STS MODULE10 Climate-Change

MODULE 10
Climate Change
Sources:
• https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/climate-change-may-lead-to-severe-water-shortage-in-nepal-study-
1234472
• https://greentumble.com/3-main-natural-causes-of-climate-change/
• https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Causes-of-climate-change.htm
• https://eesc.columbia.edu/courses/ees/climate/lectures/radiation/
Week Covered: Weeks 16 and 17
[Lawsin, N. et.al. (2020). Science, Technology, and Society. Instructional Material for Dissertation,
Transversal Competencies (TVCs) and Seamless Blended Digital Learning (SBDL) in Teaching STS] 135
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
1. reflect on the two suggested movies for this module and identify some causes of
catastrophic climate changes raised in the movie;
2. identify the natural and man-made causes of climate change;
3. understand the effects of climate change on the society; and
4. illustrate how the community helps in mitigating the hazards caused by climate change.
Week 16
ACTIVITY NO.1: MOVIE REFLECTION!
Instructions:
1. Watch these two movies, “The Day After Tomorrow” and “2012”.
2. Compare and contrast these two movies in terms of their perspectives towards
climate change.
3. Answer the following questions:
3.1.The Day After Tomorrow
3.1.1. What is the field of specialization of Professor Jack Hall? What is it all
about?
3.1.2. Why do you think other scientists did not believe on the predictions of
Professor Jack Hall?
3.1.3. How do politics and economic interests affect and interfere on the
decision-making of politicians in this movie?
3.1.4. Who is Professor Terry Rapson, what was his role in the works of
Professor Jack Hall in the movie?
3.1.5. What were the challenges faced by Professor Hall and his son during the
catastrophic climatic event?
3.1.6. What is the main stand of this movie in terms of introducing the concept
of climate change?
3.2.“2012”
3.2.1. How do politics and economic interests affect and interfere on the
decision-making of politicians in this movie?
3.2.2. What were the challenges faced by Jackson and his family during the
catastrophic climatic event?
3.2.3. How does technology cross the humanity in this movie?
3.2.4. What is the main stand of this movie in terms of introducing the concept
of climate change?
4. Based on the two movies, which of the two you find more scientific, or at least
presented claims that are more scientific? Justify your answer
5. What are the values that you have learned upon watching these two movies?
Sources: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-day-after-tomorrow/id271476626
Week 17
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body that
evaluates and monitors climate change science, released its report on global climate change.
The report's important conclusions were the following:
o the world's climate has changed significantly over the past century;
o the significant change has human influence;
o using climate models and if the trend continues, the global mean surface
temperature will increase between 1°C and 3.5°C by 2100.
• Climate is a measure of the average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity,

atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, atmospheric particle count and other
meteorological variables in a given region over long periods of time.
• Climate change refers to the statistically

significant changes in climate for continuous
period of time.
• Factors that contribute to climate change can

