CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE A Continuing Challenge?

CHAPTER 3

VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

A Continuing Challenge?

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CHECK-IN: Icebergs on the loose

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In this chapter you will explore three key questions:

1. Why do different places experience different weather and climate?

2. What is happening to the Earth’s climate?

3. Is the weather becoming more extreme?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATEA Continuing Challenge?

Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How does climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?4

CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

a. How has global climate changed?

• Global Climate Change: variation in the global climate or climatic patterns in the long term.

How has temperatures changed from

1800 until 2000?

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• Changes in global climate since 1881.- Earth warmed up by 0.74° C in 100 years.- Greatest increase after 1980s- Some places recorded much higher temperature

increases. Arctic, Asia and Africa (1.2° C to 1.4 ° C)

a. How has global climate changed?

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Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How does climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

• Variations in solar output• Volcanic eruptions

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

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Variations in solar output

• The magnetic activity of the sun has a cycle that lasts about 11 years.

• An increase in solar radiation is due to an increase in sun spots.– Areas surrounding the

sunspots radiate more energy to make up for the cooler sunspot areas.

• With higher solar radiation, earth’s temperatures will increase. Sunspots represented by the dark spots

on surface of the sun.9

Volcanic eruptions

• Global dimming: Gradual reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface. Temporarily cools the earth for months or years.

– Dust particles from eruption form condensation nuclei, creating more cloud cover.

– Dust and ash also reflect away incoming solar radiation.

• For example, Mount Pinatubo eruption lowered temperatures by as much as 0.6°C for as long as two years.

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Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How does climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

c. What is the greenhouse effect?

• Greenhouse effect: Natural process in which the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap longwave radiation emitted from the earth’s surface, warming the atmosphere.

• Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide ozone and halocarbons such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are good absorbers of longwave radiation. – They are known as greenhouse gases and are found in

the atmosphere.

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What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

• Enhanced greenhouse effect: Increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures.– Generally due to human activities that release an

increased amount of greenhouse gases, most notably carbon dioxide.

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Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?

a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How has climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

• Burning fossil fuels

• Deforestation

• Changing land use

– Agriculture

– Industries

– Urbanisation

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Burning fossil fuels• Fossil fuels: formed from decomposition of dead

organic matter over millions of years- For example, petroleum, coal and natural gas.- Powers 80% of the world’s energy- Contains high carbon content, releases huge amount of

carbon dioxide when burnt- Highest contributor of greenhouse gases.

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Burning fossil fuels

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Deforestation• Deforestation: Loss of forests due to the removal or

clearance of trees in forested areas.• Causes increase in levels of carbon dioxide in two

ways:– Fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide– Carbon oxidation: Carbon in soil reacts with oxygen to

produce carbon dioxide, aided by higher temperatures when soil is exposed to sunlight.

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Deforestation

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Every minute, forest areas the size of nine football fields are being deforested. Which areas face the greatest deforestation

rates in the world?

Why does deforestation take

place?

Changing land use

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Agriculture Industries Urbanisation

AgricultureAgriculture: Practice of cultivating land,

producing crops and raising livestock.

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Agriculture• Cattle farming releases millions of tonness of

methane into the atmosphere annually, as gases are released from the digestive systems of cattle.

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Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and land use

Industries• Industries: Production of

goods and services within a country. - Major contributor of carbon

dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels to create energy needed to run factory processes.

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Urbanisation

• Urbanisation: Process by which an increasing number of people live in urban areas.

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- Various human activities are concentrated or are necessary in urban places. All of them contribute to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Countries emitting greenhouse gases in proportion to their land size

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Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How has climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

e. How does climate change affect people?

Four key impacts of climate change we will learn about:

1)Sea level rise2)Frequent extreme weather events3)Spread of infectious insect-borne diseases4)Lengthening of growing season in certain

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Sea level rise

• Sea level rise: Increase in the mean height of the sea’s surface between high and low tide relative to land.

– Higher temperatures causes water to expand

– Higher temperatures causes glaciers to melt, adding meltwater to the sea

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3133% of coastal lands are at risk with continued sea level increase!

Frequent extreme weather events

• Extreme weather events: severe and rare weather phenomenon that results in significant economic losses and the loss of lives- Eg. Heat waves, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones

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Spread of infectious insect-borne diseases

• Link between insect-borne diseases and climate change:- Increased rainfall and temperatures is favourable for

mosquitoes to breed (allows spread of malaria and dengue fever)

- As temperate countries get warmer, mosquitoes are able to breed further up north of the Equator

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Lengthening of growing season in certain regions

• Higher temperatures have lead to longer growing seasons for some regions.- Advantage (Cold regions are now warmer, more

conducive for crop growing)• Increase in types of crops that can be grown in UK.• Increase in fruit, soybeans, potatoes and wheat in

Canada.- Disadvantage (Cool regions are now getting hotter,

less conducive for crop growing)• Apples and cherries production in Yunnan is reduced as they

need cool conditions.• Wheat yield has decreased in Canada.

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Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How has climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE

f. What are the responses to climate change?

