Lecture 6

Effects of Climate Change

 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

• Determine the impact of climate change

on human and man-made systems.
• Explain the effects of climate change.
• Recognize the importance of addressing
the climate change.
 Global Climate Description

Climate Change A long range change in

patterns of temperature, wind,
and precipitation of a certain
region or of the entire planet.
Global Warming It refers to the marked increase
in ambient temperature brought
about by the release of
greenhouse gases into Earth’s
atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect A natural phenomenon where
heat-trapping gases in the
atmosphere, such as water
vapor and carbon dioxide.
Effects of Climate Change
Climate Change Impact on Human Systems
•Effects of Climate Change
 Climate Change Impact on Human Systems

• Global warming can

pose increased risks to
human health.
• Global warming can also
lead to extreme weather
disturbances.
• Leads to higher costs for
health care.
 Climate Change Impact on Human Systems

• There will be higher

demand for public
cooling centers (malls
and other buildings with
air-conditioning).

• During extreme weather

events like floods or ice
storms, residents may be
isolated.
Climate Change Impact on Built Systems
•Effects of Climate Change
 Climate Change Impact on Built
Systems
• Global warming can • Storms and floods can
lead to a higher cause infrastructure
demand for cooling damage.
units. • Repairs of roads and
• Increased incidences of bridges
black/brown outs. • Building infrastructure
• Increased in the use of
water leads to higher
water bills.
 Climate Change Impact on Built
Systems
1. Forests
2. Melting glaciers
3. Coral Bleaching
4. Floods
5. Drought, Heat waves, and Wildfires
6. Losses in Agriculture
7. Warmer winters
8. Change of Ecosystems
 1) Forests
•CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON
BUILT SYSTEMS
 1) FORESTS
Deforestation • The increased loss of
trees and other plant
life means there are
lesser plants that use up
𝐶𝑂2 .

• Leads to more GHG in

the atmosphere and
higher atmospheric
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S temperatures.
 2) MELTING GLACIERS
Melting Glaciers
• Due to the increased in
temperatures in the
atmosphere, glaciers
have been melting.

• Resulting in a rise in sea

levels by 10 to 20
centimeters during the
20th century.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 3) CORAL BLEACHING

Coral Bleaching
• A quarter of the world’s
coral reefs are affected,
as a result of the death
of coral animals.

• If waters continue to
heat up, more kinds of
sea life might be
affected.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 4) FLOODS

Floods
• Since warmer
temperatures cause
more evaporation of sea
water.

• This could result in

more precipitation, and
may lead to flooding.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 5) DROUGHT, HEAT WAVES, WILDFIRES

Drought

• A period of time
when an area or
region experiences
below-normal
precipitation.

C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
Does a drought end
when it rains?
 Yes and No.
Rain can help during a drought, but it doesn’t make
the drought go away. A light rain shower might cause
the grass and plants to green up. But if that water
quickly evaporates into the air or is soaked up by
plants, the drought relief doesn’t last long.
 5) DROUGHT, HEAT WAVES, WILDFIRES

Heat waves and Wild fires

• A period of excessively
hot weather, which may
be accompanied by high
humidity, especially in
oceanic climate
countries.

C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 5) DROUGHT, HEAT WAVES, WILDFIRES

Wild fires
• An unplanned, unwanted,
uncontrolled fire in an
area of combustible
vegetation starting in
rural areas and urban
areas.

• Natural/Man-made
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 6 ) LOSES IN AGRICULTURE
Loses in Agriculture

• Climate change can lead

to an increased loss of
agriculture.

• Due to drought and

more tropical storms
and floods.

C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 7 ) WARMER WINTERS

Warmer Winters
• Less deaths
associated with
extreme cold.
• Longer growing
seasons so that plants
may still be blooming
longer than in
previous years.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
 8) CHANGE OF ECOSYSTEMS
Change of Ecosystems
• Ecosystems would either
move or migrate to
locations that have a
similar climate.
• More adaptive species may
become more abundant,
while those that are unable
to adapt may become
extinct.
C L I M AT E C H A N G E I M P A C T O N B U I L T S Y S T E M S
Activity 6
 Guide Questions:

Listed below are some natural events associated with

global warming or climate change. Write at least two
sentences about each of the following events:

a. Rising sea level

b. More frequent and severe weather events (heavy
rains, floods)
c. More pronounced droughts
Evaluation 6
 Evaluation 6:

ESSAY: (5 Points)

1. How can you lessen the adverse effects of Climate

Change?