Transcript extreme_weather_climate_change

By Eva Laznicka
What is Climate Change and Global
Warming?
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Climate Change is the change in the
average weather, such as temperature,
wind patterns, and precipitation, that an
area experiences over time.
Global Warming is the gradual warming up
of the Earth.
Examples of Global Warming
In the past century, the average
global surface temperature has
increased by 0.75 degrees Celsius.
Scientists predict surface
temperatures will increase on
average from 2- 4.5 degrees
Celsius (2.7-8.1 degrees F) over
the next 100 years. Arctic regions
will be well above the average.
 Average surface temperature of
Earth is different from outside
weather on a given day.
 2005 was the warmest year on
record. (1)
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Fig. A
Fig. B
What is the apparent cause of
this increase in temperature?
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The main cause is the increase of
greenhouse gases which are amplifying
the “Greenhouse Effect”.
The greenhouse gases are water vapor
(H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), ozone (O3), and
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). (2)
The human related sources of these gases
are combustion of fossil fuels such as coal
and oil for (oil can be used for powering
transportation and coal for heating) , and
dying biomass from deforestation. (3)
The natural sources include water vapor
from evaporation from lakes and oceans,
and it is also emitted from volcanoes. (4)
Greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere
by trapping heat of the sun and warming
the planet.
Termed “The Greenhouse Effect” because
of its similarity to how greenhouses warm
up by trapping the heat of the sun.
Fig. C
Albedo
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Albedo is another factor in the Greenhouse
Effect.
Albedo is the measurement of radiation
reflected on a surface or body.
The lighter the object in color, the higher the
albedo of the object, and the more radiation
if reflects. The darker the object, the lower
the albedo, and the more radiation it
absorbs.
Ice is melting the in the polar regions, more
areas are being farmed, forests are being
cut down, and cities are growing which
affects the albedo of the planet by lowering it
(the planet becomes less white and
reflective.) Incoming solar radiation is going
to be absorbed, instead of reflected,
therefore contributing to the warming and
enhancing of the Greenhouse Effect. (5)
Fig. D
What problems are caused by Global
Warming?
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Global Warming is causing
many problems in the
present and concerns for the
future.
Increased temperatures has
ledd to changes in rainfall
patterns, decreasing the
amount of rainfall in some
areas and increasing it in
others. (6)
This affects agriculture,
ecosystems, and human
activity.
A Drought (Fig. E)
A Flood (Fig. F)
Effect: Sea Level Rise
• As temperatures are
increasing, thermal expansion
of water and melting of polar
ice caps and glaciers are
causing a rise in the sea level.
(7)
• This is causing problems to
low lying areas in the U.S., and
countries such as Holland and
cities such as Venice.
• Also, it causes flooding in
coastal areas around the
world. Many coastal cities
would be in danger. Some
island nations have already
been evacuated.
Fig. G
Effect: Extremes in Weather Conditions
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Global Warming is linked to
extremes in weather conditions.
In the past year there has been an
increase in the number and
intensity of extreme weather
events such as hurricanes,
floodings, droughts, cyclones and
other severe storms. While more
scientists are becoming convinced
of a link between hurricane
intensity and global warming, it is
still unclear what the link, if any,
there might between cyclones and
global warming. (8)
Costs of damage from extreme
weather events linked to global
warming are very high.
Hurricane 
Fig H.
 Tornado
Fig. I
Fig. J  A graph of the increase in the number and intensity of
extreme weather events such as hurricanes, cyclones, and other
severe storms.
Evidence of Global Warming
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Evidence: The summer
north polar cap has shrunk
more than 20% since 1979.
The ice over that is there
year round is shrinking at a
rate of 9% every 10 years; at
the rate it is going, it could
be gone by the year 2100 or
sooner if melting accelerates
as some scientists believe is
happening. (9)
Fig. K
Scientific Predictions for the Future
• In the next 50 years, it is predicted by
scientists that the global temperature will
continue to rise as the carbon dioxide
concentration increases.
• It is 90% likely that the increase will be
between 2.4 and 5.4 degrees Celsius. (10)
• There is such a wide range in this
prediction because it is unclear exactly
what will happen in the future, because
humans could change their ways. This is
the best guess of scientists.
What is Extreme Weather?
