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)