Global warming

Global Warming: The Global Warming: The Global WarningGlobal Warning

Biology 2201Biology 2201

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

P resen ta tion L ayou t

W h at is G lob a l W arm in g ?Th e C au ses o f G lob a l W arm in g

Th e W orld E ffec t o f G lob a l W arm in g Th e S o lu tion s to G lob a l W arm in g

G lob a l P ersp ec tive

What is Global Warming?What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is defined as the Global Warming is defined as the increase in earth’s temperature due increase in earth’s temperature due to the use of fossil fuels and other to the use of fossil fuels and other industrial processes leading to a industrial processes leading to a buildup of “greenhouse gases” in the buildup of “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere. atmosphere.

These gases include carbon dioxide, These gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s).chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s).

Gas IncreasesGas Increases

We have observed the following We have observed the following gases increase:gases increase:

Carbon dioxide: 30%Carbon dioxide: 30% Methane: 145%Methane: 145% Nitrous oxide: 15%Nitrous oxide: 15%

What is Global WarmingWhat is Global Warming

Since 1896, it has been known that Since 1896, it has been known that these gases help stop the sun’s these gases help stop the sun’s infrared radiation from escaping infrared radiation from escaping into space and thus function to into space and thus function to maintain the earth’s relatively maintain the earth’s relatively warm temperature.warm temperature.

This process is called the This process is called the greenhouse effect.greenhouse effect.

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is the role The greenhouse effect is the role the atmosphere plays in insulating the atmosphere plays in insulating and warming the earth’s surface. and warming the earth’s surface.

The atmosphere is largely The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming short-transparent to incoming short-wave solar radiation, which is wave solar radiation, which is absorbed by the earth’s surface. absorbed by the earth’s surface.


Much of this radiation is then Much of this radiation is then remitted from the earth at infrared remitted from the earth at infrared wavelengths, but is reflected back wavelengths, but is reflected back to the earth by the greenhouse to the earth by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.gases in the atmosphere.

The reflected radiation maintains The reflected radiation maintains the temperature of the earth in a the temperature of the earth in a range that is hospitable to life. range that is hospitable to life.


This heating effect is the basis of This heating effect is the basis of the theories concerning global the theories concerning global warming.warming.


The ProblemThe Problem

The problem of this issue is whether The problem of this issue is whether the measurably increasing levels of the measurably increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the last century will lead to over the last century will lead to elevated global temperatures which elevated global temperatures which could result in coastal flooding and could result in coastal flooding and major climatic changes and have major climatic changes and have serious implications for agricultural serious implications for agricultural productivity.productivity.

The Depletion of Our The Depletion of Our Ozone LayerOzone Layer

The ozone layer, a region of the The ozone layer, a region of the atmosphere above the earth’s atmosphere above the earth’s surface, is directly effected by surface, is directly effected by greenhouse gases and CFC’s greenhouse gases and CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons).(chlorofluorocarbons).

Human Contribution of Human Contribution of CFC’s and Greenhouse CFC’s and Greenhouse Gases (%)Gases (%)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

North AmericaSouth AmericaEuropeAsiaAfricaAustraliaAntartica

Human Contribution of Human Contribution of CFC’s and Greenhouse CFC’s and Greenhouse GasesGases

North America (34%)- Mainly North America (34%)- Mainly caused by the former industry of caused by the former industry of refrigerants and aerosol spray refrigerants and aerosol spray propellants. Even though the US propellants. Even though the US administration has banned CFC’s administration has banned CFC’s for more suitable substitutions in for more suitable substitutions in 1978, that damage has already 1978, that damage has already been done.been done.


South America (36%)- Caused by the South America (36%)- Caused by the massive burning of rain forests, releasing massive burning of rain forests, releasing massive doses of carbon dioxide in the air.massive doses of carbon dioxide in the air.

Europe (5%)- Caused by the total ban of Europe (5%)- Caused by the total ban of CFC and the environmental movement of CFC and the environmental movement of the European Unionthe European Union

Africa (7%)- Caused by the burning of some Africa (7%)- Caused by the burning of some forestry, and the overall environmental forestry, and the overall environmental statestate


Asia (16%)- Caused by overall pollution Asia (16%)- Caused by overall pollution and the burning of some forestryand the burning of some forestry

Australia (2%)- Caused by the small Australia (2%)- Caused by the small percentage of forestry burning.percentage of forestry burning.

