by:

TANISHA AMERIYA
Lecturer
Department of Environmental Science
IIS (deemed to be) University
What is global warming?

Global warming refers to the

Gradual rise in atmospheric
and ground surface air
temperatures and consequent
changes in global radiation
balance caused mainly by
anthropogenic processes.
 Global warming begins when sunlight reaches the Earth.

The oceans, air and land absorbs approximately 70% of the total solar radiations, rest 30%
is reflected back into space.

This consequently heats up the surface of the earth and atmosphere, making life feasible.

As the Earth warms up , this solar energy is radiated as thermal radiations and infrared rays,
propagating directly out to the space thereby cooling the Earth.

Some of the outgoing radiation is re-absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapour, ozone,
methane and other gases(called Greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere and radiated back to
the surface of Earth.

This re-absorption process is actually beneficial for the maintenance of Earth’s temperature
and life sustenance.

The dilemma began when the concentration of these greenhouse gases accelerates
artificially due to anthropogenic activities causing warming of the Earth’s surface and the
atmosphere. This is known as human enhanced global warming
Space
Long wave ,
Infrared Radiations

Atmosphere

Earth
Space
Long wave ,
Infrared Radiations

Atmosphere

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

Earth
What are the Effects of
Global Warming ?
 Water Resources
Agriculture Forests
• Melting of Glaciers
• Shifts in food growing areas • Loss of wildlife habitat and species
• Snowpack reduction
• Change in Crop yields • Changes in composition and location
• Increased Floods
• Increased Irrigation demands • Increased Fires
• Increased Droughts
•Increased pests, crop diseases, and • Disappearance of forests of high
• Deterioration in water quality
weeds in warmer areas. altitudes
• Changes in water supply

Human Health
• Decreased deaths from cold
• Increased deaths from heat and diseases
Human Population
• Disruption in food supply
• Increased migration
• Increased deaths due to heat and
Effects of Global • Spread of tropical diseases to temperate
areas
disrupted food supply warming • Increase in respiratory diseases and
allergies
• Increased water pollution
•Increased photochemical smog

Sea Level and Coastal Areas

• Rise in sea levels
• Floods in low-lying islands and coastal
areas
• Floods in estuaries, wetlands and coral
reefs
• Disruption of fisheries
•Contamination of salt water and
aquifers
Biodiversity
• Loss of habitats
• Disruption of aquatic species
• Extinction of some species
• Migration of species due to altered
habitat conditions
Weather Extremes
• Increased floods due to more frequent
intense and heavy rainfall in some areas
• Prolonged heat waves and drought
What’s the proof that global
warming is taking place?
 Portage Glacier
• Alaska

1914 2004

Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org

 Colorado River
• Arizona

June 2002 Dec 2003

•Some of the Northeast’s most-important fish species are known to be affected by
water temperature. Adult cod, for example, require bottom-water temperatures
cooler than 12.2°C ; their young require water cooler than 7.8°C . Substantial ocean
warming could restrict cod to living only in cooler pockets in northern areas and
Georges Bank.
 Pika images courtesy of J. R. Douglass, Yellowstone
National Park; Aerial image courtesy NASA.

The American Pika is a small-eared relative of rabbits and hares and is found in Glacier National
Park and other parks throughout the mountain ranges in western states. Pikas lived in the
lowlands during the last ice age. As the ice retreated, these small animals gradually climbed
mountain slopes in pursuit of their required climate. Today, the species is restricted to the
isolated mountaintop islands as populations below about 7,000 feet rapidly go extinct. The
cause, studies suggest, is simple heat stress.
Why is global warming
happening?
Amplification of emissions of
greenhouse gases
Source - MoEFCC
Why Greenhouse gas
emission increasing?
 Gas Global Warming
Potential (GWP)
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1
• The Radiative forcing and global
warming potential(GWP) are used Methane (CH4) 21
by the Inter- Governmental Panel Nitrous oxide(N2O) 310
on Climate Change (IPCC) to HFC-23 11,700
compare the relative warming
effect of different gases. HFC-125 2,800
HFC-134a 1,300
• The radiative forcing as defined HFC-143a 3,800
by IPCC refers to ‘the effects which
greenhouse gases have in altering HFC-152a 140
the energy balance of the earth- HFC-227 es 2,900
atmosphere system.’
HFC-236fa 6,300
• Global warming Potential is used HFC-4310 mee 1,300
as tool to compare the relative CF4 6,500
warming effect of various gases
C2F6 9,200
emitted from anthropogenic
sources such as CO2, CO, NO2, C4F10 7,000
CH4, SO2, CFCs, etc. C6F14 7,400
SF6 23,900
• Greenhouse gases are essential to our
climate.
• With no greenhouse gases at all in its
atmosphere, scientists estimate that
Earth’s average atmospheric temperature
would be about -18˚C, or about 0 ˚F.
What can be done to stop
Global Warming?
What Can be Done: Alternatives
Renewable Energy Sources

Solar Energies Wind Power Biomass Geothermal

Changes In Vehicle Systems

Hybrid Fuel Cell Battery-

Electric
Reforestation and Afforestation
• Reforestation- planting trees in formerly forested areas that have
been cleared by logging.
• Afforestation- planting tress on areas that were not covered with
forests.
What can WE do to help
solve the problem?
 Simple Things To Do
Turn off your computer or the TV
when you’re not using it.

Take shorter showers. Heating water uses energy.

Keep rooms cool by closing the blinds, shades, or

curtains.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs.

Walk short distances instead of asking for a

ride in the car.
 • Climate change refers to the
increasing changes in the measures
of climate over a long period of time-
including precipitation, temperature
and wind patterns.
WEATHER CLIMATE
• Short term • Climate is the average of
• Limited area many years of weather
• Can Change rapidly observation.
• Difficult to predict • Long term
• Wide area
• Seasonal Changes
• Measured over long spans
of time.
Climate is affected by many factors
Abiotic Factor Biotic Factor
• Latitude • Transpiration
• Altitude • Respiration
• Ocean Currents • Photosynthesis
• Topography • Decomposition
• Solar radiation • Digestion
• Evaporation
• Orbital Variations
• Volcanic Activity
 Causes of Climate Change
• Carbon stored all over the planet
• Greenhouse effect
• Changes in the reflectivity of Earth’s atmosphere and
surface
• Volcanic eruption
• Coal mining
• Deforestation
• Industrial processes
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Air Pollution
• Water pollution
 Effects of Climate Change
• Impact on Agriculture
• Extreme Drought conditions
• More heavy rainfall across the world
• Sea level rise
• Change in ecosystem
• Rise in global temperature
• Vulnerability to disasters
• Impact on human and animal health
• Increased poverty
• Poor sanitation conditions