Module 7

• Global Climatic Change and Mitigation

Climate disruption, Green house effect, Ozone layer
depletion and Acid rain. Kyoto protocol, Carbon credits,
Carbon sequestration methods and Montreal Protocol.
Role of Information technology in environment-Case
Studies.
 Climate disruption
• Considerable scientific evidence indicates that the
earth’s atmosphere is warming, because of a
combination of natural effects and human activities,
and that this warming is likely to lead to significant
climate disruption during this century.
 What is climate?
• Climate – average weather of an area
over a long period – at least 30 years
• General weather conditions and seasonal
variations
• The climate of the world is changed by
- green house effect
Good! Bad!
 Green house gases

 Carbon dioxide (52%)

 Methane (18%)
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) (24%)
 Nitrous oxide (6%)
 The Climate and Our Lives
and Economies Depend on
the Natural Greenhouse Effect
• Along with solar energy, a natural process called the greenhouse
effect warms the earth’s lower atmosphere and surface (see
Figure 3-4, p. 57) and thus affects the earth’s climate. It occurs
when some of the solar energy absorbed by the earth radiates into
the atmosphere as infrared radiation (heat) with various
wavelengths (see Figure 2-11, p. 45). About 1% of the earth’s
lower atmosphere is composed of greenhouse gases, primarily
water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and
nitrous oxide (N2O). Heat radiated into the atmosphere by the
earth causes molecules of these gases to vibrate and release
infrared radiation with an even longer wavelength into the lower
atmosphere. As this radiation interacts with molecules in the air, it
increases their kinetic energy and warms the lower atmosphere
and the earth’s surface, which over time affects the earth’s climate.
• The earth’s lower atmosphere is warming, especially since 1960,
due to increased concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse
gases.

• Most of the increase in the concentrations of these gases since

1960 is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels
and deforestation. These human-induced changes in the chemical
composition and the temperature of the atmosphere are beginning
to change the earth’s climate. If greenhouse gas concentrations
continue to increase, the earth is likely to experience rapid
atmospheric warming and climate disruption during this century
(see Science Focus, p. 500). Rapid and significant climate
disruption will likely cause ecological, economic, and social
disruption by degrading food and water supplies and terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems, flooding low-lying coastal communities and
cities, and eliminating many of the earth’s species.
 Bad Effects of Global warming
 Land and ocean temperatures rise

 North and south pole (Artic and Antarctic)

Glaciers melt

 Sea levels rise

 Ocean currents change

 Weather patterns change

– Ecological disturbance
– Reduction in biodiversity
– Effect on Agriculture
– Effect on human health
 How Much is the Temperature
Increase?

 Some models propose up to 9°C increase this

century

 Two studies put the minimum at 1.5°C and

maximum at 6.2°C

 Another study puts the minimum at 2.5°C

 Changes in Antarctica Ice Mass
1000
800
600
Ice Mass (km3)

400
200
0
-200
-400
-600
2003 2004 2005
Year
Disasters in the making: Global warming effects to unfold faster
as world inches towards 4 degree temperature rise
Warming could significantly exacerbate existing water scarcity in many regions
Extreme heat waves and drought on the rise due to melting ice
 Wildlife is Effected
• Polar Bears
– Require ice to live
– Might eventually go extinct
• Sea turtles
– Breed on the same islands as
their birth
– Could go extinct as some islands
as beaches are flooded

• Other species may go extinct as rainfall

patterns change throughout the world
 Effect on Humans
• Sunstroke – many people will die

• Since more mosquitoes, snails and insects can

grow (as more fish which eat them die due to
increase in temperature of the water) –
diseases like malaria will be on high

• Higher temperature and humidity increase

sweating and cause skin diseases and
Respiratory diseases
 Steps to Prevent Global Warming

• Plant more trees

• Control population growth
• Cut down rate of CFC’s and fossil fuels
• Use non-conventional (renewable) sources of
energy
• Shift from coal to natural gas
• Reduce carbon dioxide from smoke
• Adopt sustainable agriculture – grow heat
resistant crops
 Kyoto Protocol
• Cut emissions of not only carbon dioxide, but of also
other greenhouse gases, like, Methane (CH4), Nitrous
oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur hexafluoride
(SF6)

• Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2%

below the emission levels of 1990. This goal is to be
achieved by the year 2012

• Individual countries were assigned higher or lower

targets and some countries were permitted increases
 Kyoto Protocol
• Cut emissions of not only carbon dioxide, but of also
other greenhouse gases, like, Methane (CH4), Nitrous
oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur hexafluoride
(SF6)

• Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2%

below the emission levels of 1990. This goal is to be
achieved by the year 2012

• Individual countries were assigned higher or lower

targets and some countries were permitted increases
 Carbon Credits
• During Kyoto protocol, allocation of carbon credits or
Kyoto credits was made to different countries

• Each credit gives the owner the right to emit one

metric tonne of carbon dioxide or other equivalent
greenhouse gas

• If a country exceeds its emission quota, it has to pay

for it in three possible mechanisms to get back the
credits, and thus GHG emissions become expensive
for the emitters
 The actual value of each
Carbon credit
may vary, subject to the market
position.
Currently its value is about 12-20
Euros
Carbon Credits – Indian Scenario
• India has generated approximately 30 Million carbon
credits and approximately 140 million in run, the
second highest transacted volumes in the world.

