What is global warming?

• Global warming is a natural phenomenon, and there isnothing realistic that mankind

• can do to significantly change the global temperature.

Before After

How Global Warming Works

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

The Sun’s energy passes through the car’s windshield.

This energy (heat) is trapped inside the car and cannot pass back through the windshield, causing the inside of the car to warm up.

Example of the Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse EffectSun

Natural Greenhouse effect

More heat is trapped and causes global warming

Atmosphere traps some heat

Some heat goes out to space

Quite a lot of heat is trapped and the earth is warm enough for life.

Enhanced Greenhouse

effectHeat radiates from the earth

Heat radiates from the earth

Atmosphere has more greenhouse gases

Atmosphere traps more heat

Less heat goes out to space

Earth’s Atmospheric GasesNitrogen (N2)

Oxygen (O2)

Water (H2O)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

>99%

Methane (CH4)

<1%

Non-Greenhouse

Gases

GreenhouseGases

Argon (Ar)

What’s the difference between “global warming” and

“climate change”?

DifferenceGLOBAL WARMING

is the increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

CLIMATE CHANGE is a broader term that

refers to long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation.

Effects of Global WarmingIncreased Temperature

Habitat Damage and

Species Affected

Changes in Water Supply

Rising Sea Level

What’s the proof that global warming is taking place?

Portage Glacier

1914 2004

• Alaska

Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org

Colorado River• Arizona

June 2002 Dec 2003

Why is global warming happening?

Burning of Fossil Fuels

Pollution from coal, natural gas, and oilPollution from coal, natural gas, and oilPollution from coal, natural gas, and oil

How do humans increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?

Burning fossil fuels releases the carbon dioxide stored millions of years ago. Most of the increased carbon dioxide comes from fossil fuels

Deforestation releases the carbon stored in trees. Less trees also means less carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere.

How do humans increase methane levels in the atmosphere?

The amount of methane in the atmosphere has increased by two and a half times since the Industrial Revolution.

Increased rubbish in landfill

Increased livestock farming

Increased rice growing

Methane is also released when fossil fuels are extracted

Methane is produced when bacteria rot organic matter

When did global warming start?

Global Atmospheric Concentration of CO2

How is global warming measured?

Ice Core DataIce Core Data

COCO22 Measurements Before 1958 - Antarctica Measurements Before 1958 - Antarctica

CO2 Atmospheric Measurements

CO2 Measurements Since 1958 – Mauna Loa, Hawaii

Temperature (Northern Hemisphere) CO2 Concentrations

1000 Years of CO2 and Global Warming

De

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lsiu

s I

nc

rea

se

Pa

rts

Pe

r M

illi

on

Year Year

10

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1200

1400

1600

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1000

1200

1400

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Sun

Earth’s TemperatureEarth’s Temperature

Solar

Energy

Solar

Energy

Solar

Energy

Solar

Energy

The temperature of the earth is directly related to the energy input from the Sun. Some of the Sun’s energy is reflected by clouds. Other is reflected by ice. The remainder is absorbed by the earth.

Sun

Earth’s TemperatureEarth’s Temperature

Solar

Energy

Solar

Energy

RadiativeCooling

RadiativeCooling

However, if the amount of solar energy is greater than the amount radiated, then the earth heats up.

Sun

Earth’s TemperatureEarth’s Temperature

Solar

Energy

Solar

Energy

RadiativeCooling

RadiativeCooling

If the amount of solar energy is less than the amount radiated, then the earth cools down.

What’s being done now to reduce our emissions?

Solar Power Wind Power Fuel-Efficiency

What can you do to help What can you do to help solve the problem?solve the problem?

Simple Things To Do

Turn off your computer or the TV when you’re not using it.

Take shorter showers. Heating water uses energy.

Keep rooms cool by closing the blinds, shades, or curtains.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs.

Be Bulb Smart—Use CFLs

IncandescentCompact

Fluorescent

500 lbs. of coal

What’s the difference?

•1,430 lbs. CO2 pollution avoided

•$30 saved

Simple Things To Do

Dress lightly when it’s hot instead of turning up

the air conditioning. Or use a fan.

Dress warmly when it’s cold instead of turning up the heat.

Offer to help your parents keep the air filters on

your AC and furnace clean.

Walk short distances instead of asking for a ride in the car.

Plant a tree. Recycle.

We humans are thought to be the main cause of global

warming and climate change……..

but we still have the chance to do something

about it.

We can do it! Best ov luck!

whoa wait! Waat?

• “Some parts of Jupiter are now as much as six degrees Celsius warmer than just a few years ago.” Imke de Pater and Philip Marcus of University of California, Berkeley

• Carbon dioxide "ice caps" near Mars's south pole had been diminishing for three summers in a row. 2005 data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey missions

“A simultaneous rising in temperature on both Mars and Earth suggest that climate change is indeed a natural phenomenon as opposed to being man-made. Habibullo Abdussamatov, head of space research at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in Russia

• "At least since 1989, Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, has been undergoing a period of global warming," Astronomer James Elliot, professor of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Pluto is undergoing global warming. Over the past 14 years, the average surface temperature increased about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Astronomer James Elliot