Atmosphere And Change Lesson

Front 1

Concern about global warming

Back 1

Build up of GHGs

Front 2

CO2

Back 2

Levels have from risen 315ppm in 1950 to reach 600ppm in 2050. Due to burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

Front 3

Methane

Back 3

World’s 2nd largest contributor to global warming. Is increasing 1% per year. Cattle convert 10% food into methane, 100m tonnes per year. Paddy fields emit 150m tonnes per year. Bogs trapped in permafrost will melt.

Front 4

CFCs

Back 4

Increasing 6% per year, up to 10,000x more efficient at trapping heat than CO2.

Front 5

Global emissions of GHGs

Back 5

Agriculture -14% (mostly from soils & livestock) Energy – 61% (consuming fossil fuels) Land use changes – 18% (primary deforestation)

Front 6

Effects of global warming

Back 6

Rise in sea levels → flooding in low-lying areas, up to 200 people could be displaced. Increase in storm activity due to more atmospheric energy. Change in agricultural practices. Reduced rainfall in USA, S.Europe & CIS. Extinction of up to 40% wildlife species.

Front 7

Global warming, changes in climate

Back 7

Temperature, wind, precipitation, pressure, humidity… Storms, drought, fire, erosion, landslides, sedimentation, avalanches, pests, diseases

Front 8

Global warming, changes due to sea-level rise

Back 8

Coastal erosion, flooding, salination, river flooding, bank erosion, waves, tsunami

Front 9

Emissions of CO2 due to

Back 9

Size of human population, amount of energy used per person, level of emissions resulting from use of energy

Front 10

Reduce CO2 emissions by

Back 10

Improving energy efficiency, fuel switching, use of renewable energy sources, nuclear power, capture & storage of CO2, increasing number of forests

Front 11

Climate change impacts food

Back 11

Possible rising yields in some high-latitude regions, falling crop yields

Front 12

Climate change impacts water

Back 12

Small mountain glaciers disappear, decreases in water availability Mediterranean, S.Africa, Cities threatened by sea-levels

Front 13

Climate change impacts ecosystems

Back 13

Damage to coral reefs, Species extinct

Front 14

Climate change – Extreme weather events

Back 14

Rising storm intensity, forest fires, droughts, flooding & heat waves

Front 15

Climate change – Risk of abrupt & major irreversible changes

Back 15

Increasing risk of dangerous feedbacks & abrupt large-scale shifts in climate system