Facts on

Global
Warming and
Climate Change

What is global warming?

Global

warming refers to
the increase in the earths
mean temperature due to
the so-called enhanced
greenhouse effect.

What is greenhouse effect?

Greenhouse effect refers to the process

by which the gases in the atmosphere
near the surface of the earth traps the
heat that is re-radiated by the earths
surface and re-emit it downwards. These
gases are called the greenhouse gases
(ghgs) and include water vapor, clouds,
carbon dioxide, methane and others.

trapped by

Sunlight - heat
energy

Land,vege,

ocean,etc.
These and other gases
keep the Earths surface about 60F (33 C)
warmer than it otherwise would be. Without this natural greenhouse
Water
vaporeffect,
and carbon
dioxide
(CO2)itare
the two
most
abundant natural
orSource:
blanket
life
as
we
know
would
not
be
possible
OSTP
heat-trapping
gases in our atmosphere.

If there were no greenhouse effect,

the average temperature on the
earths surface would approximately
be -15C and life on Earth would then
be untenable.

What is enhanced
greenhouse effect?

It is the effect of the increasing

concentrations of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere. This increased
concentrations of ghgs trap most of
the heat re-radiated by the earths
surface into the atmosphere, which
is like a thickening blanket, making
the earth warmer. These increases
have been linked to emissions from
human activities.

Global mean temperatures are rising faster with time

Warmest 12 years:

1998,2005,2003,2002,2004,2006,
2001,1997,1995,1999,1990,2000

Period
Rate
50 0.1280.026
100 0.0740.018

Years
/decade

Source: IPCC

Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse

Gas
CARBON DIOXIDE - Burning of Fossil
Fuels(Oil,Coal) by Powerplants,
Industries and Vehicles,
transportation, manufacturing

Carbon
dioxide

Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse

Gas
Methane - Decomposition of
Garbage and Agricultural Waste
Materials, Leaks in Coal Mining and
Natural Gas Production
Accounts for 20% of additional
greenhouse effects

Methane

Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse

Gas
Nitrous Oxide:
Bacterial Breakdown of Nitrogen in Soils and
Oceans
Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Pesticides in
Agriculture
Biomass Burning
Combustion Process Vehicles
Acid Production
Nitrous oxides

Man-Made Sources of Greenhouse

Gas
Hydrofluorocarb
ons

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6

Humans are increasing heat-trapping gases

in the atmosphere = enhanced greenhouse effect

Carbon dioxide: +31%

Methane: +151%
Nitrous oxide: +17%

Thickening blanket

Are the greenhouse gases

really increasing?

During the pre-industrial revolution, levels of

carbon
dioxide
concentration
in
the
atmosphere was 280 parts per million (ppm)
by volume. By the end of 2005, levels
increased to 379 ppm.

Methane
concentration
in
the
atmosphere had also increased from
pre-industrial value of 715 parts per
billion by volume (ppb) to 1,774 ppb
2005. oxide concentration in the
in
Nitrous

atmosphere had increased from a

pre-industrial value of 270 ppb to

What are the effects of

global warming?

Global warming has led to what we call

climate change through anthropogenic
cause or human intervention. These are:

increases in minimum (nighttime)

temperatures, maximum (daytime)
temperatures, and increases in the
mean
temperature,
global
increase
in sea
surface temperatures,
and
changes in evaporation, and thus,

changes in rainfall patterns among

What was the assessed sea

level rise due to the
increase in the global mean
temperature?

According to the IPCC, global sea

level rise was pegged at an
average of 1.8 mm per year from
1961 to 2003, or a total of 0.17 m
for the 20th century.

What causes sea level rise?

Sea level rise will occur mostly as

a result of the thermal expansion
of warming ocean waters, the
influx of freshwater from melting
glaciers and ice, and vertical
movement s of the land itself.

Are there projections for

further warming?

Yes, there are projected

increases of from 1.1C
to 6.4C during the 21st
century. The increase
that will be realized by
2100 will depend on the
population growth,
amount and manner of
development, adoption
of environmentally
clean technologies, and
measures/strategies to
be put in place by the
global community.

What are the

manifestations/signals of
global warming in the local
In the Philippines,
scale?
there already are

trends of increasing number of hot

days and warm nights, but decreasing
number of cold days and cool nights.
Both
maximum
and
minimum
temperatures are generally getting
warmer.

Other extreme weather/climate

events like intense rains have
been seen to be more frequent.

What are the manifestations/signals of

global warming in the local scale?
HOT DAYS

Significant
increase in the
frequency of
hot days

WARM NIGHTS

Significant
increase in the
frequency of
warm nights

Majority of stations show an increase in hot days and warm nights

What are the

manifestations/signals of
global warming in the local
scale?

A substantial amount of coral reefs in the

country have been found to have been
affected by bleaching during events of
warmer
sea
surface
temperatures.
Bleaching of the coral reefs is associated
with the loss of symbiotic algae and/or
their pigments, and the death of the
corals if the warming of the sea surface
temperatures are prolonged.

PROJECTED
IMPACTS

What are the expected

impacts?

Globally, the expected impacts are numerous.

Some are beneficial, like the fertilization effect of
increased concentration of carbon dioxide seen to
cause improved harvests and the

warmer temperatures in cold countries which will

lead to less death among the very young and the
elderly.

What are the expected

impacts?

Coastal communities could be affected by

accelerated sea level rise, so that they are
affected through possibility of more frequent
floods and inundation, the possible intrusion
of saltwater into their ground resources and
also, agricultural areas, more risks to human
settlements in these areas, etc.

What are the expected

impacts?

The beneficial effects of carbon dioxide

fertilization on agriculture may be
negated by higher than threshold
temperatures so that harvests could be
less.

What are the expected

impacts?

More frequent incidences of droughts and

floods could lead to health problems like
increased
incidences
of water-borne
diseases,

Changed

patterns in rainfall and

increasing temperatures could
lead
to
a
change
in
the

What are the expected

impacts?

The fishing industry may also be affected

through the decrease in fish catch if sea
surface
temperatures
continue
to
increase as nutrients could become less,

What are the expected

impacts?
More

frequent floods/droughts
could impact on the agricultural
production,
and
thus,
the
livelihood of the
subsistence
farmer.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Be aware of global warming/climate change

issues and help others know about them.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Recycle/re-use.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Recycling cans and bottles help

conserve our resources as this will
lead to less energy and less elements
used in manufacturing them, while
recycling paper will lead to less
trees being cut down.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Save energy by saving electricity

through the use of energy efficient
lighting and appliances, biking/walking
not very far distances and carpooling.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Advocate the use of renewable

energy such as those from
hydrodams, wind, solar radiation
and biofuels.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Plant trees and encourage others to plant, too.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Conserve water and other natural

resources.

How can individuals help to

mitigate the adverse impacts
of global warming?

Be environment friendly.