ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

(CH311)

Internals - Presentation on Environmental Degradation

Presented By-
TOPIC : 1) Ankit Srivastava (SC20B079) 

GREEN HOUSE EFFECT AND 2) Mehul Goel

3) Nimesh Kr Baranwal (SC20B138)

CLIMATE CHANGE  4) Parthib Roy (SC20B104)

5) Reetika (SC20B116)
6) Shobhit Gautam (SC20B122)
7) Suryaprakash Mishra (SC20B126) 
The
Greenhous
e
Effec
t
SC20B079
Ankit Srivastava
Th
e
Greenhous
e
Phenomeno
n
 Light from
the
Sun heats up
the
Earths
surface
Most part
emitted
as long
wave
thermal
radiation

Some gases
trap
the radiated
heat
These are
called
Greenhouse
gases

The effect
is
Greenhouse
effect
 Causes of
Greenhouse Effect
Changes in sea Linked to primarily three factors, all
level induced by global climate change

Thermal expansion: About half of sea level

rise over past 25 years is attributed to warmer
oceans simply occupying more space

Melting Glaciers: Recently persistently

higher temperatures have led to greater than
average summer melting as well as
diminished snowfall due to later winters and
earlier springs.
 Changes in Linked to primarily three factors, all
sea level induced by global climate change

Loss of Greenland and Antarctica’s ice sheet:

Heated Ice causing massive ice sheets that
cover Greenland and Antarctica to melt at an
alarming rate.
Scientists believe that meltwater from above
and seawater from below is seeping
beneath Greenland's ice sheets, effectively
lubricating ice streams and causing them to
move more quickly into the sea.
Consequences
 The global sea level rose about 1.8 mms per year from 1961 to 1993, and
about 3.1 mms per year since 1993.
 Poses a serious threat to coastal life around the world
 Form of increased intensity of storm surge, flooding, and damage to
coastal areas
 Another effect involves changes in precipitation, such as rain and snow.
 Increase in water temperature will alter fundamental ecological
processes and the geographic distribution of aquatic species,
 increasing the likelihood of species extinction and loss of
biodiversity.
 CASE STUDY: SWALBARD’S POLAR BEAR

 WWF- Canon and Norwegian Polar Institute

Arctic research expedition 2014

 Studied how the polar bear population is

adapting to the effects of climate change

  Due to the warming climate, summer ice continues to

decrease and is also melting for a longer period, preventing
polar bears from going out to get food.
 CASE STUDY: SWALBARD’S POLAR BEAR
 They depend on sea ice, on which they can hunt seals
 Decrease in ice have led the female polar
bears into seeking new denning areas, as old sites are now impossible to
reach or no longer exist
 According to a survey by Jon AARs and his
colleagues, just three of the 29 adult females
they tracked and examined had a cub born
that year, lower than they expected
WEATHER, CLIMATE AND THE
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
 Rainfall pattern Changes:
Effects of greenhouse have affected the rainfall too. Earlier there used to be heavy rain in a
particular season, but now the amount of rain has changed drastically
This also effects the farmers dependent on rainfall to grow healthy crops

 Acidification of Ocean:
 Carbon dioxide has added acidification into the oceans to a large extent. 
Organisms, especially relying on CaCO3 shells and skeletons like mollusks and oysters are
affected
 AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM AND THE
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

 In addition to being essential contributors to biodiversity and ecological

productivity, they also provide a variety of services for human
populations, including water for drinking and irrigation, recreational
opportunities, and habitat for economically important fisheries.
 As the level of CO2 increases in atmosphere, ocean takes in more of it,
converts into carbonic acid and thus the carbonate in the water is
unavailable for sea creatures for skeleton and shell building as well as
coral reefs
REMEDIES OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

PARTHIB ROY
(SC20B104)
“Let’s make our planet a little better and safer for
our next generation”
WHAT CAN YOU DO
ON YOUR OWN

“It’s you who can make the difference”

Switch off your electric appliances
whenever they are not used

Switch to LEDs as they are more

power efficient than light bulbs. BE MORE
ENERGY
Use natural light whenever
possible instead of artificial lights
EFFICIENT

Try to reduce the usage of power

consuming appliances as much as
possible.
 Install solar panels and try to
reduce the usage of energy
coming from power plants.
SWITCH TO
RENEWABL
E ENERGY
You can also use solar cookers,
solar water heaters etc instead
of your daily appliances
 Use public transportation and reduce the usage of
personal vehicle as much as possible. That will
hugely reduce the emission of Greenhouse gases.