Antarctica (0%)- The very few Antarctica (0%)- The very few inhabitants of the continent contribute inhabitants of the continent contribute 0.01% to global warming.0.01% to global warming.

The Demise of CFC’sThe Demise of CFC’s

Presently, a total ban of the use of Presently, a total ban of the use of CFC’s is almost impossible due to CFC’s is almost impossible due to scientific confusion and the US scientific confusion and the US influence left behind of the influence left behind of the antienvironmental Reagan antienvironmental Reagan administration.administration.

The Demise of CFC’sThe Demise of CFC’s

Another problem that is realized is Another problem that is realized is that for examplethat for example if if a total ban of a total ban of CFC’s is achieved by the year CFC’s is achieved by the year 2005, the atmosphere would still 2005, the atmosphere would still contain more CFC’s in the year contain more CFC’s in the year 2005 than it does today, and 90% 2005 than it does today, and 90% of the CFC’s in the air will still be of the CFC’s in the air will still be there by there year 2015there by there year 2015..

Antarctic Ozone Hole Antarctic Ozone Hole

Beginning in the late Beginning in the late 1970’s, research 1970’s, research scientists working in scientists working in Antarctica have Antarctica have detected a periodic detected a periodic loss of ozone in the loss of ozone in the atmosphere high atmosphere high above that above that continent, due to the continent, due to the effect of CFC’s effect of CFC’s

Further Ozone HolesFurther Ozone Holes

The World Meteorological The World Meteorological Organization observed a 45% Organization observed a 45% depletion of the ozone layer over depletion of the ozone layer over one-third of the northern one-third of the northern hemisphere, from Greenland to hemisphere, from Greenland to western Siberia, for several days western Siberia, for several days during the winter of 1995-1996.during the winter of 1995-1996.

Indirect ImplicationsIndirect Implications

Destruction of the ozone layer has Destruction of the ozone layer has indirectly caused increases in skin indirectly caused increases in skin cancer and cataracts, damage to cancer and cataracts, damage to certain crops and to plankton and certain crops and to plankton and the marine food web, an increase in the marine food web, an increase in carbon dioxide due to the decrease carbon dioxide due to the decrease in plants, polar ice- cap melting, and in plants, polar ice- cap melting, and other global problems.other global problems.

Temperature AnomaliesTemperature Anomalies

Since 1850 there has been a mean rise in Since 1850 there has been a mean rise in global temperature of approximately 1global temperature of approximately 1OOC.C.

A United Nations panel of scientists A United Nations panel of scientists attributed the warming to human attributed the warming to human influence and predicted that if influence and predicted that if greenhouse-gas emissions are not greenhouse-gas emissions are not reduced, the average global temperature reduced, the average global temperature will rise by 1 degree to 3.5will rise by 1 degree to 3.5OOC, with a best C, with a best estimate of 2 estimate of 2 OOC by 2100. C by 2100.

Temperature AnomaliesTemperature Anomalies

This would cause sea level to rise This would cause sea level to rise by 20 inches; further warming a by 20 inches; further warming a sea-level rise would follow. sea-level rise would follow.

Global Effects of Planet Earth

Legend to World Map and Legend to World Map and Global EffectsGlobal Effects

Heat waves and periods of unusually warm weather

Sea level rise and coastal flooding

Glaciers melting

Arctic and Antarctic warming

Legend to World Map and Legend to World Map and Global EffectsGlobal Effects

Spreading diseases

Earlier spring arrival

Plant and animal range shifts and population declines

Coral reef bleaching

Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding

Droughts and fires

Africa

AntarcticaAntarctica

AsiaAsia

Central AmericaCentral America

Europe and Europe and RussiaRussia

North America *North America *

OceanicOceanic

South AmericaSouth America

“ “ Hot SpotsHot Spots ” of The World ” of The World

The Solutions to Global The Solutions to Global WarmingWarming

Eliminate CFC’s, fossil fuels, and Eliminate CFC’s, fossil fuels, and greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gases

Better environmental precautions to Better environmental precautions to take care of pollutiontake care of pollution

Alternative energy uses that do not Alternative energy uses that do not require exothermic reactions and any require exothermic reactions and any other gas releasesother gas releases

The creation of safe methods The creation of safe methods engineered to stop global warming.engineered to stop global warming.