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Extreme weather is weather that is outside the
normal range of intensity that a region experiences.
This would include variations in temperature, wind
speed, rainfall and other precipitation.
The number of storms can also be outside the
normal range.
Weather normally changes sporadically in any given
area, but trends can gradually change over time.
Weather systems are complicated and it is very
difficult to understand weather patterns fully but we
can understand it well enough to make useful
decisions for society.
Severe Weather Events
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There have always been severe weather events in
the world. There have also been abrupt swings in
the Earth’s climate, including ice ages that have
affected our ancestors, although none have been
dramatic since the end of the last ice age 10,000
years ago.
In the 1990’s alone the world experienced six
enormous floods in North America, Europe and
China, and severe droughts in China, Vietnam and
Korea, and extreme storms in Canada, England
and the United States. (11)
It is not possible to directly link specific weather
events with climate change, but there is evidence
that climate change contributes to severe weather
patterns that persist over time.
Changes in Precipitation
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Fig. L
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Fig. M
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Precipitation is another weather
event showing changes.
The yearly average precipitation in
an area may not be as important as
the extremes experienced by the
region.
Flooding and drought are more
common as the number of days
with greater than 10 and 20 mm
precipitation increase. (see figure)
Many land areas were sampled
globally and greater than 15%
showed increased extreme
precipitation versus 3% significantly
decreased precipitation from 1951
to 2003. (12)
Intense rainfalls have increased in
the US, Russia, China, Japan, and
the North Atlantic rim. (13)
Effects on Global Temperatures
• The global average
temperature is gradually
increasing.
• The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
predicts an even greater
rate of temperature
increase after 2000. (see
figure to the right)
• There will be more
variation in local
temperatures as summers
get hotter, last longer and
there are more heat waves
and droughts. (14)
Fig. N
Other Effects
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Ecosystems will be disrupted if plants die
due to drought, and gradually this will
decrease oxygen production and increase
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere released
from their death.
Some parts of the world have documented
less extreme low temperatures, although
there is no clear trend in increasing high
temperature extremes, and overall
temperature extremes seem to be less
prevalent.
Natural Disasters and Storms
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Fig. O
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Fig P.
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There is some evidence that the
number of natural disasters
(including tropical storms,
hurricanes, drought, earthquakes
and floods) is increasing.
Comparing the periods from 19631967 to 1988-1992, there are
increases in all disasters, although
not all these events are weather
related or can be linked to climate
changes. (top figure, 15)
Some natural disasters such as
volcanic eruptions can decrease
global temperatures slightly in the
short term by the blocking of solar
radiation by volcanic ash. (16)
A general increase in the number
of winter storms in the Northern
Hemisphere from 1900-1990 was
shown by Steve Lambert. (bottom
figure)
El Niño
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Fig Q.
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Worldwide weather is linked to
ocean temperature and currents,
and in particular El Niño.
El Niño is the name of the episodic
warming of eastern areas of the
Pacific Ocean near the Equator.
These currents affect the
development of tropical storms and
hurricanes.
There are natural cycles for El Niño,
but the overall trend since the
1970’s has been an increase in the
number and intensity of this ocean
warming.
When ocean temperatures exceed
27 degrees Celsius, hurricanes can
form.
As larger areas of the ocean reach
this temperature, it is likely that
hurricane frequency and intensity
will increase. (17)
Global Warming and Extreme
Weather Connections
The connection between global warming
and extreme weather is that global
warming changes the circulation of heat
around earth and as a result it changes
how energy flows through weather
systems.
 For example, areas of the ocean will heat
differently and air masses will heat
differently as well.
 Also the evaporation and precipitation
patterns will likely change. (18)
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Impact on Humans
• Extreme weather has an enormous impact
on people around the world.
• It affects the production of food, because
droughts and floods interfere with
agriculture.
• Severe storms can take lives and destroy
coastal communities.
• The economic impact of lost buildings,
jobs, and homes can be devastating.
Prevention of Further Warming
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To prevent global warming, there
are many actions individuals and
communities can take.
Some ideas are that they can
use renewable energy sources
like wind and solar; reduce
burning of fossil fuels by taking
public transportation, driving
hybrid cars, and recycling.
These are just a few examples of
the many things that humans
should be doing to reduce global
warming.