MAKE YOUR Use your feet or a bicycle for small distances. It will
TRANSPORTATION not only keep you healthy but also reduce the
Greenhouse gas emissions caused by you.
MORE GREEN

If possible, switch to electric vehicles.

 Take bath in cold water. It is as enjoyable as warm water, unless the water
is very cold.

BRING Use cold water to wash your clothes. You can reduce your carbon dioxide
emissions by about 550 pounds by not using hot water on two loads of
SMALL laundry a week.

CHANGES IN
YOUR Don’t use electric dryer to dry your clothes. Hang them outside in the
sunlight and let the environment take out all the moisture
LIFESTYLE
If you are into gardening, then great! Otherwise try to plant trees whenever
possible.
WHAT SHOULD
BE DONE
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
 Production of electricity and causes almost 31%
of all the greenhouse gas emissions. So it is
important to manage the energy in order to
prevent the greenhouse emissions.
 One easy and simple step for that is switching to
renewable energy sources from the fossil fuels.
But the low efficiency of energy production
stops us from switching entirely to renewable
energy.
 Another potential solution of our energy
management problem can be nuclear energy. But
the cost of the energy is very high and also it
posses the threat of nuclear disaster like
Chernobyl or Fukushima.
 So we can see that Renewable energy and
Nuclear energy are one of potential solutions of
the energy problem. But both have their own
flaws which prevents us switching from fossil
fuels unless the technology advancement solve
the issues.
 I think we need to look at Renewable and
Nuclear energy as complementary to each other
until technology advances and we can switch
from fossil fuels to other better options.
GREEN TRANSPORTATION
 Make public transportation more cheaper and government
should encourage the common public by making the
transportation services much more cleaner, safer and better.
Europe’s bus transportation system and Japan’s bullet train
transportation are the prime examples and pioneers how to
encourage the common public to use public transportation.
 Governments can also encourage people to use more bicycles
by making separate lanes and also spreading awareness.
 Public transportation can be made more greener by means of
electric vehicles. Public buses, trains and other vehicles can be
made electric and the use of fossil fuels in vehicles should be
minimised gradually.
SAVE FOREST,
PLANT TREES
 Deforestation is one of the prime
reason of greenhouse effect. To
prevent deforestation we
ourselves can take small steps by
planting trees.
 Governments around the world
should take the initiative to aware
people about the negative effects
of deforestation and make laws to
protect the forest inside the
countries.
 Governments around the world
also should take care of the issue
of increasing forest fires in recent
years.
What is Climate Change?

 Climate change refers to significant, long-term

changes in the global climate.
 The global climate is the connected system of
sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow,
forests, deserts and savannas, and everything
people do, too. The climate of a place, say
Kerala, can be described as its rainfall, changing
temperatures during the year and so on.
 But the global climate is more than the “average”
of the climates of specific places.
 So what is global
climate?
 A description of the global climate includes
how, for example, the rising temperature of
the Pacific feeds typhoons which blow
harder, drop more rain and cause more
damage, but also shifts global ocean currents
that melt Antarctica ice which slowly makes
sea level rise until New York will be under
water.
 It is this systemic connectedness that makes
global climate change so important and so
complicated.
 The climate system is explained in this figure
 It consists of atmosphere, cryosphere, ocean
and Land
What is Climate change

 Climate change refers to the change in the average surface temperature

on Earth. The average temp. on our planet has been 15˚C, but the past
few years have seen drastic variations in the same, both up and down.
Scientists say that temperatures are rising at a faster pace than ever.
 There may be several reasons for climate change as per scientific
consensus, primarily being the overexploitation of fossil fuels by
humans and deforestation. This results in the release of carbon dioxide
& other greenhouse gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, into the
atmosphere.
 These gases remain trapped in the atmosphere and impose various
negative effects on the ecosystem. It may include a rise in the sea level,
extreme weather conditions, melting polar ice, floods, droughts causing
wildfires.
 Do you know that since the industrial revolution began in 1750, the
levels of CO2 have risen by 30%?