• India’s carbon market is growing faster than even

information technology, bio technology and BPO
sectors as 850 projects with a huge investment of Rs
650,000 million are in pipeline.

• As per the Prime Minister's Council on Climate

Change, the revenue from 200 projects is estimated
at Rs. 97 billion till 2012.
 What is Ozone? Ozone Layer?
• Ozone (O3) is a highly-reactive form of oxygen.
• Ozone exists within both the tropospheric and
stratospheric zones of the Earth’s atmosphere

• It is formed by the interaction of oxygen with UV

radiation
• O2 + hn  O* + O*
• O* + O2  O3

• In the troposphere, ground level ozone is a major air

pollutant and primary constituent of photochemical
smog
• In the stratosphere, the ozone layer is an essential
protector of life on earth as it absorbs harmful UV
radiation before it reaches the earth
 How Have We Depleted Ozone in the
Stratosphere and What Can We Do about It?
• Our widespread use of certain chemicals has
reduced ozone levels in the stratosphere,
which has allowed more harmful ultraviolet
radiation to reach the earth’s surface.
 Ozone layer depletion
• Ozone is naturally found in stratosphere
which occurs 30 km above the ground level

• It has a normal thickness of 3mm

• In the past 4-5 decades a progressive

decrease in ozone layer thickness is observed.

• It is more prominent over Antarctic region

• In fact a hole is formed in the ozone layer

over the Antarctic region.
 Ozone layer is being destroyed
due to chemicals like
CFC: Chlorofluorocarbons:
• CFC -11 is trichlorofluoromethane CCl3F
• CFC-12 is dichlorodifluromethane, CCl2F2
• CFC-13 is chlorotrifluoromethane, CClF3
• There are others like,
CFC-14, chlorotetrafluoroehtane
 The reactions are…

• CFCl3 + hn  CFCl2 + Cl*

• Cl* + O3  ClO + O2

• ClO + O3  Cl* +2O2

• These reactions are catalyzed by Br and

I radicals also.
CFC’s and ozone depletion
• Chlorofluorocarbons are created
and used in refrigerators and air
conditioners

• These chlorofluorocarbons are

not harmful to humans and have
been a benefit to us. Once
released into the atmosphere,
chlorofluorocarbons are
bombarded and destroyed by
ultraviolet rays

• In the process chlorine is

released to destroy the ozone
molecules
 Facts about ozone depletion
• A single chlorine keeps on destroying for two years before
it is converted to HCl or ClONO2

• Nitrogen oxides can trap the chlorine free radicals and

stop ozone depletion

• All the CFCs are released in northern hemisphere, but

Ozone layer depletion is more over Antarctic

• This is because of the so called Polar Stratospheric clouds

formed there in winters (-90oC)

• CFCs accumulate in these clouds in winter and in summer,

when sunlight returns, form a platform for ozone depletion
 Why Should We Worry
about Ozone Depletion?
 Acid rain
Normally rain water has a pH of 5.6 due to the presence of H+ ions
formed by the reaction of rain water with carbon dioxide present in
the atmosphere.

When the pH of the rain water drops below 5.6, is called acid rain.

Acid rain refers to the ways in which acid from the atmosphere is
deposited on the earth’s surface. Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur
which are acidic in nature can be blown by wind along with solid
particles in the atmosphere and finally settle down either on the
ground as dry deposition or in water, fog and snow as wet
deposition.
Acid rain is harmful for agriculture, trees and plants as it dissolves
and washes away nutrients needed for their growth.

It causes respiratory ailments in human beings and animals. When

acid rain falls and flows as ground water to reach rivers, lakes etc. it
affects plants and animal life in aquatic ecosystem.

It corrodes water pipes resulting in the leaching of heavy metals such

as iron, lead and copper into the drinking water.

Acid rain damages buildings and other structures made of stone or

metal. The Taj Mahal in India has been affected by acid rain.

