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Climate Change and Global Warming: Is it too Late?. Special Assembly Class 3.1. Contents:. 1. What is Climate and Climate Change? 2. What is global warming? 3. Is global warming bad? 4. What are the greenhouse gases? 5. How are extra greenhouse gases produced?
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Climate Change and Global Warming: Is it too Late? Special Assembly Class 3.1
Contents: 1. What is Climate and Climate Change? 2. What is global warming? 3. Is global warming bad? 4. What are the greenhouse gases? 5. How are extra greenhouse gases produced? 6. What's the 'ozone layer' got to do with global warming ? 7. So what could happen? 8. What's being done about it? 9. What can I do? 10. And Governments????????????
2. What is global warming? • rise in temperature • 6 ½ degrees warmer
3. So is global warming bad? • earth is naturally warmed by sun • atmosphere's = layers of gases • greenhouse gases • thermal blanket • plants and humans survive @ 16°C
Water Vapour (Cycle) Precipitation Condensation Surface Runoff Evaporation
Ozone Help
5. How are extra greenhouse gases produced? • Burning of 'fossil fuels' • Cutting down of forests • Animal waste which lets off methane
6. What's the 'ozone layer' got to do with global warming ? • ozone (a type of oxygen) • protects the earth • harmful rays called UVB
7. So what could happen? • Sea levels rise • Melting of glaciers • Flooding • Lakes/rivers = dry up • Droughts • Plants/animals = extinct • Severe Storms
7. What's being done about it? • NOT EVERY ONE AGREES!!!!!!!! • Earth Summit • Rio de Janeiro (1997) • UN- Kyoto, Japan • February 2003, the British Government = Green Energy • IPCC Report 2/2/07
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report 2/2/2007www.ipcc.ch • 2500+ scientific expert reviewers • 800+ contributing authors and • 450+ lead authors from • 130+ countries • 6 years work • 4 volumes • 1 report
Past Warnings (IPCC Report ) • Over past 100 years • Global surface temperatures = ↑ by 0.74°C • 11 of the past 12 years; warmest years on record • Human activity is ‘very likely’ the cause of most of this (90%) • Global warming is evident • Ocean warming extends to 3,000m in depth • Mountain glaciers/snow are declining • Sea level rose globally by 1.8 mm/y (1961-2003) • Since 1970s droughts intensified
Forecast For 21st Century (IPCC Report) • By 2100 global average temperature = 1.1°C – 6.4 °C • Sea levels = rise by between 18 – 58mm • Higher Co2 levels • Snow cover will contract • Heat extremes, heat waves, heavy rain • Typhoons, Hurricanes, Tornadoes
Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather • Ocean warming, sea-level rise and coastal flooding • Glaciers melting • Arctic and Antarctic warming • Spreading disease • Earlier spring arrival • Plant and animal range shifts and population changes • Coral reef bleaching • Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding • Droughts and fires
Malta, Gozo, Comino… “↑ 3°C in 100 years • No Winter • Rain = 20% less • Water Shortage • Sea Level Rise • Diseases • Loss of Agricultural Land • Loss of Biodiversity (Plants and Animals) • HEAT WAVES” By Prof. Charles V. Sammut
9. What can I do? • Re-cycle glass newspapers… • Re-use plastic… • Persuade mum/dad • Brick into your toilet flashing
Use paper X2 • packaging free products • unwanted gifts = charity shop • kettle up with the amount of water you need
TV or video = off • 1 car = lots of persons • washing machine @ 40 °C • Switch lights off • Cycle to places! • showers not baths
Wave power (Renewable Energy) Waves can produce energy either offshore or on coastline plant
Wind power(Renewable Energy) Wind can be used to drive turbines which in turn produce electricity
Water power (hydro electricity-Renewable Energy) Water is used to drive turbines to produce electricity
Other ways of making Green Energy: Small scale and domestic solar energy are being developed
Global warming links • Hot planet: try SafeClimate • Flying off to a warmer climate? • Global Warming: Early warning signs • Climate Ark - Climate Change Portal • ClimatePrediction.net • Friends of the Earth • Greenpeace International • Rocky Mountain Institute
Thank you for your attention THE END