... Mikelle Justin L. Raiz Aicon R. Villanueva BSBA 1-7 What is climate change? Climate change is a long-term shift in the statistics of the weather (including its averages). For example, it could show up as a change in climate normal’s (expected average values for temperature and precipitation) for a given place and time of year, from one decade to the next. We know that the global climate is currently changing. The last decade of the 20th Century and the beginning of the 21st have been the warmest period in the entire global instrumental temperature record, starting in the mid-19th century. Climate change, also called global warming, refers to the rise in average surface temperatures on Earth. An overwhelming scientific consensus maintains that climate change is due primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air. The gases trap heat within the atmosphere, which can have a range of effects on ecosystems, including rising sea levels, severe weather events, and droughts that render landscapes more susceptible to wildfires. Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather patterns or average temperatures. Earth has had tropical climates and ice ages many times in its 4.5 billion years. So what's happening now? Since the last ice age, which ended about 11,000 years ago, Earth's climate has been relatively stable at about 14 °C. However, in recent years, the average temperature...
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...1. Introduction Over the last century, climate change has become one of the greatest threats facing the world. There is overwhelming scientific consensus that the increasing global temperature and the variable weather condition are closely related to the increase of greenhouse gases. In order to tackle the issue of climate change effectively, the Kyoto Protocol has been established. However, the rate of climate change is beyond prediction and the adverse impacts of climate change are increasingly serious. Besides, the debate about the main cause of climate change is significant. As the main driver of climate change is difficult to identify, countries face the challenge to formulate practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gases. This report will define climate change and explore what is the main driver of climate change as well as focus on climate change response strategies in Kenya. 2. Definition of Climate Change Climate change is characterized as observed increase in global average temperature of the earth. Climate is totally different from weather. Weather is the state of atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, cloudiness, wind and rain (CCIR-NYC 2005, p. 1). However, climate is a region’s weather patterns in a relatively long period (CCIR-NYC 2005, p. 1). The CCIR-NYC (2005, p. 1) claims that the variations of the state of climate on space and time are the dominant features of climate change. It is reported that global average temperature has...
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...Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Solutions HUSSEIN KALAKESH ENG 101 Baker College of Allen Park Climate Change Essay UIN# 107-24597 Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Solutions Nowadays climate change is the biggest problem of the human being. It is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. The climate can affect every person and our health directly through increases in temperature. Such increases may lead to more extreme heat waves during the summer while producing less extreme cold spells during the winter. Particular segments of the population such as those with heart problems, asthma, the elderly, and the very young can be especially vulnerable to extreme heat. There can be extreme floods and droughts, hurricanes. The warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. The Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is very likely to have been caused by human activities. In its Fourth Assessment Report projects that, “without further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the global average surface temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C in the worst case scenario”. Even...
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...Atmosphere The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night. Dry air contains roughly (by volume) 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases. Air also contains a variable amount of water vapor, on average around 1%. The atmosphere becomes thinner and thinner with increasing altitude, with no definite boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. Structure of the atmosphere Principal layers of the atmosphere The atmosphere of the Earth may be divided into several distinct layers, as the following figure indicates. [pic] Troposphere The troposphere is where all weather takes place. The air pressure at the top of the troposphere is only 10% of that at sea level (0.1 atmospheres).The troposphere begins at the surface and extends to between 7 km at the poles and 17 km at the equator, with some variation due to weather. The troposphere is mostly heated by transfer of energy from the surface, so on average the lowest part of the troposphere is warmest and temperature decreases with altitude. The troposphere contains roughly 80% of the mass of the atmosphere. The tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere. Stratosphere Above the...
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...Essay: Climate Change ‘Up and down, up and down- that is how temperature and climate have always gone in the past and there is no proof they are not still doing exactly the same thing now. In other words, climate change is an entirely natural phenomenon, nothing to do with the burning of fossil fuels.’ (David Bellamy). Discuss the extent to which you agree with this statement. Climate can be described as the long term prevailing weather conditions of an area, the key words being ‘long term’. David Bellamy’s statement, suggests that those who disregard the ‘natural’ theory should study the data from thousands of years ago to see that a continuous pattern is shown. However, perhaps Bellamy needed to study the most recent cycle in the past 40 years in more detail to see that global temperature change is not following its usual course but has in fact been increasing at nearly four times the pace. Whether anthropogenic or natural, some factors must have changed in order to cause such a large difference. It would be foolish to believe climate change is one hundred percent natural or totally anthropogenic as it is evident that climate fluctuations have always been present, but have been amplified by recent anthropogenic changes. A natural theory is based on the amount of solar energy emitted to earth. In past cycles, the amount of solar input has fluctuated and was the cause of the Little Ice Age between 1600 and 1800 and glacial advancement in the Alps. However, since 1800, there...
