GLOBAL WARMING

Global Warming

Dr. Tariq Mahmood Usmani

Associate Professor
 Definition
1. Global Warming is a gradual increase
in the overall temperature of the
earth's atmosphere generally attributed
to the greenhouse effect caused by
increased levels of carbon dioxide,
CFCs, and other Green house gases.
 Definition
2. Global Warming is the increase of
Earth's average surface
temperature due to effect of
greenhouse gases, such as carbon
dioxide emissions from burning
fossil fuels or from deforestation,
which trap heat that would
otherwise escape from Earth.
 Definition
3. Global Warming is
an increase in the earth's average
atmospheric temperature that
causes corresponding changes in climate
and that may result from the green
house effect.
 Causes of Global Warming:
• The Earth maintains a habitable
temperature due to the Greenhouse
Effect, which allows heat from the sun to
penetrate our atmosphere, where it is
absorbed by the Earth’s surface or
radiated out and reflected back to Earth
by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Without it, the Earth would be a cold and
hostile planet, and would most likely be
uninhabitable.
• However, maintaining the natural balance
necessary to keep the Earth’s temperature
within a range that is viable for life as we
know it is a very fine line that can easily
be crossed.
• Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring
gases that pose no harm when they are in
balance. However, when they are present
in excess, the system becomes unbalanced
and things start to go awry.
Anthropogenic Causes of Global
Warming
• The most important greenhouse gases
are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide and water vapour. While all these
gases occur naturally in the atmosphere,
emissions from human sources have
caused their levels to rise to a point that is
no longer sustainable.
 Carbon Dioxide
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations have risen by more than
40% since scientists first started recording
these levels, from 280 parts per
million (ppm) in 1958 to over
400ppm today.
• According to NOAA, over the past 800,000 years, atmospheric carbon
dioxide concentrations have fluctuated between 180 ppm during ice
ages to 280 ppm during warm interglacial periods.
Human sources of Carbon Dioxide
• Burning Fossil Fuels: burning coal to generate electricity,
burning oil to power vehicles and aircraft (vehicle emissions),
or burning wood in fires used for cooking or to provide heat,
etc. changes the state of stored organic carbon from a liquid
(e.g. oil) or solid (e.g. coal/wood) into a gas (carbon dioxide)
which is released into the atmosphere.
• Deforestation: vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis, converting
this to carbon which is stored within all plants (i.e it is a
carbon sink). When vegetation is burned, this organic carbon
is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide,
and in so doing becomes a carbon source rather than a carbon
sink.
 Methane
• Although methane has a shorter
lifespan, and consequently, is not as
abundant in the atmosphere as carbon
dioxide, in terms of it effect as a
greenhouse gas, it is much more potent.
Methane is produced when organic
matter breaks down and also when
ruminants digest their food.
 Human sources of Methane
• Decomposing organic matter: landfills, animal waste,
sewerage and dams are all human sources of methane.
For example, organic matter is trapped behind dam
walls where it sinks to the bottom of the dam and
decomposes. Bacteria produce methane in the
decomposition process, which slowly escapes to the
surface and is released into the atmosphere.
• Natural gas extraction: methane escapes during oil
and gas extraction (e.g. fracking) operations and is
released into the atmosphere.
 Nitrous Oxide
• Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas
that is released primarily by
fertilizers used in agriculture and
landscaping, but also during the burning
of fossil fuels and other organic matter.
Atmospheric nitrous oxide levels have
risen by roughly 18% since the
Industrial Revolution, spiking rapidly
towards the end of the 1900’s.
 Water Vapour
• Water is essential for life, and as it is constantly
cycling from one state to another, it is not
surprising that it is the most abundant of all the
greenhouse gases. However, water vapour not
only acts as a greenhouse gas, it also increases as
the atmosphere gets warmer and provides climate
feedbacks. While humans do not play a large
direct role in producing water vapour,
other human emissions promote atmospheric
warming, which in turn promote evaporation that
results in more water vapour in the atmosphere.
 Chlorofluorocarbons
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are long-
lasting greenhouse gases that also
destroy the ozone layer. CFCs do not
occur naturally in the atmosphere – they
are synthetic compounds that only
originate from human sources,
including: aerosols, foaming agents,
refrigerants, and other industrial
applications.
• CO2, methane and nitrous oxide
