Introduction Its cycle takes 19,000 to 23,000 years
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Caused by two factors:
agency that evaluates Climate Change Science 1. a wobble of Earth's axis
report’s Important Conclusions: 2. turning around of the elliptical orbit of Earth itself
o World’s climate has changed significantly over Obliquity affects the tilt of Earth's axis
the past years Precession affects the direction of Earth's axis
o The significant change has human influence PEREHILION (closest distance from the sun)
o Using climate models and if the trend continues, APHELION (farthest distance from the sun)
the global mean surface temperature will Five thousand years ago, the North Star was Thuban in
increase between 1 degree celcius and 3.5 the constellation Draco. Currently, the North Star is
degree celcius by 2100 Polaris in the Constellation Ursa Minor.
CLIMATE CHANGE The Carbon Dioxide Theory
refers to the statistically significant changes in climate Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
for continuous period of time. added when power and heat are produced by burning
Factors that contribute to Climate Change: coal, oil, and other fossil fuels
o Natural internal process transparent to sunshine but not invisible to infrared
o External forces (heat) radiation leaving the ground
o Persistent anthropogenic changes in the absorbs part of the infrared radiation in the air and
composition of the atmosphere or in land use returns it to the ground keeping the air near the surface
o Natural occurences or contributed by acts of warmer than it would be
human beings doubling CO2 raises the temperature to 2 to 3 celcius
Causes of Climate Change
1. Natural Causes Human Activities
2. Human Activities human activities contribute to climate change
largest known cause is the burning of fossil fuels
Natural Causes which releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere
1. Volcanic Eruptions Greenhouse Gases and Aerosols are a help to reduce
2. Orbital Changes climate Change
3. Carbon Dioxide Theory Human activities result in emissions of FOUR
PRINCIPAL GREENHOUSE GASES: (All natural)
Volcanic Eruptions 1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2),
it emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, 2. Methane (CH4),
sulfur dioxides, salt crystals, volcanic ashes or dust 3. Nitrous oxide (N2O)
and eve microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. 4. Halocarbons (Fluorine, Chlorine, and Bromine)
causes cooling effect that can last for2 years
violent volcanic eruptions produces ash particles in the
stratosphere High level CO2 and fossil fuels came from:
1. Transportation
Volcanic ashes which have sulfur dioxide + water vapor = 2. Building
sulfuric acid and sulfurous aerosols 3. Heating
4. Manufacture of Cement and other goods
Deforestation releases carbon dioxide and reduces its
Volcanic Eruptions That Cause Climate Change: uptake by plants.
o Mount Tambora of Indonesia 1816 - largest known High methane emission is related to agriculture. natural gas
eruption in human history. -caused snowfall in the distribution, and landfills.
north eastern US in Canada. High nitrous oxide is also emitted by human activities such
o Eruptions of Mount Krakatau of Indonesia in 1883 and as fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning.
Mt. Pinatubo of the Phi. in 1991. Halocarbons gas concentration increased
Principal Halocarbons: Chlorofluorocarbons (e.g., CFC-11
Orbital Changes
and CFC-12) which were used extensively as
Earth's orbit can also cause Climate Change refrigeration agents and in other industrial processes
proposed by Milankovitch Theory before their presence in the atmosphere was found to
Three Elements That Have Cyclic Variations: cause stratospheric ozone depletion.
1. Eccentricity Ozone - another greenhouse gas that is continually
2. Obliquity produced and destroyed in the atmosphere by chemical
3. Precession reactions.
In the troposphere, human activities have increased ozone
ECCENTRICITY
through the release of gases such as carbon monoxide,
term used to describe the shape of Earth's orbit around hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, which chemically
the Sun. react to produce ozone.
Earth's eccentricity is 0.016 and there is about 6.4% Halocarbons destroy ozone in the stratosphere and have
increase in Insolation. caused the ozone hole over Antarctica
it influences seasonal differences: when earth is close Water Vapor - the most abundant and important greenhouse
to sun, it gets more solar radiation. gas in the atmosphere
OBLIQUITY Effects of Climate Change in the Society
Variation of the tilt of Earth's axis away from the Within the next 50 years, glaciers will continue to melt
orbital plane faster.
As tilt changes, season changes Melting glaciers will increased flood risks
It changes over 40,000 years. Declining crop yields due to drought especially at Africa
The more tilt, the more severe season Ocean edification, direct result of rising CO2 levels, will
have major effects on Marine Systems
PRECESSION Climate Change will increase worldwide deaths from
Change in orientation of Earth's rotational axis. malnutrition and heat stress.
Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue could
become more widespread
Rising Sea Levels that may result in more flooded areas
Ecosystems will be particularly vulnerable to Climate
Change, with the study estimating that around 15 to 40%
of species face extinction with 2°C of warming.
It can also cause monsoons and El Niño
Melting or Collapse of ice sheets would raise sea levels and
eventually threaten at least 4 million km2 of land, which
today is home to 5% of the world's population.
Summary
Climate Change
Worldwide issue that we have to face
Referred as statistically significant climate variation
persisting for an extended period of time
If continuous, this could bring drastic effects to living
and nonliving forms on Earth
Brought by several factors:
o Natural processes
o Persistent human activities
Global warming
major effect of global warming
threatens all life forms on Earth
has drastic effects on water availability, food source,
health issues, land use, ecosystem
