the characteristic of high frequency , long duration, wide effect, big impact.The harm to the environment and agriculture is also very large. The change characteristic of modern climate show that warming trend is most evident in North. There are already 17 consecutive warm winters in a wide range of country.The rainfall is reduced in northern China. School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

17. Contrast and reflection School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

18. The cooperative activity of protecting global climate • Threat of global warming is a serious challenge faced by mankind. It depends on a wide range of international cooperation to find out issues related to greenhouse gases and reduce emissions. • Important decision 《United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change》 《Kyoto Protocol》 • Questions？！ School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

19. The fundamental reason –what’s your opinion School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

20. The shrinking of forests, grasslands and wetlandsFrom 1990 to 2000, the world's natural growth and planted forest area was only 5.2 × 104km2 per year.While deforestation area was as high as 14.6 × 104km2, The average annual net decrease of the area is 9.4 × 104km2. One hundred years of the 20th century, the global tropical forest area fell by nearly 1 / 5.Wetlands around the world  reduced by half than in the early 20th century. The main reason is the loss of agricultural development and urbanization.Most of the world grassland have different degrees of degradation. Degeneration of global ecosystem School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

21. Reduction of biological diversity • The degradation of forests, wetlands, grassland lead to the organism habitat change or loss, Which results in loss of biodiversity • In the past four centuries, human activities have resulted in the extinction of more than 700 global species. Therein 1 / 3 was disappeared before 19th century , l / 3 was extinct in 19th century, and the other 1 / 3 was extinct in the past 50 years.  The extinction trend is significantly accelerating School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

22. Urbanization and world convergence School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

23. Mode A or mode B Where is the way? Sustainable development ??? 出路何在？可持续发展？？？ School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

24. Group discuss • Topic • Environmental security VS food security • 1-6 group • Summation School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

25. Case study • River ecological health evaluation of Beijing Research achievement of 863 project The typical case Theoretical support Innovation of the research method School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

26. Mid-term Exam Test content ：1－5 chapter • Subject to: pay attention to the hot issue of environmental protection • Tracking the forefront of science • Science thinking and reasoning rigorous • Perspective extraordinary • Rational novel Conclusion • Scientific and timelinessof thereferences School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

27. Subsequent course arrangement • The next key lecturing: Principles: • Environmental ethics • Environmental geological • Environmental and ecological • Environmental chemistry • Technology and method (slightly) Environmental management and practics Watershed + city - bilingual module, cooperate with the professor from Cornell university School of Environment, Beijing Normal University

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