• International Level– Kyoto Protocol (1997)– Copenhagen Conference (2009)

• National Level– Singapore– India

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Kyoto Protocol

• Kyoto Protocol: An international agreement to reduce greenhouse gases emission into the atmosphere.– Drawn up on 11/12/97, came into effect 16/02/05

– Different countries have different targets to hit and progress of carbon emissions will be tracked and reported for review.

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Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Protocol

Successes• Many countries met or exceeded targets set by

Kyoto Protocol as there was constant monitoring and reporting by countries for self and peer assessment.

• Encouraged sustainable development.- Developed countries are encouraged to work with

developing countries in carbon-reducing projects (Clean Development Mechanism — CDM)

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Kyoto Protocol

Limitations• Not all countries are able to meet their goals and not

all countries have the same emission targets.- Denmark, Sweden and the United Kingdom did not

achieve their targets

• Many countries did not sign the Kyoto Protocol and continue to contribute to global emissions.- A large portion of the increase in global emissions came

from China, India and the United States of America

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Copenhagen Conference

• Copenhagen Conference: Held in Denmark, hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference to build upon measures developed in previous conferences for addressing climate change.

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Copenhagen ConferenceSuccesses• Allow countries to discuss measures to deal with

climate change effectively, including improvements to CDM.

• International agreement to keep increase in global temperature to below 2°C.

• Pledges were made and developed countries pledged to:- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.- Provide US$30 billion for developing countries to fight

climate change.

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Copenhagen Conference

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Copenhagen Conference

Limitations• Lack for concrete plans on how to reduce

greenhouse gases• Copenhagen Accord (Agreement) was not adopted

by all countries.- The Accord was a guideline and no countries will

be binded/punished if they do not fulfill their pledges.

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National response: Singapore

1) Singapore Green Plan 2012• Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse emission

from burning fossil fuels

2) Green Mark Scheme• Constructing ‘green’ buildings

3) Plant-A-Tree programme• Planting more trees and plants

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Singapore Green Plan 2012

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Singapore: Green Mark Scheme

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Singapore: Plant-A-Tree programme

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Show two images of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Image 1: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYjQ-KuZAIE/TrfUWAdg1YI/AAAAAAAAADc/9tIY8AsEgAU/s320/TreePlant1963-1.JPGImage 2: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vl9H2vEMxSo/TrfTZpjcWrI/AAAAAAAAADM/rOJNmtQQEng/s1600/MM+LEE.jpg

Mr Lee Kuan Yew planting a tree in 1963 and still doing so in 2012

National response: India1) National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP)

- Emphasising public transport

2) Energy Labelling Programme- Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse emissions from burning fuels

3) Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)

- Promoting India-specific climate change research

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National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP)

Description of strategy• Launched in 2006 by Ministry of Urban Development • Aim to reduce motor vehicles on road by:

- Developing public transport- Encourage non-motorised transport

• Use of cleaner technologies

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National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP)

Successes• Rail, cycle, bus and pedestrian infrastructure improved

tremendously with funding from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).- Pedestrian infrastructure improve in Hyderabad.- Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS) expanded from 20 in 2006

to 68 by 2010.- Carbon credits given to Delhi’s metro rail, whose 186 km of

rail kept 91,000 vehicles off road and reduced 6.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas annually.

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National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP)

Limitations• Huge capital costs (billions) and many years

needed to build competent public transport systems a hindrance.

• Increasingly affluent citizens will prefer private vehicles over public transport.

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Energy Labelling ProgrammeDescription of strategy• Started by Bureau of Energy Efficiency in

2007.• Programme informed consumers of energy

efficiency of products. (The more efficient, the cheaper)

• The label is mandatory for frost-free refrigerators, fluorescent lamps, air conditioners, distribution transformers.

• Voluntary for other appliances such as ceiling fans, television sets, washing machines and computers.

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Energy Labelling ProgrammeSuccesses• Consumers will be encouraged to buy products that

conserve energy, reducing country’s greenhouse gas output.

• Sales of energy efficient appliances have steadily increased since 2007

• Two major laptop producers pledged to adopt labelling in 2011 with other major manufacturers expected to follow.

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Energy Labelling Programme

Limitations• Many appliances are still not on the program and

most of public are still not aware of how the labelling works/ what it means.

• Country has urgent need to provide energy for citizens and using coal-powered stations negate the labelling efforts.

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Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)

Description of strategy• 220 scientists from 120 research institutions

promote domestic research on climate change.

• They provide Indian-based climate data for better reference during policy implementation.

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Successes•Released first assessment (on issues such as sea level, agriculture, water supply, human health) of climate change impacts in India for the next 20 years.•Recommend constant monitoring and research of India’s physical and biological system by specific regional committees, developing concrete plans thereafter.

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Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)

Limitations• India is a rapidly developing economy and can

only sustain its development through industrialisation and urbanisation.

• Recommendations by INCCA might go unheeded by the government should concrete plans made by them interfere with India’s development.

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Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)

Gateway 2: What is happening to the Earth’s climate?a. How has global climate changed?

b. What are some natural causes of climate change?

c. What is the greenhouse effect? d. How do human activities lead to enhanced greenhouse effect?

e. How does climate change affect people?

f. What are the responses to climate change?

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CHAPTER 3 VARIABLE WEATHER AND CHANGING CLIMATE