be (1) natural internal process, (2) external
forces and (3) persistent anthropogenic
changes or human acts in the composition of
the atmosphere or in land use.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/climate-change-may-lead-to-severe-water-shortage-in-nepal-study-1234472
Causes of Climate Change
The causes of climate change could be natural or by human activities.
http://www.spc.int/cces/resources/
1. Volcanic Eruptions
• Volcanic eruptions are one of the natural causes of climate change. When volcanoes
erupt, it emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxides, salt
crystals, volcanic ashes or dust, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.
https://greentumble.com/3-main-natural-causes-of-climate-change/
• Temporarily, volcanic aerosols can provide cooling effect to the atmosphere for 1 to
2 years because it blocks solar radiation coming from the sun.
https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/as/2017/09/22/volcanic-ash-particles-hold-clues-to-their-history-and-effects/
• What happens in violent volcanic eruptions is the release of ash particles in the
stratosphere. The volcanic ashes which have sulfur dioxide combine with water
vapor. It then forms to sulfuric acid and sulfurous aerosols. The sulfurous aerosols
then are transported by easterly or westerly winds.
https://bushtuckerchem.wordpress.com/acidic-oxides/
https://acidrain2014.weebly.com/impact-on-economy-and-environment.html
• There are several recorded major volcanic eruptions that cause climate change.
Mount Tambora of Indonesia erupted in 1816. It was considered as the largest
known eruption in human history. The eruption caused snowfall in the northeastern
United States and Canada. It affected their agricultural lands, losing crops that caused
food shortage and increased human mortality. The eruptions of Mount Krakatau of
Indonesia in 1883 and Mount Pinatubo of the Philippines in 1991 contributed, too,
to the cold years of planet Earth.
2. Orbital Changes
• Earth's orbit can also cause climate change. This was proposed by the Milankovitch
theory. The Milankovitch theory states that as the Earth travels through space around
the Sun, cyclical variations in three elements of Earth-Sun geometry combine to
produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth (Academic
Emporia, 2017).
• The three elements that have cyclic variations are eccentricity, obliquity, and
precession.
https://studyrocket.co.uk/revision/gcse-geography-b-edexcel/hazardous-earth/theories-of-natural-
climate-change
o Eccentricity is a term used to describe the shape of Earth's orbit around the
Sun. The impact of the variation is a change in the amount of solar energy
from perihelion (around January 3) to aphelion (around July 4). The time
frame for the cycle is approximately 98,000 years (Academic Emporia, 2017).
➢ Currently Earth's eccentricity is 0.016 and there is about a 6.4%
increase in insolation from July to January (Academic Emporia,
2017), Academic Emporia (2017) states, "The eccentricity influences
seasonal differences: when Earth is closest to the Sun, it gets more
solar radiation. If the perihelion occurs during the winter, the winter
is less severe. If a hemisphere has its summer while closest to the Sun,
summers are relatively warm.
o Obliquity is the variation of the tilt of Earth's axis away from the orbital plane.
As this tilt changes, the seasons become more exaggerated.
➢ The obliquity changes on a cycle taking approximately 40,000 years.
Academic Emporia (2017) states the more tilt means more severe
seasons-warmer summers and colder winters; less tilt means less
severe seasons-cooler summers and milder winters."
o Precession is the change in orientation of Earth's rotational axis. The

precession cycle takes about 15,000 to 23,000 years.
➢ Precession is caused by two factors: a wobble of Earth's axis and a turning
around of the elliptical orbit of Earth itself (Academic Emporia, 2017).
➢ Obliquity affected the tilt of Earth's axis; precession affects the direction of
Earth's axis. The change in the axis location changes the dates of perihelion
(closest distance from Sun) and aphelion (farthest distance from Sun), and
this increases the seasonal contrast in one hemisphere while decreasing it in
the other hemisphere (Academic Emporia, 2017).
➢ Currently, Earth is closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere winter,
which makes the winters there less severe (Academic Emporia, 2017).
Another consequence of procession is shin in the celestial pales.
➢ Five thousand years ago, the North Star was Thuban in the constellation
Draco. Currently, the North Star is Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor.
3. Anthropogenic or by Human Activities

• Human activities contribute to climate change. The largest known contribution comes
from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere.
The Carbon Dioxide Theory

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is
added when power and heat
are produced by burning
coal, oil, and other fossil
fuels.
• Carbon dioxide is
transparent to visible light
but visible to infrared
radiation leaving the ground.
http://skepticalscience.com/Carbon-dioxide-invisibility-causes-global-warming.html
• Carbon dioxide absorbs part
of the infrared radiation in
the air and returns it to the
ground keeping the air near
the surface warmer than it
would be if the carbon
dioxide did not act like a
blanket.
• Doubling the carbon dioxide

raises the temperature to 2°C
to 3°C
https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/nature/climate-change-causes.htm?ref=driverlayer.com/web
• Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate by altering incoming solar radiation and
outgoing infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of Earth's energy balance.
https://www.our-energy.com/global_warming.html
• Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these gases and particles can lead
to a warming or cooling of the climate system.
• Since the start of the industrial era (about

