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Environmental Wellness
&Global Warming
By Jillian Swisher & Hannah Lewis
Environmental Wellness defined: the collective
interactions of humans with the environment, and the short-term and long-term health
consequences of those interactions
Climate Change:
Any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for
an extended period of time (major changes in
temperature, precipitation, wind, etc.)
Global Warming: Global warming is the recent
and ongoing rise in global temperature near Earth’s
surface • What causes global
warming?
Global Warming & The Greenhouse Effect
• Global warming happens when the greenhouse effect occurs
• Greenhouse effect = when temperature rises due to heat being trapped in earth’s
atmosphere (due to greenhouse gases being released into the air)
Indicators of Climate Change
• Greenhouse gas emissions• High/low temperatures
• Precipitation patterns
• Drought• Sea Level• Ocean heat• Snowfall
• Heat Related Deaths
Greenhouse Gases – What are they?
• Carbon Dioxide• Methane• Nitrous Oxide• Fluorinated Gases These gases absorb infrared radiation, contributing to the greenhouse effect
How are they produced?
Carbon Dioxide• Emitted through burning of fossil fuels, solid
waste, trees and wood productsMethane
• Emitted during production & transportation of coal, natural gas, and oil, and during
decay of waste in landfills
Nitrous Oxide• Emitted during agricultural and industrial
activities, also during combustion of solid waste & fossil fuels
Humans Contribution
• Humans release large amounts of these gases into the air, which then trap energy in the atmosphere and cause the Earth to become warmer
• Most of these emissions are from burning fossil fuel for electricity, heat and transportation
Ways we Contribute• Driving cars that run on gas/various kinds of
transportation• Deforestation• Pollution & Landfills• Electricity• Industrial processes
How can we reduce our contributions?
• Energy Star products• Recycle• Use water efficiently• Carpool• Reduce electricity use
Consequences of Our Contributions
• Weather: increased precipitation in some areas, while extreme droughts in other areas
• Storms, floods, hurricanes likely to become more intense
• Effects on our health (heat-related illness, death/damage from major storms)
• Insurance costs rise due to increase in weather related disasters
What the Future Holds
Unless these emissions decrease substantially, there will continue to be changes to our
environment. These changes are likely to have negative effects on humans (economic and health problems, agricultural issues, water
supply issues, etc).
Questions?
Visit www.epa.gov for more information on Global Warming, Climate Change, and how you
can make a difference
Sources: www.epa.gov, www.edf.org, www.nature.org/globalwarming, www.geography.about.com , www.nwf.org