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Climate Change vs. Global
Warming

 Although we do use the words, “Climate Change” and “Global Warming”

interchangeably, these are two different phenomena. While Climate Change
refers to the long-term changes in the average weather conditions/climate,
Global Warming is the phenomenon of heating of the planet’s climate
system.
 As per NASA, Global Warming is most commonly measured as the average
increase in Earth’s global surface temperature and Climate Change refers to
the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional
and global climates.
 Global Warming is mainly attributed to human-produced temperature rise
while Climate Change maybe because of the natural processes like cyclical
ocean patterns, volcanic activities, variations in the Sun’s energy output,
changes in Earth’s orbi

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.

Some data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO):

1. The world’s 20 warmest years have been recorded in the past 22 years.

2. The years between 2015-18 have been the top four warmest.

3. The average sea level rise has been by 3.6mm per year between 2005 and 2015.

4. Melting ice is attributed to be the main reason for rising sea levels.

5. Most glaciers in temperate regions of the world, whether the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, East Antarctica, or the Greenland Ice
Sheet, are retreating.

6. Satellite records depict a dramatic decline in Arctic sea-ice since 1979.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

Causes of Climate Change

 Greenhouse Effect:
It may be caused by the burning of fossil fuels, construction, livestock production,
excessive use of fertilizers, industrial activities increase the greenhouse effect by
increasing the temp.
 Deforestation:
Plants & trees perform photosynthesis and absorb CO2 while returning O2 to the
atmosphere. Heavy deforestation has opposite effects on the ecosystem as it releases
sequestered carbon into the air. Forest degradation contributes up to 20 percent of global
carbon emissions.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

Causes of Climate Change Continued

 Destruction of Marine Ecosystem:

Oceans act as carbon sinks and have the ability to absorb up to 50% of CO2 With
the greenhouse effect, the increasing CO2 levels acidify the ocean, causing the death
of marine flora & fauna.
 Population Increase:
An increase in the global population level speeds up the increase in greenhouse
gas emissions from all production processes.
 apart from the above-mentioned causes other human activities like fertilizer use, certain
industrial processes releasing fluorinated gases, also generate air pollution & greenhouse
effect.
 Excessive agriculture and road construction also lead to local warming & cooling

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.
Earth Heating Up by two degrees.  Is it significant?

 Over a period of the last few years, the temperature on our planet has risen by two degrees
Fahrenheit. Although the number may sound low it’s actually impactful. A mere 2˚ change
in temperature has melted our glaciers, rising the seawater levels, global warming, floods,
droughts, etc.
 Effects of Climate Change
Over millions of years, species become adapted to survive in the conditions in
which they live. A stable climate supports this process and allows living things
to thrive. If the climate changes quickly, organisms don’t have enough time to
adapt to new conditions and may no longer be able to survive.
 Effects of Climate Change
Climate change disrupts weather patterns and causes extreme weather
events to become more common. These include hurricane activity,
droughts and floods.
As the global temperature has increased, so has the number of reported
natural disasters.
Number of Reported Natural Disasters

600

Data source: EM-DAT International Disaster Database

500

400

300

200

100

0
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Year
 Effects of Climate Change
Rising temperatures are 250

Sea Level Change (mm)

causing sea levels to
200
increase.
150
The rising water can cover

Data source: NASA (GISS)

100
coastal areas, destroying
habitats and displacing 50
whole populations from
0
low-lying areas.
-50
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Year

Rising sea levels are driven by two main processes:

1. Ice Melt: When the atmosphere and ocean get warmer, ice sheets and
glaciers melt, resulting in the addition of fresh water to the ocean.
2. Thermal Expansion: As ocean water gets warmer, it expands, causing
sea levels to rise.
 Effects of Climate Change
The increase in global temperatures is causing a reduction in sea ice.
This causes problems for animals that depend on the ice to hunt, mate and sleep.
 Effects of Climate Change
The bright surface of the ice reflects 80% of the sunlight that hits it back into
space. This keeps the polar regions cool and moderates the global climate.
When the area of sea ice is reduced, less sunlight is reflected back into space.
This causes more ocean warming and reduces the sea ice even further.
This feedback drives faster climate change.

The orange line on the

picture marks the
Russia
average minimum sea
ice coverage from 1981
to 2010. The white ice
shows the minimum sea Greenland
ice coverage in 2020.
The difference between
the two exceeds one
million miles.
Alaska
 Effects of Climate Change
No matter how fast we act, the global temperature is set to continue rising as
a result of greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere. The
problems that we are already experiencing are going to worsen.

Untitled by © Marcio James / WWF–Brazil Untitled by © Marcio James / WWF–Brazil Melting ice, Antarctica by © Wim van Passel / WWF
licensed under CC BY licensed under CC BY licensed under CC BY

Acting quickly to keep the temperature rise to minimum is extremely

important for humans and wildlife.