Eliminating CFC’s and Eliminating CFC’s and Other GasesOther Gases

Eliminate all use of CFC’s: includes Eliminate all use of CFC’s: includes achieving a total world ban among all achieving a total world ban among all nations, eliminating the CFC industry, nations, eliminating the CFC industry, and coming up with suitable and coming up with suitable substitutes.substitutes.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC’s),causes less damage to the (HCFC’s),causes less damage to the ozone layer, and can be used instead.ozone layer, and can be used instead.


United Nations must convince all United Nations must convince all world nations to agree to cooperate world nations to agree to cooperate in the protection of our ozone layer.in the protection of our ozone layer.

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, a In 1987, the Montreal Protocol, a treaty for the protection of the treaty for the protection of the ozone layer, was signed and later ozone layer, was signed and later ratified by 36 nations. More ratified by 36 nations. More countries must be added to the list.countries must be added to the list.


The main cause to the usage of fossil The main cause to the usage of fossil fuels is the automobile. Alternative energy fuels is the automobile. Alternative energy uses such as the battery or solar energy uses such as the battery or solar energy must be incorporated in the automobile must be incorporated in the automobile industry to stop the use of fossil fuels.industry to stop the use of fossil fuels.

Other methods include immediate action Other methods include immediate action and prevention to forests fires worldwide, and prevention to forests fires worldwide, and to help stop natural emissions of and to help stop natural emissions of carbon dioxide in the air. carbon dioxide in the air.


To eliminate natural emissions of To eliminate natural emissions of methane, and carbon dioxide, the methane, and carbon dioxide, the UN must convince farmers to stop UN must convince farmers to stop methane emissions from livestock.methane emissions from livestock.

The elimination of forestry cutting The elimination of forestry cutting and the plantation of more trees, and the plantation of more trees, stops carbon dioxide emissions as stops carbon dioxide emissions as plants consume those gases.plants consume those gases.

Take Care of Pollution !Take Care of Pollution !

Pollution has an indirect but Pollution has an indirect but powerful impact on the ozone layer.powerful impact on the ozone layer.

Every nation must promote and Every nation must promote and endorse their country to Reduce, endorse their country to Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle.Re-use, and Recycle.

Taking care of pollution involves Taking care of pollution involves cleanup at home to cleanup cleanup at home to cleanup worldwide.worldwide.

Alternative EnergyAlternative Energy

Although it is highly impossible to Although it is highly impossible to change, alternative energies must be change, alternative energies must be found.found.

Gases emitted from exothermic Gases emitted from exothermic reactions of energy plants, such as reactions of energy plants, such as smog, directly deplete the ozone layer.smog, directly deplete the ozone layer.

Alternative energy usage must start at Alternative energy usage must start at home.home.

Total Estimates of Costs to Total Estimates of Costs to Combat Global WarmingCombat Global Warming

$ 100 Billion$ 100 Billion

Support Is Needed!Support Is Needed!

In conclusion, our planet must realize the In conclusion, our planet must realize the grave reality of global warming. grave reality of global warming. Organizations such as NASA and Organizations such as NASA and Greenpeace have already taken action Greenpeace have already taken action into the extensive research of the into the extensive research of the problem. The role that is proposed to the problem. The role that is proposed to the UN is that the support of the world UN is that the support of the world government is the last piece of the puzzle government is the last piece of the puzzle in international cooperation against in international cooperation against global warming.global warming.

CreditsCredits

Directed by Michael ParconDirected by Michael Parcon Produced by Michael ParconProduced by Michael Parcon

Written by Michael ParconWritten by Michael Parcon Screenplay by Michael ParconScreenplay by Michael Parcon

Technical Equipment provided by Technical Equipment provided by C. LakeC. Lake

CastCast

AngieAngie Angela Angela GormanGorman

MikeMike Michael Michael GoughGough

The Scientific GeniusThe Scientific Genius Michael Michael ParconParcon

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Global warming