concentrations far exceed natural range
over past 650,000 years - most of the
increase has been post-industrial
revolution.
CO2 from 280 ppm to 380 ppm.
Methane from 715 ppb to 1775 ppb.
Nitrous oxide from 270 ppb to 320 ppb.
Increasing global CO2 emissions and changing
sources
 Effects of Global Warming:
• 1. Melting Glaciers • 8. Heat waves
• 2. Climate Change • 9. Frequent Wildfires
• 3. Droughts • 10. Severe Precipitation
• 4. Disease • 11. Longer/Shorter
• 5. Hurricanes Frequency Season
• 6. Rise of Sea Levels • 12. Crops
• 7. Agriculture • 13. Oceans
• 14. Food Chain
 Effects of Global Warming:
• 20. Decreased Population
• 15. Health Risk
• 21. Human Extinction
• 16. Animal Extinction
• 22. Going off Grid
• 17. Quality of Life
• 23. Fresh Water
• 18. Economic Collapse
• 24. Disappearing
• 19. Air Quality
Countries
 What is Climate Change?
Climate change is the change in our weather
patterns that are occurring because of an
increase in the earth's average temperature.
It is also known as global warming.
Climate change may result from both natural
and human causes though the human causes
appear to be increasingly responsible for
climate change over the past few decades.
• 1. Melting of Glaciers: The melting of glaciers will
create plethora of problems for human kind and the
animals living on the earth. Due to increased global
warming, the level of the sea will rise which will lead to
flooding and this will in turn create havoc in human life.
Apart from raising the sea levels, it will also endanger
several species of animals and thus will hamper the
balance of the ecosystem.
• Areas in the Arctic are diminishing away and flowing
into major oceans. Rising temperatures create a much
accelerated threat to wildlife and whole ecosystems in
these regions. With glaciers melting at vast rates, a
chain of events is being set into motion that cannot be
reversed.
• 2. Climate Change: Irregular weather patterns have already
started showing results. Increased precipitation in the form of
rain has already been noticed in polar and sub-polar regions.
More global warming will lead to more evaporation which will
cause more rains. Animals and plants cannot easily adapt to
increased rainfall. Plants may die and animals may migrate to
other areas, which can cause entire ecosystem out of balance.
• 3. Droughts: While it may be flooding in Savannah, severe
drought is happening elsewhere in the world. As temperatures
warm, the presence of drought has increased in the western
U.S. Add on top of that heat waves and no precipitation; whole
forests have begun to disappear including tens of millions of
trees in Colorado’s Rockies.
Large scale evaporation will be the major cause of droughts
in many places particularly Africa. Although, it is reeling under
the huge pressure of water crisis, increased global warming
would further make the situation worse and will cause
malnutrition.
• 4. Diseases: As the temperature becomes more warmer, it
can affect the health of humans and the diseases they are
exposed to. With the increase in the rainfall, water borne
diseases are likely to spread like malaria. The earth will become
more warmer and as a result heat waves are likely to increase
that can cause a major blow to the people.
• 5. Hurricanes Frequency: As the temperature of the oceans
rises, hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger.
With the increase in the global warming, the water in the ocean
warms up and it heats up the surrounding air, creating
hurricanes.
• 6. Rise of Sea Levels: The melting of polar ice-caps and less
water evaporating into the atmosphere are causing increased
sea levels. Quaint coastal towns and cities near the U.S. east
coast and Gulf of Mexico are just a few areas where devastating
flood damage is starting to make its mark in history.
• 7. Agriculture: Global warming can affect agriculture.
Although the results are not visible yet, but it may show its
effects in years to come. As the global temperature will
increase, plants will find it harder to survive and will die.
Plants are the major source of food for human beings and as
a result food shortage may occur. The shortage of the
food may lead to war and conflicts in some countries.
• 8. Heat Waves: If you thought last summer’s headlines of
record changing temperature was mind blowing, just wait.
Because of greenhouse gases and other causes, unexpected
streaks of severe weather are just the tips of the iceberg in
global warming. Heat waves cause dangerously hot weather
and in recent years, more deaths have occurred due to heat
waves than in the last sixty years.
• 9. Frequent Wildfires: While wildfires are a natural occurrence, with
the added carbon dioxide in the air, and hotter summers, the
evidence speaks for itself. More frequent wildfires continue to
surface in vast amounts each year. The rate at which they burn is
longer than the last, and with the release of carbon dioxide into the
air, not only are people’s lives in danger, but wildlife severely
suffers. Each time a wildfire burns, the less oxygen there is to
