Climate Change and Its Impact on human health

Dr. Ariful Bari Chowdhury Lecturer, NSU

Introduction to Climate science, ozone layer depletion and climate change Impacts of climate change Human mitigation and adaptation Climate change and Bangladesh Kyoto Protocol

Is this Possible?

Introduction
The two of the most immediate global environmental threats humans are facing now are:
climate change caused by greenhouse gases and abnormally high incidences of ultraviolet radiation on the Earths surface from destruction of the ozone layer.

Both are caused by the introduction of large quantities of human-produced gases into the atmosphere.

Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the thin layer of gases that envelops Earth. The atmosphere is composed of gas molecules held close to Earth's surface by a balance between gravitation and thermal movement of air molecules (90% of the weight of the atmosphere is in the first 12 km above the surface of the Earth).

Atmosphere Composition
Major gases in the atmosphere are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%), and carbon dioxide (0.03%). The atmosphere also contains trace amounts of numerous elements and compounds, including methane, ozone, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, hydrocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and various particulates or aerosols (small particles). Water vapor is also present in the lower few kilometers of atmosphere.

Structure of the Atmosphere

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Atmospheric Processes
Atmospheric pressure is the weight of overlying atmosphere (air) per unit area; it decreases as altitude increases because there is less weight from overlying air. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 10 N/m2 (newtons per square meter), which is equivalent to 14.7 lb/in2. Water vapor: In the lower atmosphere, water vapor content varies from approximately 1% to 4% by volume. The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere at a particular location depends on many factors Saturation point or dew point: When air holds the maximum amount of water at a given conditions. Relative humidity is a measure of how close the air is to saturation.

Atmospheric Processes
Atmospheric pressure is the weight of overlying atmosphere (air) per unit area; it decreases as altitude increases because there is less weight from overlying air. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 10 N/m2 (newtons per square meter), which is equivalent to 14.7 lb/in2. Water vapor: In the lower atmosphere, water vapor content varies from approximately 1% to 4% by volume. The amount of water vapor present in the atmosphere at a particular location depends on many factors Saturation point or dew point: When air holds the maximum amount of water at a given conditions. Relative humidity is a measure of how close the air is to saturation.

Surface Wind Directions

This is what surface wind directions look like All of these features can be explained by uneven heating of the Earths surface

The Latitudinal Belts

Climate
Climate refers to the representative or characteristic atmospheric conditions for a region on Earth. The Earths climate is a complex system, derived from a combination of natural and human induced properties, results from an
interplay of radiation from the sun, the circulation of water in oceans, the growth of trees and other plants, changes in land use, and changes in the combination of gases that form the atmosphere.

Knowing the climate, we can predict a great deal about what kinds of life we will find in an area and what kinds could survive there if introduced. On a regional scale, air masses that cross oceans and continents can have a profound influence on seasonal patterns of precipitation and temperature. On a local scale, climatic conditions can also vary considerably and produce a local effect referred to as a microclimate.

Ozone in Nature
Ozone is an important natural component of the stratosphere. Ozone is concentrated in a layer 12-16 miles (20-25 km) above sea level. It is formed when high-energy ultraviolet radiation splits normal oxygen (O2).

Schematic representation of the formation of stratospheric ozone.

It shields the earth from UV ray

Chlorofluorocarbons
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were developed in the 1920s as a new class of chemicals that were safe, non-flammable, stable, and nonreactive. These chemicals were very useful for industry. The CFCs were considered ideal for
Refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment Nontoxic propellants for aerosol cans Blowing agents for plastic foams Solvents and cleaning agents in the electronics industry

Chlorofluorocarbons and the Ozone Layer

The stability of CFCs in the lower atmosphere permits them to diffuse up to the stratosphere. In the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation breaks down the CFC molecules, releasing atomic chlorine. The chlorine atoms react catalytically with ozone, converting it into normal O2 oxygen. One chlorine atom may destroy between 10,000 to 100,000 ozone molecules before being washed out of the atmosphere. CFCs threaten the very existence of life on our planet.