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Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

Presentation · February 2014

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24177.07521

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Syed Ibrahim
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Greenhouse Gases &
Global Warming

By Dr. Syed Ibrahim

Greenhouse Gases &
Global Warming
 GREENHOUSE GASES
Why Is Our Climate Changing?
• The Earth's climate changes through
natural processes, but also as a result
of our society's greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. GHGs, such as
carbon dioxide and methane, have
an insulating effect on our
atmosphere.
Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases
• Anthropogenic: resulting from human activity
• ½ of carbon dioxide released due to human
influence ends up in the atmosphere.
 Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)
Atmospheric composition: Common GHGs:
• Nitrogen: 78.09% • water vapour (H2O)
• Oxygen: 20.9% • carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Argon: 0.93% • methane (CH4)
• Carbon dioxide: 0.035% • nitrous oxide (N2O)
• All other gases: 0.05% • ozone (O3)
• halocarbons (CFCs,
HFCs, etc.)
 Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
• Largely created by burning fossil fuels (coal, oil,
natural gas)
• Fossil fuels are used in transportation, heating,
electricity, industry.
 Carbon Dioxide Removal

• Much of this carbon dioxide is captured by forests

during photosynthesis:
– 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6+ 6O2
Carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen
• Trees therefore act as CARBON SINKs, as they
remove carbon from the atmosphere.
• 10% of carbon dioxide emissions are due to
deforestation – stored CO2 is released and carbon
sink is removed.
 Methane (CH4)

• Methane is 25 times more effective as a

greenhouse gas than CO2.
• This means that although methane is less
abundant than CO2, its presence has a major
impact on heat absorption in the atmosphere.
 Methane (CH4)

• Agricultural Activities- rice farming, cattle ranching

• Bacterial decay in landfills and sewage treatment
plants
• Natural Gas Extraction
• “Slash and Burn” clear cutting of forests.
• Coal mining
 Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

• livestock feed and waste

• Nitrogen fertilizers
• Industrial processes
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
• No natural sources
• Refrigerants and Air conditioners
• Industrial processes
 The Greenhouse Effect
• GHGs in our
atmosphere keep the
sun's heat in and help
make our planet
livable.
• Without this natural
insulation, the average
temperature on Earth
would be -18˚C, rather
than 15˚C!
• What’s the Problem?
Climate Explained (sort of…)
 How does it affect us?
• Average temperatures in Ontario could
rise by as much as 8°C.
 How does it affect us?
• Less snow but
more freezing rain
• a threat to
transmission lines,
road and airline
safety.
 How does it affect us?
• More extremely hot days
(above 35°C)
• increasing the risk of heat
stress-related illness among
the old, the young and those
with chronic lung diseases
such as asthma.
 How does it affect us?
• Changes in wildlife
habitats and crop yields,
requiring more irrigation
and increasing the risk
of warm climate
diseases such as Lyme
and West Nile diseases
and malaria.
 How does it affect us?
• A drop in Great Lakes water levels by as much as one
metre by 2050, affecting shipping, fisheries, water
quality, water intake systems in our cities and shoreline
property.
What Can We Expect?
What Can We Do?
 Consolidate
1. List 6 major greenhouse gases.
2. Describe 2 natural and 2 anthropogenic sources
of GHGs.
3. Using a labeled diagram, explain the greenhouse
effect.
4. Describe in detail 2 ways in which an increase in
GHGs will affect life on Earth.
5. Provide 2 examples of changes you can make in
your everyday life that will decrease GHG
emissions.
 Natural vs. Anthropogenic
Natural Sources: Anthropogenic Sources:
• Volcanic eruptions • Energy from burning of
• Water vapour fossil fuels
• Forest fires (transportation, heating
• Decomposition of & cooling,
carbonate rocks manufacturing)
• Methane emissions • Deforestation
from swamps and • Methane from
marshes. agriculture, mining,
landfills, etc.
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