How much difference do you think a 0.5°C increase in global temperature

can make?
 Effects of Climate Change
Coral Bleaching Species Loss
99 % 20
100
18 2°C 1.5°C

Percentage Coral Loss

90 18
16 2°C

Percentage Species Loss

80 16
70 %
70 14
60 12
50
10
40 8
8 8
30
6
20 6
4 4
10
0 2
1.5 2
0
Temperature Rise (°C)
Bleached coral, Maldives by Untitled by © Ola Jennersten insects plants vertebrates
© naturepl.com / Peter Scoones / WWF licensed under CC BY / WWF-Sweden licensed under CC BY

Drought Rise in Sea Level

Million People Affected

410 49

Sea Level Rise (cm)

420 50
million 58 million
56 cm
410 56 49
400 54 48
390 52
47
380 50 46 million
48 cm 46
370 48
46 45
360 350
million 44 44
350 1.5 2 1.5 2
340 Temperature Rise (°C) Temperature Rise (°C)
330
320
1.5 2
Dried up fishing pans in Liuwa plain
Temperature Rise (°C)
National Park by © Jasper Doest / WWF licensed under CC BY Climate change adaption Wadden sea by © Claudi Nir / WWF licensed under CC BY
Long Term Effects of Climate Change

1.1 to 3.2 billion people will experience increased water

scarcity by 2080

Crop revenues could fall by 90% by 2100 in Africa

Decrease in sea ice and an increase in permafrost thawing,

an increase in heat waves and heavy precipitation, and
decreased water resources in semi-arid regions may be
observed

20-30% of species could be at risk of extinction if increases

in warming >1.5-2.5°C
Greenhouse Effect and Climate
change
-
relation with the Space Sector
 • Many rockets are, however, propelled by liquid
hydrogen fuel, which produces ‘clean’ water vapor
exhaust, although the production of hydrogen itself
can cause significant carbon emissions.
Points • Rocket engines release trace gases into the upper
depicting the atmosphere that contribute to ozone depletion, as
well as particles of soot.
impact of • ‘Space Junk’ referring to the space debris is a
space growing concern as disused satellites and other
objects accumulate in our planet’s orbit.
launches on
environment
 • It is found that black carbon emissions will more than
double after just an additional three years of space
tourism launches
• Also, particles emitted by rockets are almost 500
times more efficient at holding heat in the
Points atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined,
resulting in an enhanced warming climate effect.
depicting the • Another discovery was that nitrogen oxides were
impact of formed from the heating of the atmospheric air by
the hot rocket exhaust gases
space
launches on
environment
 • According to the World Economic Forum, more than
Steps taken 160 satellites are currently monitoring various global
warming indicators, with more than half of critical
by space climate factors only being observable from space.
sector to • Better monitoring: Under the joint mission, NISAR -
both ISRO and NASA are working to co-develop and
reduce launch a satellite that would monitor groundwater
supplies and provide early warning indications of
climate volcanic eruptions.
change • Track weather patterns: Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation
Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) was launched by NASA in 2018. It
depicted sea ice thinning and the disappearance of ice
cover along the coasts of Greenland and Antarctica.
 • MethaneSAT, a compact new satellite
being built by a specially created
new arm of EDF. MethaneSAT is
Steps taken specifically designed to locate,
measure and track reductions in
by space methane emissions virtually
anywhere on Earth with greater
sector to precision than any other satellite.
reduce
climate • It provides high-precision global
coverage, measuring not just
change methane concentrations but the
rate it’s escaping, from where and
who is responsible.
Steps taken
by space • European space agency claims that satellite-
sector to based systems are reducing vehicles’ carbon
dioxide emissions, remote-sensing technology
reduce is making wind turbines more efficient, and
climate information from weather satellites is helping
solar cells to produce more energy
change
Steps taken
by space
sector to
• Miniaturized ceramic gas sensor
reduce technology, developed originally for
climate measuring oxygen levels around
spacecraft re-entry vehicles, is now being
change used in systems that accurately control
heater combustion, one of the major
sources of pollutants.
Steps taken
by space
sector to
• Ibuki satellite is equipped with a greenhouse gas
reduce observation sensor
climate • TANSO-FTS
change • This technology allows the satellite to measure
"the concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere at a super-high resolution.
Thank you