1. Secondary School Galileo Galilei (Liceo Scientifico) Pescara (Italy) School Year 2011/2012 Classes 3C- 3E- 3H- 3I

2. Climate Change in Abruzzo Region

3. Climate can be defined as the combination of the atmospheric conditions ( temperature, humidity, pressure, winds ) that characterize a geographical region for long periods of time and which determine the type of vegetation in it, both animal and plant life. This, in turn, also influences the economic activities of the people who live there and also their habits and culture.

4. Abruzzo climate The Region The region is 10.947 square kilometers, of this area 65% is mountainous. Abruzzo is the 3 rd most mountainous region in Italy, 34,9% of the region is covered by hills and there are very few lowland areas.

5. the 4 provinces of Abruzzo L AQUILA a more hilly district They have an even distribution of mountains and hills PESCARA TERAMO a mostly mountain district CHIETI

6. Lets consider the climatic conditions of Abruzzo Climate type Adriatic - Mediterranean In the Eastern coastal strip you find small hills that slope gently towards the sea Climate type Continental The inland zone comprising the backbone of the Appennines which is studded with remarkable and connected mountain ranges

7. What climatic changes can we observe in Abruzzo?

8. … We shall investigate on possible links between air pollution and climate change …

9. we will know the composition of the atmosphere and study its biosphere going through all the different types of life on Earth which emit and absorb some gases.

10. Composition of atmosphere Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% Argon 0.93% >99% CO2 365·10-6 (365 ppm) CH4 1.7 ppm O3 0.01 - 10 ppm NO 1 - 100 ·10-9 (1-100ppb) NO2 10 - 150 ppb < 1%

11. Mankind can make a strong impact on the atmosphere by its activities The phenomena of interest in the atmosphere involved are: climate change, pollution, etc.

12. Finally we are going to consider the climate change in the industrial areas of our region. Another aspect we will consider is the growth of industrial production and how gases may have a harmful effect on the atmosphere.

13. Our interactive climate system

14. The Greenhouse effect: the natural one is necessary to life, that caused by human action is probably not… The Sun rays penetrate the atmosphere and heat up the Earths surface the Earths surface the heat spreads out in the atmosphere in the form of infrared rays About 30% of infrared radiation disperses in the space. In natural conditions about 70% of the infrared radiation is absorbed in water vapor and other greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere. Such gases act as glass panels in a greenhouse catching the heat and reflecting it again onto the Earths surface. When the concentration of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere rises the quantity of heat trapped and reflected increases. The oceans warm up and expel more water vapor which in turn can increase the greenhouse effect.

15. Actions to limit the climate change What type of strategies can we implement? we can modify the sources of emission The production of electrical energy releases a huge quantity of CO 2

16. The substitution of fossil fuels Producing energy while reducing drastically the emissions of CO 2 solar energy biomass energy wind energy tidal energy geothermical energy

17. How far have we developed renewable resources in our region? How many plants have been established? Has the energy produced from the Sun and the wind replaced traditional energy resources? Do other plans for the development of photovoltaic or wind farms exist? What types are they? Where are they?

18. How has the climate changed in Abruzzo? Lets examine the data of recorded temperatures

19. From what sources can we get our information ? University of LAquila, CETEMPS - Department of Physics Group of research directed by Professor G. Visconti

20. How do we measure temperature? Bases used for the measurement and study of atmospheric conditions

22. CETEMPS is in charge of the management of the database of the network Share for the filtering of the geophysical data of all the high mountain observatories in the world. Calderone (The most southern glacier of Europe)) Corno Grande High level mountain observatory Station of the refuge of Duca degli Abruzzi, Mt Portella 2388, the highest in the Appennines

23. Network of stations in Abruzzo Region the temperature database began in 1920 and the rainfall database began in 1874 in many parts of the region. PESCARA LAQUILA

24. How can we observe the changes in the rainfall in the region? Lets look at the analysis of the data that indicate a variation...

25. From the analysis of the data from 1930 to the present day from all the main towns in Abruzzo, some of the studies that have been done indicate: a TREND of average temperatures a TREND of maximum and minimum temperatures a TREND of seasonal temperatures a TREND of seasonal and annual rainfall a TREND of seasonal and annual of daily rainfall.

26. What are the key questions? During recent years have the atmospheric conditions shown variation? What is the connection between the changes in temperature, both on the coast and in the high mountains? Has the rise in temperature had an effect on our agriculture?

27. ...in our next meeting we will discuss results....