5.0 Climate Change

• 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 Framework Convention on Climate Change
• 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
• Climate System; 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
• Greenhouse Effect; The process by which the earth's atmosphere traps heat from the sun.
• Greenhouse Gases:

  1. water vapor
  2. clouds
  3. carbon dioxide
  4. methane
  5. nitrous oxide
  6. halocarbons
• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect; 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
• Anthropogenic Activities; Scientists around the world point out that this are the ones that are responsible for increasing the temperature in our planet.
• Greenhouse Effect; 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:

  1. Worldwide Deforestation
  2. Increasing Industrial Activity
  3. Motor Vehicle Emission
  4. Waste Management Practices
  5. Carbon Sequestration
• Three Main Human Sources of GHGs:

  1. Energy Generation and Industrial Processes
  2. Transportation
  3. Land-use and Agriculture
• Three Man-made GHGs:

  1. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  2. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  3. Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)
• Effects of Climate Change:

  1. Increase in minimum (nighttime) temperatures, maximum (daytime) temperatures, and increases in the global mean temperature
  2. Increase in sea surface temperatures, sea level and changes in evaporation, and thus, changes in rainfall patterns among others
  3. 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:

  1. Melting of Ice
  2. Rise of Sea Level
  3. Rise in Global Average Temperature
  4. Migration of Different Species to Colder Areas
  5. Severe Drought
  6. 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:

  1. Population Growth
  2. Amount and Manner of Developments
  3. Adoption of Environmentally Clean Technologies
  4. Measures/Strategies to be Put in Place by the Global Community
• Climate Change and Environmental Impacts

  1. Coastal Areas
  2. Agriculture
  3. Human Health
  4. Water Resources
  5. Industry and Energy
  6. Forest Biodiversity
• Sea Level rise will Greatly Affect Coastal Areas Through:

  1. Inundation and Erosion
  2. Increased Flooding
  3. Salt-Water Intrusion
  4. 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
• Increased Ocean Acidity; 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