Weather; conditions at one particular time and place, including temperature and rainfall
Weather; can change very rapidly from day to day, and from year to year
Weather; changes involve shifts in temperatures, precipitation, winds, and clouds
Climate; Long-term average weather pattern in one place.
Climate; influenced by slow changes in the ocean, the land, the orbit of the earth about the sun, and the energy output of the sun
Climate; Fundamentally controlled by the balance of energy of the Earth and its atmosphere
UNFCCC; United Nations FrameworkConvention on ClimateChange
Climate Change according to UNFCCC; a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over a comparable period of time
IPCC; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Climate Change according to IPCC; Any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity
ClimateSystem; created by complex interactions between the Sun, our atmosphere, oceans, land, ice and biosphere which in turn are affected by an area's latitude, elevation, terrain, and distance from coasts, mountains and lakes
Greenhouse; understand this concept to be able to understand climate change
GreenhouseEffect; The process by which the earth's atmosphere traps heat from the sun.
Greenhouse Gases:
water vapor
clouds
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
halocarbons
EnhancedGreenhouseEffect; by burning fossil fuels due to industrialization and to sustain modern lifestyle, the level of GHGs increase rapidly
Sun's Energy; when we talk about the climate system, it is known to be the main driver
AnthropogenicActivities; Scientists around the world point out that this are the ones that are responsible for increasing the temperature in our planet.
GreenhouseEffect; refers to the process by which the infrared radiation is absorbed and re-radiated back to the earth's surface by greenhouse gases instead of going outside the atmosphere
Human Activities that lead to the increase in GHGs:
WorldwideDeforestation
IncreasingIndustrialActivity
MotorVehicleEmission
WasteManagementPractices
CarbonSequestration
Three Main Human Sources of GHGs:
EnergyGeneration and IndustrialProcesses
Transportation
Land-use and Agriculture
Three Man-made GHGs:
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Effects of Climate Change:
Increase in minimum (nighttime) temperatures, maximum (daytime) temperatures, and increases in the globalmeantemperature
Increase in seasurfacetemperatures, sea level and changes in evaporation, and thus, changes in rainfallpatterns among others
Extreme changes in weather patterns
Global Average Temperature Increase in 1906-2005; 0.74 degrees Celsius
Global Average Temperature Increase in 1901-2000; 0.6 degrees Celsius
TAR; Third Assessment Report
IPCC; Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and the most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations
1.2 - 1.4 Degrees Fahrenheit; Unusual Rise in global temperature in the last century
Global Impacts of Climate Change:
Melting of Ice
Rise of Sea Level
Risein Global Average Temperature
Migrationof Different Species to Colder Areas
Severe Drought
Population of Species Considered as Pests is Booming
.13 inches (3.2 millimeters); Annual Sea-Level Rise because of Ice Melting
Global average sea level rose at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year over 1961 to 2003 or a total of 0.17m for the 21st century.
There are projected increases in temperature from 1.4 degrees celsius to 5.8 degrees celsius during the 21st century leading to an increase in sea level from 18-59 cm by 2100
In the Philippines, under the A1B scenario, mean annual temperatures are expected to rise by about 0.9°C to 1.2°C for 2020 and 1.7°C to 2.2°C by 2050.
The increase in temperature that will be realized by 2100 will depend on several factors including:
Population Growth
Amount and Manner of Developments
Adoption of Environmentally Clean Technologies
Measures/Strategies to be Put in Place by the Global Community
Climate Change and Environmental Impacts
Coastal Areas
Agriculture
Human Health
Water Resources
Industry and Energy
Forest Biodiversity
Sea Level rise will Greatly Affect Coastal Areas Through:
Inundation and Erosion
Increased Flooding
Salt-Water Intrusion
Extreme Events like High Tides, Storm Surges, and Tsunamis
Bleaching of Coral Reefs; the loss of symbiotic algae, and/or their pigments, and the death of corals if the warming of the sea surface temperatures are prolonged
IncreasedOceanAcidity; makes it more difficult for marine organisms, such as coral and some plankton, to form their shells and skeletons, and existing shells may begin to dissolve.
Impacts in Water Resources; Climate Change will influence the hydrological cycle, changing evaporation, precipitation and runoff patterns which could affect water resources
Impacts in Water Resources; For extreme weather events-more intense rainfall in the northern parts of the country; less rainfall/drought and water scarcities in provinces along and below the equator.
Impacts in Agriculture and Food Security; Reduce Global food supplies and contribute to higher food prices