Transcript Global Warming - Frontenac Secondary School

Global Warming
Slide Show Project
Justin Reed
Grade 10 Applied Science
2012
Global Warming
Vs
Climate Change
Greenhouse Gases




Many greenhouse gases (GHG) occur naturally
including water vapour (H2O), carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NOx), and
ozone (O3).
Basically, GHGs trap heat in the Earth's
atmosphere. GHGs are vital to life on Earth (i.e.,
temperature would be 30OC colder without the
natural Greenhouse Effect).
If too much GHGs is added to the atmosphere,
more heat gets trapped and the Earth becomes
too warm. This is Global Warming
Many human activities add to the natural effects
of the gases, and many people believe human
emissions of the GHGs are the main cause of
Global Warming
Climate Change



Climate Change is a natural and reoccurring
process in weather patterns over periods ranging
from decades to millions of years.
Climate Change may be limited to a specific
region or may occur across the whole Earth.
It may be a change in average weather patterns
or a distribution of more or less extreme weather
events across the Earth.
Is Global Warming
a Myth?
Evidence of Global Warming




Evidence of climate change includes increasing
temperatures recorded in the last 100 years,
rising sea levels, and decreasing snow cover in
the Northern Hemisphere.
Most of the observed increases in global
temperatures have occurred since the mid-20th
century. The change is very likely due to the
observed increase in Greenhouse Gas
concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere. These
gases are byproducts of human activity.
Projections of future climate change suggest
further global warming, sea level rise and an
increase in the frequency of some extreme
weather conditions.
Global Warming seems to be REAL.
Carbon Levels



CO2 is the chief GHG that results from
human activities and causes global
warming and climate change.
Carbon concentrations in the atmosphere
are rising fast from decade to decade
mainly due to human activities.
The upper safety limit for atmospheric CO2
is 350 parts per million (ppm).
Atmospheric CO2 levels have stayed
higher than 350 ppm since early 1988.
Rising Temperatures




Since agriculture began, the Earth's climate has
been remarkably stable. Now the Earth's
temperature is rising.
This rise in heat comes from heat trapping gasses
principally CO2 in the atmosphere. The rise
mainly comes from two sources: (1) burning of
fossil fuels and (2) deforestation.
Each year, more than 6 billion tons of carbon are
released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels
are burned. The estimates on deforestation are
around 1.5 billion tons of carbon are released.
The outcome has been rising temperatures on
Earth (see graphs on the next page)
Charts and Stats
Other Affects of Global Warming
Global Warming is destroying our planet.
The Earth is heating up at a pace that cannot
be sustained.
Too much heat is…

…Melting the polar ice caps and causing
the ocean levels to rise…causing flooding
 …Destroying or changing the habitats of
many animals (e.g., ice melting is taking
away polar bear habitats)

…Causing strange weather (e.g., Ice
Storm, 2012 winter was very mild)

…Causing droughts which, in turn, reduce
the amount of crops grown on farms.
Without food, many people are hungry
What is Carbon Trading
and
Does it work?
What is Carbon Trading?


Carbon Trading is a possible economic solution to an
environmental problem.
Carbon Trading states there is a maximum allowable limit
of CO2 that can be added to the environment from ALL
input sources. This maximum is divided between all
sources so that each source has a CO2 limit. The limit is
called credits. A source that exceeds its limit can trade
(…or buy) credits from another source that does not
exceed its credit limit. This allows for more creative
options to solve the problem (e.g., The input can be
stopped at the source or credits can be traded so the total
maximum limit is not exceeded).

Trades can also occur between inputs sources and natural
carbon sinks such as trees. Trees absorb carbon. An input
source can plant trees to offset inputs.
Carbon Trading


Carbon trading may not be a very ineffective way
to solve global warming.
If there was no carbon trading, we would have
companies staying within their own limit.
Moreover if companies don’t trade, the amount of
carbon input the atmosphere would be under the
maximum desired level instead of being at the
maximum. For example, if the maximum amount
of carbon that can be added safely to the
atmosphere is 10 units AND if we have
companies under their maximum input, it would
be good for the environment (i.e., the overall
input would be less than 10 units). If trading the
spare (or unused) carbon was allowed, we would
be at the maximum at all times. It is better to
solve your own problem and be less than
maximum.
What can you and I do to
reduce Global Warming?
How can we stop or slowdown Global Warming












We can recycle
We can do things in a more ECO-friendly way
We can plant trees
We can turn down the heat in our houses and use energy
efficient products (e.g., low energy refrigerators)
We can ride a bicycle, walk, take buses or carpool with
friends
We can drive smaller and more energy efficient cars
We can install solar panels on our roofs to provide energy
for our homes
We can build locally grown or built produces to avoid
wasting energy in shipping goods
We can erect more windmills
We can exchange ideas on Facebook and Twitter
We can turn off our computers when not in use
We can install solar panels on the roof of the school, turn
off bathroom lights and turn down the heat (…wear
sweaters)