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Energy and Climate Change

(ESE-832)
Dr. Rabia Liaquat
Centre for Energy Systems (CES)
National University of Sciences
& Technology (NUST)
Email: rabia@uspcase.nust.edu.pk

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 Grading Scheme
• Condition: Attendance ≥ 75%
* If attendance is less than 75%, a student shall not to be
allowed to appear in final examination and will be awarded
“F” grade.
• The course grade will be weighted as follows:
Description Total Grade Distribution
Assignments 3-4 5%
Quizzes 3-5 10%
Projects 1 5%
OHT-1 1 15 %
OHT-2 1 15 %
Final Exam 1 50%
Total 100%
 What Is Climate?
Weather Climate

“What is happening “Average weather

in the atmosphere over longer time
at any given time” frames”

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Environmental Interactions
Goal for environmental science is to learn about these
complex interactions.

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Complexity of the Global Climate System

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ATMOSPHERE OF EARTH

Space Shuttle,
satellites

Meteors

Ozone layer

Airplanes, Mt. Everest

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 Six greenhouse gases

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Relevant to bio-
• Methane (CH4) carbon & industrial
projects
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)

• Chalorofluorocarbons (CxFx)
Relevant to
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
industrial projects
• Sulphur hexaflouride (SF6)

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NASA Video on the
Greenhouse Effect

Video: Understand how water vapor, carbon dioxide,

and other gases cause the Earth’s greenhouse effect
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzCA60WnoMk
Climate Change and Global Warming
Refers to the overall
warming of the planet,
based on average
Global Warming temperature over the
entire surface of the
Earth

Refers to changes in
climate characteristics,
including temperature,
Climate Change humidity, rainfall, wind,
and severe weather
events over long term
periods
Tools to Predict and Project Changes in Climate
Climate Prediction
• A climate prediction or climate “forecast” is an attempt to produce an estimate of the
actual evolution of the climate in the future.

Emissions Scenario
• Emissions scenarios describe future releases to the atmosphere of greenhouse gases,
aerosols, and other pollutants and, along with information on land use and land cover,
provide inputs to climate models.

Climate Model
• A numerical representation of the climate system based on the physical, chemical and
biological properties of its components, their interactions and feedback processes, and
accounting for some of its known properties.

Climate Projection
• A climate projection is the simulated response of the climate system to a scenario of
future emission or concentration of greenhouse gases and aerosols, generally derived
using climate models.
Climate Change Science Allows Us to:
 Understand how and why
the climate is changing
 Assess how humans are
influencing the climate
 Project how the climate may
change in the future
 Support policy/decision-
making and changes in
behaviors

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Section 1: Introduction to Climate Change Science
Carbon dioxide Emissions
Carbon dioxide Emissions

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Carbon dioxide Emissions

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 Why is Climate Change Science Important?
 Sound weather data and forecasts important for:
 Short-term planning
 Emergency response

 Climate models help to forecast long term climate scenarios

 Important input for vulnerability assessments and

adaptation planning

 Fosters climate resilient development and avoids mal-adaptio

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Section 1: Introduction to Climate Change Science
Factors Shaping the Climate –
“Climate Forcings”

Source: NOAAA National Climatic Data Center

Natural Climate Fluctuations –
Example of El Niño and La Niña
 Subsurface Structure

Source: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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