2. Global Warming
• an average increase in the
temperature of the
atmosphere near the Earth’s
surface and in the
troposphere1, which can
contribute to changes in
global climate patterns
4. Causes
• Burning of fossil fuels (Coal/Crude oil)
– Power plants generate electricity
– Transportation-----fuels for transports (E.g. LPG,
kerosene, fuel oil)
– Industrial processes (E.g. manufacture of
cement, steel, aluminium)
5. Causes
• Other greenhouse
gases emission
– Agriculture
– Forestry
– Other land uses
– Waste management
6. Example : Using natural gas to cook
CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O
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Besides c as methane,
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ch lorofluo zone al
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7. Can you describe the Greenhouse effect?
Serious greenhouse effect
Global Warming
8. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
↓
Some infrared radiation is trapped
↓
Greenhouse effect
Serious greenhouse effect
Global Warming
10. Increase in greenhouse
gases
• Concentration of greenhouse gases in
the atmosphere is highly increasing by
human activities
→ Leads to the increasing seriousness of global
warming
11. Global surface
temperatures
– increased about 0.6°C/century since the
late19th century
– increased to 2°C/century over the past
25 years
14. Direct Temperature
Effects
Increase in average temperature
More extreme heat waves during the
summer; Less extreme cold spells during
the winter
Harmful to those with heart problems,
asthma, the elderly, the very young and
the homeless
15. Climate-sensitive diseases
• Increase the risk of some infectious diseases
– [particularly that appear in warm areas; are
spread by mosquitoes and other insects]
– E.g. Malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever,
encephalitis
• Algal blooms occur more frequently as
temperatures warm (particularly in areas with
polluted waters)
Diseases (e.g. cholera) accompanying algal
blooms become more frequent
16. Air Quality
An increase in the concentration of
ground-level ozone
Damage lung tissue
Harmful for those with asthma and
other chronic lung diseases
17. Food supply
Rising temperatures and variable
precipitation
Decrease the production of staple foods
in many of the poorest regions
Increasing risks of malnutrition
18. Population displacement
Rising sea levels
Increase the risk of coastal flooding
(Necessitate population displacement)
• More than half of the world's population now lives
within 60km of the sea.
• Most vulnerable regions: Nile delta in Egypt, the
Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in Bangladesh, many small
islands, such as the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and
Tuvalu.
19. UV Exposure (Australia)
• Skin Cancer
– an abnormal growth of skin tissues.
• Premature aging
– make the skin thick, wrinkled, and leathery
• Cataracts
– No longer have transparent lenses in their eyes
20. UV Exposure (Australia)
• Other Eye Damages
– Skin cancer around the eyes
• Suppression of Immunity
– Overexposure to UV radiation suppress proper
functioning of the body's immune system and natural
defenses of skin
– UV-B radiation weakens the immune system
increases the chance of infection and disease
21. Extreme Events
• Extreme Events:
• Heat waves; Cold waves; Storms; Floods and
Droughts
Global warming
An increase in the frequency of extreme events
More event-related deaths, injuries, infectious
diseases, and stress-related disorders
24. Heat waves in Europe have become much more
likely; the extreme temperatures
of the summer of 2003 are estimated to have been
75% due to human influence.
Increased temperatures worsen drought conditions.
25. The heat wave in the summer of 2003 caused massive loss
of life – the deaths
of at least 22,146 people have been attributed to the heat
(table 1.2).
Table 1.2: Excess deaths from Europe's 2003 heat wave
(WHO 2004):
France 14,802
Spain3 59
Italy 3,134
Portugal 2,106
England and Wales 2,045
Totals 22,146
26. Extreme Events in Europe!
France - 14,082 deaths. Experienced seven
consecutive days of temperatures above
40C.
UK - 2,139 deaths. Record-breaking
temperature of 38.5C was recorded on
August 10, 2003. Rail travel was disrupted
across the country (rails buckling) and the
London eye shut down due to excessive
heat in the wheel pods.
27. Italy - Approx. 3000 deaths. Temperatures
were around 38C in most cities for weeks.
Portugal – 2,100 deaths. Extensive forest
fires. 1st of August recorded as the hottest
day in centiries. 48C
Holland – 1,500 deaths.
28. Spain – 141 deaths. Records broken in multiple
cities.
Germany - 300 deaths. Record broken in
multiple cities. Rivers were at their lowest
recorded level this century, affecting shipping.
Switzerland – melting glaciers in the Alps caused
avalanches and flash floods. Nationwide record
temperature of 41.5C recorded.
29. Windstorms...
The windstorms at the end of 1999 were among the most
dramatic in European history. Anatol, Lothar and Martin,
affected Scandinavia, France, Germany and neighbouring
countries. These storms killed almost 150 people
and caused massive losses (€6.7 billion in insured losses from
Lothar and Martin, €500 million in economic losses from
Anatol). In France the storms threw an amount of timber
equal to three times the annual harvest.
30. Floods...
The major flood event of the last few years, and the most
economically destructive disaster in Europe’s history,
occurred in 2002. Floods took place along the Danube and
Elbe rivers, affecting much of Central Europe; there was
also significant flooding in the UK and France. 600,000
people were affected and 80 killed in 11 countries.
Economic losses were at least €15 billion.
31. Droughts...
Much of Southern Europe has been in the grip of severe drought
for at least a
year, the worst ever recorded. In the summer of 2005, 97% of
Portugal
experienced severe drought conditions, France considered closing
nuclear
power plants, and across the European Union cereal production
fell by at least
28 million tonnes - around 10% of the total.
