Global Climate Change &

Various Aspects

By : Abhishek MahajanM.Tech (Environmental Engineering)

11147702

INTRODUCTION &

HISTORY

GLOBAL WARMING

• Global warming is the increase in the Earth’s temperature caused by increased emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

• This theory of global warming was first offered by a Swedish chemist named Svante Arrhenius in 1896.

• Arrhenius estimated that “Doubling the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would raise the mean global temperature by several degrees.”

• Global temperature on both land and sea increased by 0.6 ± 0.2 °C over the past century

• Volume of atmospheric carbon dioxide increased from 280 parts per million in 1800 to 367 in 2000, a 31% increase over 200 years.

Main Concerns of

Global warming

OUR CHANGING CLIMATE• Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th

century.

• Sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century.

Time series of global mean sea level (deviation from the 1980-1999 mean) in the past and as projected for the future

The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased.

Global surface temp. could rise 1-4.5°F (0.6-2.5°C) in the next fifty years, and 2.2-10°F (1.4-5.8°C) in the next century.

Seismic activity: The sudden Melting of ice polls sheet may trigger potential changes in the global plate tectonic equilibrium which might influence the global earthquake trend.

CONFERENCES &

CONVENTIONS

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC)

Drafted in 1992 Effective in 1994

OBJECTIVE: • The ultimate objective of the Convention is to “stabilize Greenhouse gas

concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous Anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

LIMITATION:• The treaty itself set no binding limits on Greenhouse gas emissions for

individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms.

KYOTO PROTOCOL

Adopted on 1997 Effective on 2005

OBJECTIVE:• It puts the obligation to reduce current emissions on developed countries on the

basis that they are historically responsible for the current levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

RESULT:• Governments have already put, and are continuing to put in place legislation and

policies to meet their commitments.• Carbon market has been created.

COPENHAGEN SUMMIT(United Nations Climate Change Conference)

2009

OBJECTIVES:

• To create international awareness to prevent climate change and global warming.• To create a new climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol that runs out in 2012.• The Summit aims to demonstrate that tackling climate change can generate huge

opportunities for transformation and economic growth.

AGENDA:

• Emission targets of industrialized countries• Emission cuts of major developing countries• Financing of reduced emissions

Copenhagen fail to deliver a climate deal

The Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change

(IPCC)1998

OBJECTIVES:The aims of the IPCC are to assess scientific information relevant to:

• Human-induced climate change• The impacts of human-induced climate change,• Options for adaptation and mitigation.

The IPCC does not carry out its own original research. The IPCC bases its assessment on the published literature, which includes peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed sources.

In December 2007, the IPCC was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

GREENHOUSE GASES

GREENHOUSE GASES

• The greenhouse gas is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thereby trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere.

• Three factors affect the degree to which any greenhouse gas will influence global warming:

Its abundance in the atmosphereHow long it stays in the atmosphereIts global-warming potential

GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL

• Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) are intended as a quantified measure of the globally averaged relative radiative forcing impacts of a particular greenhouse gas.

• It is the cumulative radiative forcing both direct and indirect effects integrated over a period of time from the emission of a unit mass of gas relative to some reference gas (IPCC 1996).

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) was chosen as this reference gas.

VARIOUS GREENHOUSE GASES

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)• Methane (CH4)• Nitrous oxide (N2O)• Fluorinated gases• Water vapour (H2O)• Ozone (O3)

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities.• CO2 accounted for about 87% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human

activities

Global warming Potential (100 year)

1

Lifetime in Atmosphere

Lifetime is poorly defined because the gas is not destroyed

over time

Sources of Carbon Dioxide Emission

• Electricity• Transportation • Industry • Residential & Commercial • Other

Effects of Carbon Dioxide on Atmosphere

• Carbon dioxide causes about 20 % of Earth’s greenhouse effect.

• When carbon dioxide conc. rise, air temperatures go up, and more water vapour evaporates into the atmosphere, which then amplifies greenhouse heating.

METHANE (CH4)

• Methane (CH4) is the 2nd most prevalent greenhouse gas.

• CH4 accounted for about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

Lifetime in Atmosphere 12 years

Global Warming Potential (100-year)

28-36

Sources of Methane Emission

• Industry ( Natural gas and petroleum systems)

• Agriculture (Domestic livestock produce large amounts of CH4 as part of their normal digestive process.)

• Waste from Homes and Businesses

Effects of Methane on Atmosphere

• The warming effects of methane are increased through its interaction with aerosols like sulphate molecules.

• About 25% of the manmade global warming we’re experiencing today is caused by methane emissions.

• Methane is 21 times more heat-trapping that carbon dioxide.

