Comenius Project

Secondary School “Galileo Galilei” (Liceo

Scientifico) Pescara (Italy)

School Year 2011/2012

Classes 3C- 3E- 3H- 3I

Climate Changein Abruzzo

Region

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.

Abruzzo climate The Region

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

the 4 provinces of AbruzzoL’

AQUILA

a more hilly district

They have an even distribution of

mountains and hills

PESCARA

TERAMO

a mostly mountain district

CHIETI

Let’s consider the climatic conditions of Abruzzo

Climate typeAdriatic - Mediterranean

In the Eastern coastal strip you find small hills that slope gently towards the sea

Climate typeContinental

The inland zone comprising the backbone of the Appennines which

is studded with remarkable and connected mountain ranges

What climatic changes can we

observe in Abruzzo?

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

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.

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%

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.

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.

Our interactive climate system

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 Earth’s

surface

the Earth’s 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 Earth’s 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.

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 CO2

The substitution of fossil fuels

Producing energy while reducing drastically the

emissions of CO2

solar energy

biomass energy

wind energy

tidal energy

geothermical energy

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?

How has the climate changed in

Abruzzo?Let’s examine the data of recorded

temperatures

From what sources can we get our information ?

University of L’Aquila, CETEMPS - Department of PhysicsGroup of research directed by Professor G. Visconti

How do we measure temperature?

Bases used for the measurement and study of atmospheric conditions

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

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.

PESCARAL’AQUILA

How can we observe the changes in the rainfall in the region?

Let’s look at the analysis of the data that indicate a variation...

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.

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?

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