The Physical SCIENCE of

Climate Change

Climate Change: Global and Greenhouse Gasses and their

Local Scenarios The Science of Climate sources
Change

The Greenhouse Effect and the

Global Warming
“Enhanced” Greenhouse Effect

2 CLIMATE CHANGE and DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

 ATMOSPHERE
The gaseous envelope
surrounding the Earth.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
• Earth’s atmosphere is a thin blanket of gases
and tiny particles together called air.
• We are most aware of air when it moves and
creates wind. All living things need some of
the gases in air for life support. Without an
atmosphere, Earth would likely be just another
lifeless rock.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 Atmospheric Gasses
• Nitrogen and oxygen together
make up 99 percent of the
planet’s atmosphere. The rest of
the gases are minor components
but sometimes are very
important.
• Humidity is the amount of water
vapor in the air. Humidity varies
from place to place and season to
season.
C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 green
Gasses and their

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 greenhouse

A greenhouse gas is a gas

that absorbs and emits
radiant energy within the
thermal infrared range,
causing the greenhouse
effect.
8 C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 ANIMALS & Agriculture/
Deforestation

Burning of Fossil FUELS Waste and Recycle Pollution

9 C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 • Coal
• OIL
• Natural GAS
• Gasoline

The largest
Burning of Fossil FUELS emission of Carbon
Dioxide
10 C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 TOXIC GASES
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Ammonia
• Methane

ANIMALS & Agriculture/

Deforestation

11 C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 Not just Emits GHG’s but
also getting rid of Plants,
trees. WHOSE ACTIVE in
Absorbing Carbon
Dioxide.

Bulldozer
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 One of the largest
pollutants of
methane gas.

Waste and Recycle Pollution

13 C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
 •Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the
atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal,
natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other
biological materials, and also as a result of certain
chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement).
Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere
(or "sequestered") when it is absorbed by plants
as part of the biological carbon cycle.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
Sources of Carbon dioxide
• Transportation
• Electricity
• Industry
 Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Energy Efficiency
- Improving the insulation of
buildings, traveling in more
fuel-efficient vehicles, and
using more efficient electrical
appliances are all ways to
reduce energy use, and thus
CO2 emissions.
Energy Conservation
- Reducing personal energy use by
turning off lights and electronics
when not in use reduces electricity
demand. Reducing distance traveled
in vehicles reduces petroleum
consumption. Both are ways to
reduce energy CO2 emissions
through conservation.
 Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Fuel Switching Carbon Capture and Sequestration

- Carbon dioxide capture and
- Producing more energy sequestration is a set of technologies
from renewable sources that can potentially greatly reduce
and using fuels with lower CO2 emissions from new and existing
carbon contents are ways coal- and gas-fired power plants,
industrial processes, and other
to reduce carbon stationary sources of CO2.
emissions.
•Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted
during the production and transport of
coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane
emissions also result from livestock and
other agricultural practices, land use
and by the decay of organic waste in
municipal solid waste landfills.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
Sources of Methane
• Agriculture
• Energy and Industry
• Waste from homes and
business
 Reduction Opportunities for Methane
Industry
- Upgrading the equipment
used to produce, store, and
transport oil and natural gas
can reduce many of the
leaks that contribute to
CH4 emissions. Methane
from coal mines can also be
captured and used for
energy.
Agriculture Waste from Homes and
- Methane from manure Businesses
management practices - Because CH4 emissions
can be reduced and from landfill gas are a
captured by altering
major source of
manure management
strategies. Additionally, CH4 emissions in the United
modifications to animal States, emission controls
feeding practices may that capture landfill CH4 are
reduce emissions from an effective reduction
enteric fermentation. strategy.
 •Nitrous oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is
emitted during agricultural, land use,
industrial activities, combustion of fossil
fuels and solid waste, as well as during
treatment of wastewater.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E a n d D I S A S T E R R I S K M A N A G E M E N T
Sources of Nitrous Oxide
• Agriculture
• Fuel Combustion
• Industry
• Waste
 Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions
Agriculture
Fuel Combustion
- Emissions can be
• Nitrous oxide is a byproduct of fuel combustion,
reduced by reducing
so reducing fuel consumption in motor vehicles
nitrogen-based fertilizer
and secondary sources can reduce emissions.
applications and applying
• Additionally, the introduction of pollution
these fertilizers more
control technologies (e.g., catalytic converters
efficiently,as well as
to reduce exhaust pollutants from passenger
modifying a farm's
cars) can also reduce emissions of N2O.
manure management
practices.
Reducing Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Industry
• Nitrous oxide is generally emitted from industry through fossil
fuel combustion, so technological upgrades and fuel switching
are effective ways to reduce industry emissions of N2O.
• Production of adipic acid results in N2O emissions that can be
reduced through technological upgrades.
 Sources and Concentrations of Major Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gas Major sources
• Carbon Dioxide • Fossil fuel combustion; Deforestation; Cement
production
• Methane • Fossil fuel production; Agriculture; Landfills
• Nitrous Oxide • Fertilizer application; Fossil fuel and biomass
combustion; Industrial processes
• Chlorofluorocarbon-12 (CFC-12) • Refrigerants

• Hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23) • Refrigerants

• Sulfur Hexafluoride • Electricity transmission

• Nitrogen Trifluoride • Semiconductor manufacturing
“Greenhouse Effect”

“Enhanced Greenhouse Effect”

The greenhouse effect is a
natural process that warms
the Earth’s surface. When
the Sun’s energy reaches
the Earth’s atmosphere,
some of it is reflected
back to space and the rest
is absorbed and re-
radiated by greenhouse
gases.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
The problem we now face is that
human activities – particularly
burning fossil fuels (coal, oil
and natural gas), agriculture and
land clearing – are increasing
the concentrations of greenhouse
gases. This is the enhanced
greenhouse effect, which is
contributing to warming of the
Earth.
Step 1: Solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere - some of this is
reflected back into space.

Step 2: The rest of the sun's energy is absorbed by the land and the
oceans, heating the Earth.

Step 3: Heat radiates from Earth towards space.

Step 4: Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere, keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life.
Step 5: Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and
land clearing are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases released
into the atmosphere.

Step 6: This is trapping extra heat, and causing the Earth's temperature
to rise.
 has contributed in
warming the earth-
Land, Ocean and
Atmosphere.

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