1750), the overall effect of human activities
on climate has been a warming influence.
The human impact on climate during this
era greatly exceeds that due to known
changes in natural processes, such as solar
changes and volcanic eruptions.
• Human activities result in emissions of

four principal greenhouse gases: carbon
dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and halocarbons (a group of gases
containing fluorine, chlorine, and bromine). These gases accumulate in the atmosphere,
causing concentrations to increase with time (www.c02now.org). The greenhouse gases
mentioned are natural gases
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/environment/
• However, the high level of these gases in the
atmosphere contributes to the greenhouse
effect. The increasing amount of these gases is
due to human activities.
• High level of carbon dioxide comes from fossil

fuel use in transportation; and the building,
heating, cooling, and manufacture of cement
and other goods. Deforestation releases carbon
dioxide and reduces its uptake by plants.
• High methane emission is related to agriculture,

natural gas distribution, and landfills.
• High nitrous oxide is also emitted by human

activities such as fertilizer use and fossil fuel
burning.
https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/longform/what-you-need-know-about-food-waste-and-climate-change
• Halocarbon gas concentrations have increased

primarily due to human activities. Principal
halocarbons include the chlorofluorocarbons
(eg., CFC-11 and CFC-12) which were used
extensively as refrigeration agents and in other
industrial processes before their presence in the
atmosphere was found to cause Stratospheric
ozone depletion.
• The abundance of chlorofluorocarbon gases is

decreasing as a result of international regulations
designed to protect the ozone layer (The
Encyclopedia of Earth, 2016). https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/496944140108912950/
• Ozone is another greenhouse gas that is

continually produced and destroyed in
the atmosphere by chemical reactions.
• In the troposphere, human activities

have increased ozone through the
release of gases such as carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen
oxide, which chemically react to
produce ozone.
https://sites.duke.edu/tlge_sss29/carbon-dioxide-
emissions/greenhouse-effect/
• Halocarbons released by human activities destroy ozone in the stratosphere and have
caused the ozone hole over Antarctica.
https://earthsky.org/earth/antarctic-ozone-hole-is-not-yet-in-recovery (2013)
https://whyfiles.org/2011/what-is-the-status-of-the-ozone-hole/index.html
Effects of Climate Change on Society

• Climate
change could
cause severe
effects to all
life forms
around our
planet. It
directly affects
the basic
elements of
people's lives
like water,
food, health,
use of land,
and the
environment.
http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2016/04
/05/the-impacts-of-climate-change-on-
human-health-a-sobering-new-report/
• With the average global temperature which is predicted to rise by 2 to 3°C within the next
fifty years, glaciers will continue to melt faster.
• Melting or collapse of ice sheets would raise sea levels and eventually threaten at least 4
million km² of land, which today is home to 5% of the world's population (Stern, 2007).
https://glacierkieranmercier.wordpress.com/2015/05/31/what-is-the-effect-of-melting-glaciers-on-canada-2/
http://diptikumar.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/polaricecapsfuture
• Ecosystems will be particularly vulnerable to climate change, with one study estimating
that around 15-40% of species face extinction with 2°C of warming.
• The consequences of climate change will become disproportionately more damaging with
increased warming. Declining crop yields due to drought, especially in Africa, are likely
to leave hundreds of millions without the ability to produce or purchase sufficient food.
At mid to high latitudes, crop yields may increase for moderate temperature rises (2 to
3°C), but then decline with greater amounts of warming.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/eight-ways-climate-change-hurts-humans-180950475/
https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12663-study-shows-climate-change-could-cause-drought-in-wheat-
growing-areas
https://greentumble.com/grave-effects-of-climate-change-on-the-environment/
https://www.carbonbrief.org/climate-change-not-a-major-influence-on-brazil-drought-study-says
• Ocean acidification, a direct result of rising carbon dioxide levels, will have major effects
on marine ecosystems, with possible adverse consequences on fish stocks (Stern, 2007).
https://www.pinterest.ph/seabirdscience/ocean-acidification/
• Climate change will increase worldwide deaths from malnutrition and heat stress. Vector-
borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever could become more widespread if
effective control measures are not in place.
https://www.beforetheflood.com/explore/the-deniers/fact-climate-change-is-very-very-dangerous/
• Rising sea levels may result in more flooded areas each year with a warming of 3 or 4°C.
There will be serious risks and increasing pressures for coastal protection (Stern, 2007).
• Warming may induce sudden shifts in regional weather patterns like the monsoons or the
El Niño. Such changes would have severe consequences for water availability and flooding
in tropical regions and threaten the livelihood of billions.
https://www.gbrionline.org/news/climate-change-induced-floods-might-force-people-to-move-to-new-areas/
https://www.mediamatters.org/blog/2014/09/24/conservative-medias-crocodile-tears-on-climate/200874
https://www.greenmoxie.com/best-protections-and-controls-for-floods-caused-by-climate-change/
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2018/07/25/climate-change-food-agriculture/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-ellen-harte/climate-change-this-week_b_13495378.html
STUDENT’S REFLECTION
1. What significant contribution can individuals make in response to climate change?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. Is climate change preventable?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3. What should be the significant contribution of the society as well as the

