Presentation on

By: M. Faisal Panawala

THE GREATEST TH
REAT
 Introduction
Global warming, a recent
warming of the Earth's
lower atmosphere, is
believed to be the result of
an enhanced greenhouse
effect due to increased
concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
 Effects of Global Warming
 Extreme Weather
 Melting Ice Sheet & Glaciers

 Raising Sea Levels

 Effects on Agriculture

 Effects on Plant & Animals

 Human Health

 Forest Fires
 Extreme Weather
 Storms are expected to be more frequent and
more intense in a warmer world. Water will also
evaporate more rapidly from soil, causing it to dry
out faster between rains. Some regions might
actually become drier than before
Ice Sheets &
Glaciers
 Warming temperatures
are already causing
significant changes to
mountain glaciers
around the world, ice
sheets in Greenland and
the Antarctic, and polar Source ACIA, 2004
Jennifer Allen Animation
 Sea Levels
 As the atmosphere warms, the surface layer of
the ocean warms as well, expanding in volume
and thus raising sea level. The melting of glaciers
and ice sheets, especially around Greenland,
further swells the sea.

Effects on Agriculture
 For some time it was hoped that a positive
effect of global warming would be
increased agricultural yields, because of
the role of carbon dioxide in
photosynthesis but climate change will
 Effects on Animals
 Polar bears
Polar bears
 Walruses
Walruses
 Ice seals
seals
 Black guillemots
Black guillemots
 Kittiwakes
Kittiwakes
 Salmon
Salmon
 Caribou
Caribou
 Arctic grayling
Arctic grayling

 Rising temperatures
 Shrinking habitat
 Food harder to get
 Expanding disease
 International Health Impacts
 Increased epidemics of malaria
in Africa and new cases in Turkey
and elsewhere

 Increased cerebral-
cardiovascular conditions in
China; dengue fever in SE Asia Canadian Ministry of Forests

 In Europe, increased heat

wave deaths (52,000 in 2003, (EPI
2006)), typhoid fever, Vibrio
vulnificus, Ostreopsis ovata,
Congo Crimea hemorrhagic fever

 More mercury release; West Nile virus mosquito vector

flooding; and storms

 WHO: 150,000 deaths and 5

million illnesses/year from GW;
double by 2030 (Nature 2005)
USFS
photo
 Ocean Acidification
Over the last 200 years, about 50% of all CO2 produced on
earth has been absorbed by the ocean. (Royal Society 6/05)

Remains in the
atmosphere
(greenhouse gas)
Dissolves in
sea water

CO2 + H20 HCO3- + H+

(ACID) CO2
Water becomes
CO2
more acidic.
 Forest Fires

 4.6 million
acres
burned in
2005
 6.6 million
acres 6.0 Alaska Acres Burned 1956-2005 Bureau of Land Management
John McColgan photo
burned in 5.0
millions of acres

4.0
2004 3.0
2.0
1.0

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Source: NOAA National Climate Data Center
 Causes of Global Warming
 Green House Effect: The name
comes from an incorrect analogy
with the warming of air inside a
greenhouse compared to the air
outside the greenhouse. The
greenhouse effect was discovered
by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and
first investigated quantitatively
by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.
 Types of Green House Gases
 Carbon dioxide: The process of burning invariably
emits carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels like diesel,
petrol, or gas is a major carbon dioxide producer. The
smoke emitted by various industries and factories, coal
fired electrical power plants, using fire wood as fuel all
add to the total carbon dioxide levels
 Methane: Dumped, decaying garbage is a source of
methane and cow dung also emits methane. To some
extent these methane can be made use as a fuel for
cooking purpose by setting up bio-gas plants which is
fuelled by cow dung or by bio-degradable waste.
 Nitrous Oxide: Released primarily by plowing farm soils
and burning fossil fuels. Nitrous oxide traps about 300
times more heat than does the same amount of carbon
dioxide. Nitrous oxide is also released during various
agricultural and industrial processes.
 Chloro Fluro Carbons: Are widely used in refrigerators,
air conditioners and in aerosol sprays. The chloro fluro
carbons cause global warming by damaging the ozone
 Preventing Global Warming
 Drive less. Take bikes, walk or carpool whenever
possible.

 Replace all the light bulbs in and around your home

with energy-efficient fluorescents that use fewer watts
for the same amount of light

 Choose energy-efficient appliances when it's time to

buy new ones.

 Decrease your air travel.

 Cut down on your garbage—buy fewer packaged

materials to prevent further global warming.

 Unplug electronics when they are not in use, because

they still take up energy. At the very least, turn items
Preventing Global Warming .. Cont’
 Plant a tree.

 Buy recycled paper products and recycle as much of

your waste as possible & use paper bags when
shopping

 Use nontoxic cleaning products.

 Keep your car tuned up, and check tire pressure

often to save gas.

 Spread the word

Thank You for Your time

For understanding the

most important Global
Issue