NITROUS OXIDES

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) accounted for about 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.•  Nitrous oxide is naturally present in the atmosphere as part of the Earth's

nitrogen cycle• Globally, about 40% of total N2O emissions come from human activities.

Lifetime in Atmosphere 114 years

Global Warming Potential (100-year)

298

Sources of Nitrous Oxide Emission

• Agriculture(Through the use of synthetic fertilizers,

Agricultural soil management is the largest source of N2O emission)

• Transportation(Nitrous oxide is emitted when transportation

fuels are burned)

• Industry( Nitrous oxide is generated as a byproduct

during the production of nitric acid, which is used to make synthetic commercial fertilizer, and in the production of adipic acid, which is used to make fibers, like nylon, and other synthetic products.)

• Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions have increased by about 8% between 1990 and 2013.• Increase in emissions is due in part to annual variation in agricultural soil

emissions, • Increase in emissions from the electric power sector.

Effects of Nitrous Oxide on Atmosphere

• According to the EPA, the gas is 310 times more effective in trapping heat than carbon dioxide.

• 60% percent of the nitrous in the atmosphere is produced naturally.

• Nitrous oxide also causes ozone depletion.

FLUORINATED GASES

• Fluorinated gases have NO natural sources and only come from human-related activities.• Many fluorinated gases have very high global warming potentials (GWPs).

• There are four main categories of fluorinated gases :a) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)b) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)c) Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)d) Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

Various Properties of Fluorinated gases

Gases Global warming Potential LifetimeHFCs 12-14,800 1-270 yearsPFCs 7,390-12,200 2,600-50,000 yearsSF6  22,800 3,200 yearsNF3 17,200 740 years

• Fluorinated gases are removed from the atmosphere only when they are destroyed by sunlight in the far upper atmosphere.

Sources of Emission

• Substitution for Ozone-Depleting Substances. (Hydrofluorocarbons are used as

Refrigerants, arosol propellants, solvents, and fire retardants.)

• Industry (Aluminum production, manufacturing

of semiconductors)

• Transmission and Distribution of Electricity (Sulfur hexafluoride is used in electrical

transmission equipment)

Effects of Fluorinated gases

• Fluorinated gases have very high global warming potentials (GWPs) relative to other greenhouse gases, so small atmospheric concentrations can have large effects on global temperatures.

• They can also have long atmospheric lifetimes--in some cases, lasting thousands of years.

• Fluorinated gases are the most potent and longest lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.

EFFECTS OF

GLOBAL WARMING

• A major report released Sept. 27, 2013, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that scientists are more certain than ever of the link between human activities and global warming.

• The Major Effects are :Temperatures will continue to riseFrost-free season (and growing season) will lengthenChanges in precipitation patternsMore droughts and heat wavesHurricanes will become stronger and more intenseSea level will rise 1-4 feet by 2100Arctic likely to become ice-free

EFFECTS ON WEATHER

• Changes have been observed in the amount, intensity, frequency, and type of precipitation.• Extreme weather

• Extreme heat• Intense precipitation• Drought

• Tropical cyclonesThe U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory concluded "the strongest hurricanes in the present climate may be upstaged by even more intense hurricanes over the next century as the earth's climate is warmed by increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere“

Globally the major factor affecting tropical cyclone frequency is the ENSO phenomenon

EFFECTS ON CRYOSPHERE

• Observed changes in the cryosphere include:Declines in Arctic sea ice extent.The widespread retreat of alpine glaciersReduced snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere.

EFFECTS ON OCEANS

The oceans serve as a sink for carbon dioxide.• Ocean acidification

 The increased levels of CO2 have led to  ocean acidification. The average decrease in pH of 0.1 units due to CO2

since 1750Projections using the SRES emissions scenarios suggest a reduction in average global surface ocean pH of between 0.14 and 0.35 units over the 21st century.

• Sea level riseGlobal sea level has risen by about 8 inches since 1880.• Sea level rise is caused primarily by two factors related to global warming:

The added water from melting land ice The expansion of sea water as it warms.

• Ocean temperature rise:From 1961 to 2003, the global ocean temperature has risen by 0.10 °C from the surface to a depth of 700 m

 EFFECTS ON HUMANS

Deadly Heat WavesMore frequent and severe heat waves will result in a greater number of heat-related deaths.

In 2003, extreme heat waves claimed as many as 70,000 lives in Europe.

In May 2015, India was struck by a severe heat wave. As of 3 June 2015, it has caused the deaths of more than 2,500 people.

Bad Air, Allergy and AsthmaGlobal warming could increase smog pollution in some areas and intensify pollen allergies

and asthma.Scientific studies show that a higher level of carbon dioxide spurs an increase in the growth of

weeds whose pollen triggers allergies and exacerbates asthma.