combat the dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide being released
into the atmosphere.
• 10. Severe Precipitation: Not only is there insurmountable scientific
evidence that global warming is increasing, certain types of events,
including extreme precipitation is on the rise. Global warming also
creates conditions that can lead to more powerful hurricanes and
summer storms. Cities and towns on the coast, where sea levels are
already rising, face even more challenges as precipitation poses
severe flooding.
• 11. Longer/Shorter Seasons: Are you a lover of fall? Maybe
spring is your favourite season. Whatever weather and
climate you enjoy, it could be happening sooner and shorter,
or later and longer. Global warming affects show spring is
occurring 10 days sooner than it has in the past. While it may
be nice to go from snow pants to shorts sooner, this could
cause flooding from reservoirs filling too soon, and droughts
were there’s not enough precipitation to provide adequate
nourishment for crops.
• 12. Crops: If seasons are changing, weather patterns are
going berserk, and flooding is occurring due to rising sea
levels, our crops are barely getting a fighting chance. Once
the food processing industry goes haywire, the economy will
really start getting interesting. The price of staple crops could
sky rocket causing major inflation and more economic woes.
• 13. Oceans: It’s reported that coral reefs are continuing to
see diminished presence in the ocean due to global warming.
Temperature changes affect more than what’s happening on
our lands. Once coral reefs are affected, entire ecosystems
that thrive become obsolete.
• 14. Food Chain: Change the time and seasons and birds are
flying south for winter sooner, hibernation takes longer, and a
whole series of events is set in motion for complete collapse
of animal life. The entire food chain could be disrupted and
enormous consequences could follow.
• 15. Health Risks: As more carbon dioxide is trapped in the
atmosphere, breathable air becomes harder to come by. If
global warming continues, the U.S. is looking at 60 billion
dollars to combat respiratory diseases and symptoms.
• 16. Animal Extinction: Nature’s best is beautifully displayed
in every nook of planet earth-the majestic lion, to the humble
deer. Imagine whole populations where animals can no longer
thrive. With such a vast eruption in the animal kingdom, our
own world becomes in danger.
• 17. Quality of Life: If doing simple things like taking a walk
outside or working in your garden, become unenjoyable due
to severe heat waves, think of the quality of life on a much
larger scale. With rising global temperature, even the smallest
things we took for granted will be sorely missed.
• 18. Economic Collapse: Who knows how badly the economy
could get with decreased vitality of crops, productions, and
manufacturing items. Without having nature on our side, the
food industry will fall apart. Without the resources to feed the
world, manufacturing will collapse. Hunger will be our biggest
battle.
• 19. Air Quality: As more chain of events is set in motion, air
quality will continue to get worse. As bad as it is now in some areas
in the world, multiply that by a million.
• 20. Decreased Population: If global warming goes unchecked, it’s
estimated the world’s human population would decrease by 75
percent. With the increasing severity of storms, floods, earthquakes,
and wildfires, natural disasters would diminish half of the earth’s
population. Another 25 percent would succumb to air related
illnesses, starvation, and poverty.
• 21. Human Extinction: What little would remain of the earth as we
know it, would be a sliver. The rest of the human population would
have to find and implement alternative energy on a consistent and
regulated basis. It’s hard to imagine, but each of these events
affects another event. Pretty soon, the domino effect will reach
home. There’s plenty that can be done to guarantee these effects
won’t become earth’s ultimate fate
• 22. Going off the Grid: If you can’t stand to go
without power during a thunderstorm, imagine our
whole electrical infrastructure going off the grid. With
the current threat of increasing storms and violent
aftermaths of hurricanes and tropical storms, it would
only take a few hits to crumble our electrical system.
• 23. Fresh Water: Our fresh water supply will great
diminish with global warming. With the demise of coral
reefs and the ecosystems therein, less fresh water will
flow into lakes and tributaries.
• 24. Disappearing Countries: Countries like
Greenland are deteriorating at a highly elevated rate.
Beautiful cities, even continents could one day be part
of a vast sea.
Q1. Describe the concept of region. Divide the
world into natural region and give detail
description of equatorial region, temperate
region and polar region.
OR

Q2. Differentiate between Systematic (General)

Geography and Regional Geography.
OR

Q3. What is Global warming? How it is related to

the climate change.