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...Describe the part of the biosphere where humans can survive. Biosphere can be described as our whole earth and all living entities that dwell in it. 2. Based on this week’s required readings, what are the main causes of threats to the biosphere? The main causes of threats to the biosphere revolve around all the no sustainable practices that directly affect our world; more specifically, the immediate and long-term effects of the incorrect disposal of waste. 3. Define sustainability. What do scientists predict will happen in Earth’s future if we do not increase our sustainability practices? Sustainability refers to our ability to endure and maintain. From an ecological standpoint, sustainability considers the long-term environmental and social consequences of our decisions relative to our future resource base. Scientists predict the world’s future resource base will be dramatically depleted if we cannot effectively learn how to sustain. It is equally important to note that far too many decisions that prove correct in the short term have disastrous consequences in the long term. Section B: Fill in the chart with complete sentences. For each item listed below, identify one related threat to the biosphere. Then, describe business practices that may cause this problem. Finally, describe alternative business practices that may help reduce or avoid this problem. |Threats |Business practices |Alternatives ...
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...An introduction to climate change Section 1: What is climate change? Recent climate history and future projections Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. What is weather? At every moment at any spot of the world, the troposphere (the inner layer of atmosphere which contains earth’s most of the air) has a particular set of physical properties – i. Temperature, ii. air-pressure, iii. humidity, iv. precipitation, v. sun-shine, vi. wind direction and speed. These short term properties of atmosphere at a particular place and time are weather. What is Climate? Climate is a region’s general pattern of atmospheric or weather conditions over a long period. Average temperature and average precipitation are two main factors determining a region’s climate. What is climate? • The long-term average of a region’s weather: – Average rainfall. – Average hours of sunshine. – Average temperature. • Climate versus weather: – Weather describes whatever is happening outdoors in a given place at a given time. – Climate describes the total of all weather occurring over a period of years in a given place. – Climate tells us what it's usually like in the place where you live at a certain time of year. Climate change • Climate change represents a change in these long-term weather patterns. – Average temperatures can increase or decrease...
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...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 (i.e., more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change is caused by factors such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics, and volcanic eruptions. Certain human activities have also been identified as significant causes of recent climate change, often referred to as "global warming". Scientists actively work to understand past and future climate by using observations and theoretical models. A climate record — extending deep into the Earth's past — has been assembled, and continues to be built up, based on geological evidence from borehole temperature profiles, cores removed from deep accumulations of ice, floral and faunal records, glacial and periglacial processes, stable-isotope and other analyses of sediment layers, and records of past sea levels. More recent data are provided by the instrumental record. General circulation models, based on the physical sciences, are often used in theoretical approaches to match past climate data, make future projections, and link causes and effects in climate change. Terminology The most general definition of climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system when considered over long periods...
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...Climate change is attributable to both natural and anthropogenic factors. Anthropogenic climate change, which are also known as human induced climate change, is a result of increase in greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere, increase in atmospheric aerosols, and changes in land use, for instance, through cutting down of forests to create farms. The increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causes an increase in the amount of heat that is being retained and consequently, increasing the temperatures on the earth’s surface significantly. For example, the amount of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has risen by more than 30 percent since the industrial revolution (Mulvaney, 2013). Atmospheric aerosols absorb infrared and solar radiation and also change the chemical composition of the clouds, both physically and chemically. Industrial processes, human activity, biomass burning and exhaust emissions lead to chemical reactions, which consequently, form aerosols in the atmosphere. Changes in land use have also led to a significant increase in the sunlight reflected back into the surface. In North America and Eurasia, during the industrial era, it is estimated that one-fifth of land was attributed to agricultural activities and deforestation. On the other hand, natural climate changes can be a result of changes in suns energy and shifting of the orbit of the earth. Essentially, the earth’s orbital...
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...ASSIGNMENT Topic: To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement. Human activity has been a major cause climate change. People have substantially contributed to the multiple direction development of the world. They have entirely composed the world better and better. However, what human have done for their environment contributing to the destroyable life in recent decades in terms of climate change. Climate change can be defined as the long- term shift in weather conditions identified by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators. Climate change is caused by many factors, therefore, to some extent, human activity has subsidized to the effects of climate change on people’s life with two primary causes: industrial activities, and land use changes. Firstly, the development of industry for recent year has mainly risen the dangerous level of climate change. Constantly, the huge number of Carbon dioxide has been emitted to the atmosphere by resulting from automobiles, industry, electric power plants. Electricity is considered as the main factor causing CO2. The reliable prediction is given that manufacturing electricity in the future will cause the increase CO2 emissions from 10 billion tonnes per year to 12.5 billion tonnes per year (Climate Change – The Science. 2014) . The high Carbon dioxide rate directly effects on the changing of climate process. Human-related emissions are responsible for the increase that has occurred in the atmosphere since...