Infectious Disease and Food and Waterborne Illness Outbreaks

Warming temperatures, alternating periods of drought and deluges, and ecosystem disruption have contributed to more widespread outbreaks of infections like malaria, dengue fever and diarrheal illnesses.

Mosquitoes that can carry dengue fever viruses were previously limited to elevations of 3,300 feet but recently appeared at 7,200 feet in the Andes Mountains of Colombia.

Heavy rainfall events can wash pathogens from contaminated soils, farms, and streets into drinking water supplies.

Higher outdoor temperatures can cause increased outbreaks of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, which reproduces more rapidly as temperatures increase.

Solutions &

Recommendation

There are 3 possible solutions to overcome Global Warming which are :

a) Mitigation b) Adaptionc) Geo-engineering Solutions

MITIGATION

• Mitigation of climate change are actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Or To Enhance the capacity of carbon sinks to absorb GHGs from the atmosphere.

• The emission of carbon can be reduced by various methods:a) Energy conservation and increased energy efficiencyb) The use of low-carbon energy technologiesc) Enhancing carbon sinks

ADAPTATION

• Adaptation to global warming is a response to global warming that seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social and biological systems to current climate change and thus offset the effects of global warming

• Adaptation to climate change may be planned, either in reaction to or anticipation of climate change, or spontaneous, i.e., without government intervention.

IPCC Working Group II argues that mitigation and adaptation should be complementary components of a response strategy to global warming

GEO-ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

• Trap CO2 in Carbon Scrubbers• Fertilizing Trees With Nitrogen• Aerial Reforestation• Dump Limestone into the Oceans• Ocean Iron Fertilization• Enrich Soils With Biochar

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE

• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing waste CO2 from large point sources & transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and sequestration (CCS) is a set of technologies that can greatly reduce CO2 emissions.

• CCS is a three-step process that includes:

a) Capture of CO2 from power plants or industrial processes.

b) Transport of the captured and compressed CO2 (usually in pipelines).c) Underground injection.

Capture technologies allow the separation of carbon dioxide from gases produced in electricity generation and industrial processes by one of three methods: 

1. Pre-combustion capture takes place before the fuel is placed in the furnace by first converting coal into a clean-burning gas and stripping out the CO2 released by the process.

2. Post-combustion capture involves scrubbing the power plant's exhaust gas using chemicals.

3. Oxyfuel com bustion burns the coal in an atmosphere with a higher concentration of pure oxygen, resulting in an exhaust gas that is almost pure CO2.

CCS technologies are currently available and can dramatically reduce (by 80-90%) CO2 emissions from power plants that burn fossil fuels

STORAGE OF CAPTURED CARBON

• After capture, carbon dioxide (CO2) is compressed and then transported to a site where it is injected underground for permanent storage.

• CO2 is commonly transported by pipeline, but it can also be transported by train, truck, or ship.

• The carbon dioxide is then stored in carefully selected Geological rock formation that are typically located several kilometres below the earth's surface.

CARBON SINK • A carbon sink is a natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores

some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period.• The process by which carbon sinks remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the

atmosphere is known as carbon sequestration.

The Natural sinks are:• Absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans via physiochemical or Biological

processes.• Photosynthesis by terrestrial plantsThe main Artificial sinks are:• Landfills• Carbon capture and storage proposals

CARBON CREDIT

• A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or the mass of another greenhouse gas with a carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide.

• Carbon credits are international attempts to mitigate the growth in concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

RESULTS

• This Presentation has comprehensively reviewed the evidence for contemporary anthropogenic climate change. The changing composition of the atmosphere (involving both greenhouse gases and aerosols) was discussed and its potential influence on greenhouse forcing and climate change examined.• If climate model projections prove to be even moderately accurate, global

temperatures by the end of the next century will be higher than at any time during the last 120,000 years• With such unprecedented climate change, impacts to all parts of the climate

system are likely to be substantial. Failure to introduce some form of global greenhouse gas emission reduction strategy will merely extend the time frame of anthropogenic global warming that humanity may already be witnessing.

REFERENCES • http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page2.php• Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 - 2000, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Office of Atmospheric Programs, EPA 430-R-02-003, April 2002. www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/emissions

• http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases.html Source: IPCC (2014); based on global emissions from 2010. Details about the sources included in these estimates can be found in the Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . • http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/ch4.html• EPA (2010). Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Natural Sources . U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.• http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/n2o.html EPA (2010).

Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Natural Sources (PDF). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA.

• http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/fgases.html• U.S. Department of State (2007). Projected Greenhouse Gas Emissions In: 

Fourth Climate Action Report to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change . U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, USA.• http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/• http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/global-warming-and-hurricanes• http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/• http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/oceans/sea-surface-temp.html• http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/fcons/fcons2.asp• http://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/• Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ccs/

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