Dynamic Planet - Climate and Change - 2

Climate and Change

#hat is global warming?
Global warming is caused by the $greenhouse effect. %ver the past 2'' years, industrial development, population growth and economic growth have greatly increased the demand for energy. (ost of this energy has come from burning $fossil fuels. )n power stations or by cars!. This has increased levels of Carbon *io#ide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has lead to a greater amount of the suns heat being trapped by the earth leading to an increase in global temperatures.
The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increased by air pollution. The more greenhouse gasses there are the more heat is trapped.

Is global warming really happening? Global warming IS caused by humans

The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased considerably since the industrial revolution. The ma"ority of greenhouse gases emissions are from burning fossil fuels in power stations and car e#hausts. Deforestation has resulted in increasing levels of greenhouse gases, releasing C%2 when burnt as well as not converting C%2 to %2!.

Global warming is NOT caused by humans

The earths climate has been changing for millions of years, global warming is nothing new. E.G. ice ages glacials! and warmer periods inter-glacials!. Global warming could be a result of a change in the earths orbit around the sun. $ ilan!o"ic Cycles. Changes in "olcanic acti"ity can effect the global climate. Changes in sunspot activity & the amount of energy being released from the sun.

Impacts of $ong % Term Climate Change

+opulation growth & )n periods when the climate has been warmer, crops have been more easily grown, ma,ing it easier to sustain a higher population. -amine & *uring colder periods crops have failed resulting in famine E#tinction of mega-fauna & Changes in climate affects the eco-system and the animals that have adapted to living in it.

Dynamic Planet - Climate and Change - 2

#hat will the effects of &lobal #arming be in the '( ) *DC+? +ositive Effects
(editerranean summers in the /outh of England will encourage tourism. The length of the growing season will increase enabling farmers to grow more crops. +lants, shrubs and crops will be able to be grown further north in /cotland.

.egative effects
(any coastal ports will be flooded, because of sea level rise caused by melting at the polar ice caps. (any areas will need more, and improved sea defences costing large amounts of money. 0rctic plants and animals may face e#tinction.

The 1ouses of +arliament and Trafalgar /2uare will become flooded and the Thames 3arrier ineffectual. (ore pests and diseases will e#ist due to milder winters. The 45 will e#perience more $wild weather.

,ow will climate change affect the future climate of the '(?
Temperature & higher than averages 6ainfall amounts and pattern & less in several regions but more unpredictable 0ir masses & more cyclonic, stormy weather /easonality & perhaps longer and warmer summers but winter changes less predictable /ome argue that winters will become more e#treme as cold, 0rctic air masses are funnelled southwards. These changes in the 45s climate will be driven by changes in7

Global temperatures e.g. warmer temperatures due to global warming! Changes in the .orth 0tlantic current +ossible changes in the 0rctic may also affect the 45. E.g. melting at the ice caps

$/hifts in the .orth 0tlantic *rift may reduce sea temperatures off the west coast of the 45, which will impact on the path of depressions, which may, in turn, reduce rainfall significantly, especially in the west. +redicting the future climate of the 45 is li,ely to be very difficult. Changes could vary.
The polar front may shift north. This would mean that the 45 would e#perience tropical air masses more often. %ur climate would become warmer, perhaps drier in the summer, but wetter in the winter. The .orth 0tlantic *rift could change position or wea,en. This could produce a much more variable climate, perhaps even a cooler one.

Dynamic Planet - Climate and Change - 2

#hat will the effects of &lobal #arming be in *gypt )$*DC+? /ocial Effects
0t ris, would be the buried treasures archaeologists are still uncovering in ancient 0le#andria, once the second most important city in the 6oman Empire. The .ile *elta is already densely pac,ed with about :,''' people per s2uare mile 2.9 s2uare ,ilo meters!. (any would be made homeless. 0 rise of =.= feet one meter! would flood a 2uarter of the .ile *elta, forcing about 8'.>? of Egypt<s population from their homes.

Environmental
/eas could rise by about 89 feet :.; meters!, causing mass devastation to the region 0n increase in the fre2uency and severity of sandstorms, and longer periods of drought followed by more intense flooding is e#pected. 0reas not under water would also be affected, with salt water from the (editerranean contaminating the fresh ground water from the .ile 6iver used for irrigation and domestic purposes.

Economic Effects
3y 28'', the rising waters could wipe out the sandy beaches that attract thousands of tourists to Egypt.

.early half of Egypt<s crops, including wheat, bananas and rice, are grown in the .ile *elta.

The impact would be all the more staggering if Egypt<s population, as e#pected, doubles to about 89' million by the middle of the century. These impacts are e#pected to lead to public health problems, including the spread of epidemics, especially in poorer regions.

0lthough (E*Cs rich countries! produce most of the C%2 many @E*Cs poor countries!, li,e Egypt, who produce relatively low amounts will suffer from global warming

#hat can we do about &lobal #arming?

The Technological -i# /cientists can solve the potential problems of global warming. )f C%2 were pumped into the oceans, it could be ta,en up by plan,ton, eventually forming limestone, which is a long term store for carbon. 6educing Carbon Emissions The only sure way to avoid the ris,s of global warming is to reduce C%2 levels on a global scale. 0ctions Aor, Clean air acts of parliament have significantly reduced pollution and made air cleaner. 6ecycling bins are much more common. +lant (ore Trees Trees store C%2 and reduce levels in the atmosphere. +ower companies which burn fossil fuels should be forced to plant trees and contribute to forest pro"ects. Carry on as we are 0ny reduction in the use of fossil fuels would lead to global recession and suffering in @E*Cs. .ot all countries would agree to cuts and not all the climate change theories are proved. o )n 2''> the Stern -e"iew was published on global warming. )t warned that we should act now and spend money on reducing global warming or pay for it later. o The (yoto Protocol 8;;B! is an international agreement made to reduce carbon emissions. The 45 and Germany reduced emissions by investing in recycling, public transport and renewable energy. The 4/0 and China have not managed to reduce emissions though.