government in mitigating the hazards caused by climate change?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4. How will the sustainable development and solutions-oriented mindset help us to

solve the problems and challenges brought by climate change?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
5. Using the framework given below, what are the necessary skills you need to
promote sustainable development amidst of climate change? In no less than,
20 sentences, justify your answer.
REFERENCES
Academic Emporia. (n.d.). “Milankovitch Theory.” Accessed August 1, 2017.

http://academic.emporia.edu/aberjame/student/howard2/theory.htm.
Bautista, D.H.S, et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society . MaxCor Publishing House Inc.
Quezon City, Philippines
Britannica. (n.d.). “Montreal Protocol.” Accessed August 1, 2017.

https://www.britannica.com/event/Montreal-Protocol.
Escribano, R. & Tannaro, 1. (2010). Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere.
Madrid: 2010. Accessed October 10, 2017.

https://www.ipcc.eh/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/fag-2-1.html.
Pavico, J.M.F (2015). Exploring Life Through Science . Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House.
Real Climate. (2010). “The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Gilbert Plass .”

Accessed August 1, 2019. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/ archives/2010/01/the-
carbon-dioxide-theory-ofgilbert-plass/.
Serafica, J.P.J, et.al. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society 1st Edition. REX Bookstore, Inc.
Quezon City, Philippines
Stern, N. (2007). “How Climate Change Affects People Around the World.” In The Economics of
Climate Change. P. 56-65. https://books.google.com.ph/books.
The Encyclopedia of Earth. (2016). “Climate Change.” Accessed October 25, 2017.
http://www.editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/climate_change_main.
Date Retrieved: September 20, 2020

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MODULE 10

Week Covered: Weeks 16 and 17

• Climate is a measure of the average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity,

• Climate change refers to the statistically

• Factors that contribute to climate change can

o Precession is the change in orientation of Earth's rotational axis. The

3. Anthropogenic or by Human Activities

The Carbon Dioxide Theory

• Doubling the carbon dioxide

• Since the start of the industrial era (about

• Human activities result in emissions of

• High level of carbon dioxide comes from fossil

• High methane emission is related to agriculture,

• High nitrous oxide is also emitted by human

• Halocarbon gas concentrations have increased

• The abundance of chlorofluorocarbon gases is

• Ozone is another greenhouse gas that is

• In the troposphere, human activities

Effects of Climate Change on Society

1. What significant contribution can individuals make in response to climate change?

2. Is climate change preventable?

3. What should be the significant contribution of the society as well as the

4. How will the sustainable development and solutions-oriented mindset help us to

Academic Emporia. (n.d.). “Milankovitch Theory.” Accessed August 1, 2017.

Britannica. (n.d.). “Montreal Protocol.” Accessed August 1, 2017.

Escribano, R. & Tannaro, 1. (2010). Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere.

Madrid: 2010. Accessed October 10, 2017.

Real Climate. (2010). “The Carbon Dioxide Theory of Gilbert Plass .”

Date Retrieved: September 20, 2020

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