Global Environmental

IssuesCreated by,

Tejas Patel

Climate Change

Global Warming and Green House Effect

Acid Rain

Depletion of Ozone layer

Climate change

Climate change is a significant and lasting change

in the statistical distribution of weather patterns

over periods ranging from decades to millions of

years. It may be a change in average weather

conditions, or in the distribution of weather around

the average conditions.

Climate change is caused by factors such

as biotic processes, variations in solar

radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and

volcanic eruptions.

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Cause of Climate Change

Human Causes

Increase green house gasses(emulsion from burning

fossils fuels-oil, coal etc.)

Pollution, smog from factories.

Deforestation

Increasing Population (More people more CO2)

2

Continued…

Natural Causes

The arctic tundra and wetlands release methane, a

greenhouse gas

Earth naturally has a cycle of climate change that

occurs every 40,000 years

The sun’s solar energy output is changing and

naturally increases Earth average temperature by

about 1’C every century

Earth’s orbit and tilt alter in relation to the sun, which

changes solar energy output.

2

Effects of Climate Change

Migrating birds are forced to change their time and

place of migration

Melting of glaciers will lead to higher sea level,

which will cause floods and put many low elevation

regions at risk of disappearing under water

Longer summers can disrupt animal habitation

New and widespread diseases because of warm

climate

Droughts, heat waves, extreme winter and storms,

hurricanes, typhoons

2

Climate Change

Global Warming and Green House Effect

Acid Rain

Depletion of Ozone layer

Global Warming

Global warming refers to an unequivocal and

continuing rise in the average temperature of

Earth's climate system.

Since 1971, 90% of the warming has occurred in the

oceans. Despite the oceans' dominant role in

energy storage, the term "global warming" is also

used to refer to increases in average temperature

of the air and sea at Earth's surface.

Since the early 20th century, the global air and sea

surface temperature has increased about 0.8 °C

Continued…

(1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase

occurring since 1980. Each of the last three

decades has been successively warmer at the

Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since

1850.

Emissions of greenhouse gases grew 2.2% per year

between 2000 and 2010, compared with 1.3% per

year from 1970 to 2000.

Causes of Global Warming

Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning

power plants

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for

transportation

Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such

as rice paddies, and from Arctic sea beds

Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood,

pulp, and farmland

Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on

croplands

Effects of Global Worming

Rise in sea levels worldwide

More killer storms

Massive crop failures

Widespread extinction of species

Disappearance of coral reefs

Remedies

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Change a Light Bulb

Drive Less and Drive Smart

Buy Energy-Efficient Products

Use Less Hot Water

Continued…

Use the "Off" Switch

Plant a Tree

Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

Encourage Others to Conserve

Cause of Green House

Deforestation

Cutting down of trees, thus, leads to an

increase in the carbon dioxide level in the

atmosphere, eventually enhancing the

greenhouse effect.

Burning of Fossils

Greenhouse gases can also be released into

the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil

fuels, oil, coal, and gas.

Continued…

Electrical Appliances

Some processes of the cement manufacturing

industries also act as a cause towards the

greenhouse effect.

Population Growth

With the increase in population, the needs

and wants of people increase which

consequently increases deforestation,

manufacturing, and industry processes.

Green House Gases

Water Vapor

Carbon Dioxide

Methane

Nitrous Oxide

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Remedies

Recycle your paper, beverage containers, milk

jugs, and tin cans so that they can be used to

make new material and so that we don't waste

natural resources.

Reuse house hold items.

Car pool or find another way to travel in order to

preserve the earth's natural resources.

Climate Change

Global Warming and Green House Effect

Acid Rain

Depletion of Ozone layer

Acid Rain

Acid rain is caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

Burning oil, gas and coal in power stations releases

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) into the atmosphere. Burning

oil and petrol in motor vehicles puts nitrogen oxides

(NOX) into the atmosphere.

These gases mix with water droplets in the

atmosphere creating weak solutions of nitric and

sulphuric acids. When precipitation occurs these

solutions fall as acid rain.

Effects of Acid Rain

increases the acidity levels of rivers, lakes and seas.

This can kill aquatic life. Acid rain increases the

acidity levels of soils. This can kill vegetation

has been found to destroy the roots and leaves of

forests in Germany and Scandinavia have been

destroyed as the result of acid rain emissions from

the UK

can erode buildings and monuments (particularly if

they are made from limestone)

Remedies

In the area of transportation, NOx needs to be

removed from motor vehicles exhaust.

Understand acid deposition’s causes and effects

Clean up smokestacks and exhaust pipes

Use alternative energy sources

Restore a damaged environment

Climate Change

Global Warming and Green House Effect

Acid Rain

Depletion of Ozone layer

Depletion of Ozone Layer

Ozone depletion describes two distinct but related

phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a

steady decline of about 4% per decade in the total

volume of ozone in Earth's stratosphere (the ozone

layer), and a much larger springtime decrease in

stratospheric ozone over Earth's polar regions. The

latter phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole.

In addition to these well-known stratospheric

phenomena, there are also springtime polar

tropospheric ozone depletion events.

Causes of Ozone Depletion

Earth Damage

Global Warming

Effects of Ozone Depletion

Skin cancer: Exposure to ultraviolet rays poses an

increased risk of developing several types of skin

cancers, including malignant melanoma, basal

and squamous cell carcinoma.

Eye damage: Direct exposure to UV radiations can

result in photo keratitis (snow blindness), and

cataracts.

Immune system damage: Effects of UV rays include

impairment of the immune system. Increased

exposure to UV rays weakens the response of the

immune system.

Effects of Ozone Depletion

Accelerated aging of skin: Constant exposure to

UV radiation can cause photo allergy, which results

in the outbreak of rash in fair-skinned people.

Other effects: Ozone chemicals can cause difficulty

in breathing, chest pain, throat irritation, and

hamper lung functioning.

Remedies

Limit private vehicle driving

Use eco-friendly household cleaning products

Avoid using pesticides

Developing stringent regulations for rocket

launches

Banning the use of dangerous nitrous oxide