Even if people reduce the
greenhouse gases, global
warming may continue for many
years afterward since carbon
dioxide can persist in the
atmosphere for up to 200 years.
A Hybrid Car
Fig R.
Human History vs. Earth’s History
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Many scientists are studying extreme weather
and global warming to continue to analyze
how these factors may affect the future.
Human history is a very short time compared
to the Earth’s history. It is yet to be determined
how human activity will change the future of
our home planet.
Fig. S  John Daly of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s
prediction for carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere for future.
QUIZ!
• Q: What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
• A: Global Warming involves the warming up of the Earth based on its
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average temperature, while climate change is more broad and involves the
change in the average weather, such as temperature, wind patterns, and
precipitation, than an area experiences.
Q: What is the evidence of global warming shown at the north pole?
A: The summer north polar cap has shrunk over 20% since 1979 and is
continuing to shrink.
Q: What are two measures that humans can take to help reverse or halt
global warming?
A: Some ideas are that they can use solar energy, reduce burning of fossil
fuels by taking public transportation, driving hybrid cars, and recycling.
Q: What are three examples of extreme weather events being affected by
global warming?
A: Some events are floods, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, changes in
precipitation and temperature, and more.
Footnotes
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Hadley Centre on Climate Research
Government of Canada Website
Synthesis Report: Summary Report
for Policy Makers
Ms. Chang’s Class Notes (December
15th, 2005)
Hadley Centre on Climate Research
Government of Canada Website
Hadley Centre on Climate
Natural Resources Defense Council
Recent Research on Climate Change
Science from the Hadley Centre,
December 2004
Environment Canada
Hadley Centre on Climate Research
Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Government of Canada Website
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Environment Canada
Earth Science Textbook
Environment Canada
Environment Canada
Picture Credits
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Figs. A & B: Climate Change, Rivers and Rainfall.
Hadley Centre on Climate Research. 8 January 2006.
http://www.metoffice.com/research/hadleycentre/pubs/
brochures/B2005/COP11.pdf
Fig. C: The Greenhouse Effect. Government of Canada.
8 January 2006.
http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/climate_chan
ge/earth.asp
Fig. D: Dr.Yuhang Wang’s Tropospheric Chemistry
Group. 10 June 2006.
http://apollo.eas.gatech.edu/yhw/Cindy/tropo.htm
Fig. E: PALACES For The People
21st Century Lifestyles, Here, Now. 10 June 2006.
http://www.ecosyn.us/ecocity/Challenges/drought
Fig. F: Lewes Flood Action. 10 June 2006.
http://www.lewes-flood-action.org.uk/
Fig. G: Raper, Sarah. 10: Sea Level Rise. Climate
Research Unit. 10 June 2006.
http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/info/slr/
Fig. H: Hurricane Forecasting. NASA.
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/science/hurricane.html
Fig. I: University of Wisconsin. 10 June 2006.
http://www.uwm.edu/~kahl/Images/Weather/Severe/tor
nado.html
Fig. J: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 8
January 2006.
http://www.ipcc.ch/present/graphics/2001syr/small/08.
17.jpg
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Fig. K: Global Warming Puts the Arctic on Thin Ice.
Natural Resources Defense Council. 8 January
2006.
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/qthinice.asp
Fig. L: Climate Change, Rivers and Rainfall. Hadley
Centre on Climate Research. 8 January 2006.
http://www.metoffice.com/research/hadleycentre/pu
bs/brochures/B2005/COP11.pdf
Fig. M: P.E. LaMoreaux & Associates. INC. 10 June
2006. http://www.pelatenn.com/environmental%20impacts/sinkhole%20flo
oding.jpg
Fig. N: Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 8
January 2006.
http://www.ipcc.ch/present/graphics/2001syr/small/0
5.24.jpg
Figs. O & P: Francis, David, and Henry Hengeveld.
Extreme Weather and Climate Change. Environment
Canada. 8 January 2006. http://www.mscsmc.ec.gc.ca/education/scienceofclimatechange/un
derstanding/ccd/ccd_9801/ccd_9801_e.pdf
Fig. Q: CNN (Cable News Network). 10 June 2006.
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/9708/20/el.nino/effec
ts.lg.jpg
Fig. R: How Stuff Works. 10 June 2006.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car3.htm
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