‘Taj Trapezium’– an area that includes the towns of Agra, Firozabad,

Mathura and Bharatpur.
 Montreal Protocol
• 36 countries signed the treaty first in 1987
• At present it has been ratified by 196 states
• If the international agreement is adhered
to, the ozone layer is expected to recover
to 1980 levels by 2050
• "perhaps the single most successful
international agreement to date has been the
Montreal Protocol" - Kofi Annan
 Montreal Protocol
• 36 countries signed the treaty first in 1987
• At present it has been ratified by 196 states
• If the international agreement is adhered
to, the ozone layer is expected to recover
to 1980 levels by 2050
• "perhaps the single most successful
international agreement to date has been the
Montreal Protocol" - Kofi Annan
Carbon sequestration
What is Carbon Sequestration?
• Carbon sequestration - the capture and
long-term storage of carbon dioxide
Carbon sequestration methods
• Soil sequestration - enhancing the storage of
carbon in soil
• Plant sequestration - enhancing the storage
of carbon in forests and other vegetation
• Geo sequestration - storing carbon in
underground geological formations
• Ocean sequestration - storing carbon in the
ocean
• Mineral carbon sequestration (carbonation) -
subjecting carbon to chemical reactions with
geological minerals to form inorganic
carbonates
 Soil carbon sequestration
• Soil carbon sequestration - the process of
transferring carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere into the soil through crop residues
and other organic solids, and in a form that is
not immediately reemitted

• Management practices that can retain or

increase the carbon content of soils
- low-tillage or no tillage
- use of manures and compost
- conversion of monoculture systems to
diverse systems
- crop rotations
 Soil carbon sequestration
• Biochar - type of charcoal that results from heating
crop residue, wood chips, municipal waste or manure in
an oxygen-limited environment (a process known as
'pyrolysis')
• Biochar is added to soil to improve its carbon sinking
capacity

Biochar
 Plant carbon sequestration

• Plants use the energy of

sunlight to convert CO2 to
carbohydrates via the process
of photosynthesis

• Carbon sequestration from

revegetation and plantation
programs could provide a
significant shorter-term
contribution
 Geo sequestration
• Geosequestration is the injection and storage
of greenhouse gases underground, out of
contact with the atmosphere

• Depleted oil and natural gas fields, or deep

natural reservoirs filled with saline water
(saline aquifers) – used for sequestration
 Geo sequestration
• North Sea Oil Industry since 1996 (the
Sleipner project), storing about one million
tonnes of CO2 per year

• Weyburn project in Canada, uses CO2 injection

for enhanced oil recovery and injects about
1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year

• In Australia, the Otway Project in Victoria

commenced in April 2008 and is injecting
about 4500 tonnes of CO2 per month into a
depleted gas reservoir about two kilometres
underground
 Ocean carbon sequestration

• The oceans represents the largest

carbon store on earth.
• They contain 60 times as much carbon as
the atmosphere and 20 times as much
carbon as the land vegetation and soil
 Ocean carbon sequestration

• Inject CO2 directly into the deep ocean

• Buffering action of sea water and alkalinity take care
of the decrease in pH
• Effects will be known in future
 Ocean carbon sequestration
• large scale ocean
fertilisation with iron
to stimulate
phytoplankton growth
and photosynthesis

Phytoplankton bloom in south Atlantic Ocean

 Mineral carbon sequestration
• Mineral sequestration (also as
mineral carbonation) involves
reaction of CO2 with metal oxides
that are present in common, naturally
occurring silicate rocks

• There are sufficient reserves of

magnesium and calcium silicate
deposits to fix the CO2 that could be
produced from all fossil fuel
resources

• The weathering of CO2 into

carbonates does not require energy,
but the natural reaction is slow
 Role of Information Technology in Environment
1. Remote Sensing:
Remote sensing technique through satellite can be used to assess
ongoing changes in the environment and to predict natural calamities
like droughts, floods and volcanic eruptions etc. The technique is of
great use in exploring the possible availability of crude oils, mineral
deposits and location of geothermal power sources.

2. Database:
Database is the collection of inter-related data on various subjects. It
is usually in computerized form and can be retrieved whenever
required. There are several Distribution Information Centres (DICs) in
our country that are linked with each other and with the central
information network having access to international database. The
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has taken
up the task of compiling a database on issues like wildlife, forest
cover, wastelands etc.
3. Environmental Information System (ENVIS):
ENVIS established in 1982 aims on providing environmental information to
decision makers, policy planners, engineers and scientists all over the
country. ENVIS centres work for generating a network of database in areas
like pollution control, clean technologies, biodiversity, renewable energy,
wildlife, environmental management and remote sensing.
4. National Management Information System (NMIS):
NMIS of the Department of Science and Technology has compiled a
database on Research and Development projects along with information
about research scientists and personnel involved.
5. Geographical Information System (GIS):
GIS has proved to be a very effective tool in environmental management.
GIS is a technique of superimposing various thematic maps using digital data
on a large number of inter-related or inter-dependent aspects. Different
thematic maps containing digital information on a number of aspects like
water resources, forest land, soil type, crop land, industrial growth, human
settlement etc. are superimposed in a layered form in computer using soft-
wares.
Applications of GIS:

GIS is very useful for future land use planning and for interpretating
polluted zones and degraded lands.

a. GIS also provides information of atmospheric phenomenon like

approach of monsoon, ozone layer depletion, smog and inversion
phenomenon etc.

b. Planning for locating suitable areas for industrial growth is now

being done using GIS by preparing Zoning Atlas.

c. GIS and remote sensing play a key role in resource mapping,

environmental conservation and environmental impact assessment.