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...Climate change From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For current and future climatological effects of human influences, see global warming. For the study of past climate change, see paleoclimatology. For temperatures on the longest time scales, see geologic temperature record. [pic] |Atmospheric sciences | |[pic] | |Aerology | |Atmospheric physics | |Atmospheric dynamics (category) | |Atmospheric chemistry (category) | |Meteorology | |Weather (category) · (portal) | |Tropical cyclone (category) | |Climatology | |Climate (category) | |Climate change (category) | |Global warming (category) · (portal) | |v · d · e | Climate change is a long-term 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 the distribution of events around that average (e.g., more or fewer extreme weather events). Climate change may be limited to a specific region or may occur across the whole Earth. |Contents ...
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...Economics of Climate Change Sachin Sharma 11060221060 Research Supervisor: Mrs. Sukalpa Chakrabarti A Dissertation Submitted in the Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Economics (2011 - 2014) Symbiosis School of Economics CONSTITUENT OF SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (Established Under Section 3 Of The UGC Act 1956, By Notification No F9-12/2001-U.3 Of Government Of India) EXAMINERS’ CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the dissertation titled ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE submitted by has been assessed and graded towards the partial fulfillment of the degree of Bachelor of Science (Economics) in the academic year 2011-14. ____________________________ (Signature) Name of Internal Examiner: _________________________________________ ____________________________ (Signature) Name of External Examiner: _________________________________________ Date: Time: Place: Symbiosis School of Economics CONSTITUENT OF SYMBIOSIS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY (Established Under Section 3 Of The UGC Act 1956, By Notification No F9-12/2001-U.3 Of Government Of India) Submission Checklist | Tick the field on the left of the list | | INITIAL PRECONTENT MATTER | | Filled in all fields on the title page. | | Filled in the acknowledgments page. | | Filled in the executive summary page. Dissertation abstract is fewer than 350 words. | PAGE NUMBERS | | No page number...
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...Climate Change and its Effects on Accounting Practices William Conder Accounting 5233 November 26, 2013 Abstract in Climate change is a subject that invokes many different opinions and reactions from different people in different regions. Although there is a general consensus in the scientific and environmental advocate communities as to that the worldwide climate is changing, specifically warming, and that the activities of man are the primary cause, as for the degree of change and the possible effects, there is anything but a consensus. There is a fairly new concept that is taught in many businesses, colleges, and universities called the triple bottom line. This is referring to the three things that businesses should concern themselves with and strive to achieve excellence in if they wish to be sustainable; they are “profit, people, and the planet” (Elkington, 1995). The purpose of this research is to find out and explore some different ways that businesses today are utilizing good sustainability practices, and dive into some other areas like accounting for carbon emissions, and also seeing how accounting for predicted outcomes might work in the business environment. The environment affects us all and any sort of change, contingency, or preparation has to be accounted for, so this work is designed to find out how it is being done, and things that could be done to improve business. The triple bottom line The age old practice of businesses being concerned strictly with...
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...Introduction Climate change is increasingly becoming a local issue as cities and counties consider its affects and implement mitigation and adaptation strategies in an attempt to limit its potential damage. Florida is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The state has over 1,200 miles of coastline, almost 4,500 square miles of estuaries and bays, more than 6,700 square miles of other coastal waters, and a low-lying topography. In addition, most of the state’s 18 million residents live within 60 miles of the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s diverse and productive coastal and marine ecosystems are imperative to the state’s present and future. These ecosystems provide food and other products for its habitat as well as valuable and irreplaceable ecological functions. These systems also attract visitors from all over the world who wish to experience the beauty and recreational opportunities these locations offer. The state’s life-support system, economy, and quality of life depend on preserving and sustaining these resources over the long term . Of prime interest to Florida is the climate changes impact on rising sea levels. Sea Level Rise (SLR) has been identified as a major global problem. SLR has two causes, the melting of mountain glaciers and polar ice sheets and thermal expansion of the oceans. At present, the mean global rate of sea level rise is approximately 3 mm per year. However, within a relatively broad band of certainty...
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...Corresponding Author: Rachel A. Howell, Centre for the study of Environmental Change and Sustainability, School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK. Email: r.a.howell@sms.ed.ac.uk Investigating the LongTerm Impacts of Climate Change Communications on Individuals’ Attitudes and Behavior Rachel A. Howell1 Abstract To assess the effectiveness of climate change communications, it is important to examine their long-term impacts on individuals’ attitudes and behavior. This article offers an example study and a discussion of the challenges of conducting long-term investigations of behavioral change related to climate change communications (a vital and underresearched area). The research reported is a longitudinal panel study of the impacts on UK viewers of the climate change movie The Age of Stupid. The heightened levels of concern, motivation to act, and sense of agency about action that were initially generated by the movie did not measurably persist over the long term. The results also show that behavioral intentions do not necessarily translate into action. Data analysis raised issues concerning the reliability of participants’ causal attributions of their behavior. This and other methodological challenges are discussed, and some ways of avoiding or lessening problems are suggested. Keywords climate change communications, proenvironmental behavior, behavioral change, behavioral intentions, public attitudes Article Downloaded from eab.sagepub...
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