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Global Warming

Global Warming. The Greenhouse Effect. Earth is similar to a greenhouse Atmosphere acts like the glass in a greenhouse Sunlight streams through the atmosphere Sunlight heats the Earth Heat radiates up from Earth’s surface and some escapes into space

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Global Warming

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  1. Global Warming

  2. The Greenhouse Effect • Earth is similar to a greenhouse • Atmosphere acts like the glass in a greenhouse • Sunlight streams through the atmosphere • Sunlight heats the Earth • Heat radiates up from Earth’s surface and some escapes into space • The rest is absorbed by gases in the troposphere & warms the air

  3. Greenhouse Gases • Gases that absorb & radiate heat • Carbon dioxide (CO2): burning fossil fuels & deforestation • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): refrigerants, aerosols, propellants • Methane (CH4): animal waste, biomass burning, fossil fuels, landfills, livestock, sewage • Nitrous oxide (N2O): biomass burning, deforestation, burning fossil fuels, microbial activity • Water vapor (H2O): evaporation, plant respiration

  4. Measuring CO2 Levels • Varies with seasons • Summer  growing plants use CO2 (levels decrease) • Winter  grass & leaves decay & release carbon (levels rise) • CO2 levels have increased by over 20% in less than 50 years • Burning of fossil fuels (power plants, cars) • Millions of trees are burned in rainforests to clear the land

  5. Global Warming • A gradual increase in the average global temperature • Link between the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the increase in temperature

  6. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth Global Weather Patterns Melting Ice & Rising Sea Levels Human Health Problems Effects on Plants & Animals Agriculture

  7. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth • Melting Ice & Rising Sea Levels • Coastal wetlands & other low-lying areas could be flooded • Beaches could be extremely eroded • Salinity of bays & estuaries might increase, adversely affecting marine fisheries

  8. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth • Global Weather Patterns • Hurricanes & typhoons may be more common • Cause a change in ocean current patterns (like shutting off the Gulf Stream) which could significantly affect the world’s weather • Severe flooding & drought

  9. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth • Human Health Problems • Greater numbers of heat-related deaths • Allergies (trees & flowers flowering earlier & longer) • Mosquitoes could establish themselves in areas that are too cold for them now (spread diseases)

  10. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth • Agriculture • Decreased crop yields • Higher demand for irrigation  depleting aquifers

  11. The Consequences of a Warmer Earth • Effects of Plants & Animals • Alter range of species & composition of plant communities • Reduction of zooplankton (food source for many marine animals) due to warming of surface waters • Might kill algae that nourishes corals (killing coral reefs)

  12. Reducing the Risk • Kyoto Protocol • Requires developed countries to decrease emissions of carbon dioxide & other greenhouse gases by an average of 5% below their 1990 levels by 2012 • Developed in 1997 by reps from 160 countries • In March 2001, the U.S. decided not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol • Attempt to slow global warming is made difficult by the economic, political & social factors faced by different countries.

  13. Reacting to Change • Concerns/Effects • Impact on humans • Actions being taken • Opposition • Any questions?

  14. Assignment Imagine you are employed by the EPA to design a public-service advertising campaign to encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide. Be persuasive, creative, factual, and informational.

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