ch 14

• CLIMATE CHANGE 

  • Denotes statistical changes in climate that continue for a long period (Serafica et al., 2018)
  • Several studies provided data on an increasing amount if atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature
  • Unpredictable weather patterns and unusual occurrences of calamities has shown we are now experiencing climate change
  • The world is now experiencing climate change as a result of global warming
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

  • Evaluates climate change science and releases report on global climate change
• In the IPCC’s report, there are significant changes in the climate in the past century, and it's influenced by humans.

  • If continued, it is projected that there will be a n increase of global mean surface  temperature between 1°C and 3.5°C.
• Natural greenhouse effect – a phenomenon caused by gasses naturally present in the atmosphere that affects the behavior of the heat energy radiated by the sun (Zillman & SHerwood, 2020)
• Greenhouse Effect


  The process by which the Earth warms naturally
• Greenhouse Effect


  1. Sunlight (Shortwave radiation) enters the earth and pass through atmospheres

  2. Energy is absorbed in the earth

  3. Absorbed energy warms the earth's surface

  4. Some energy is reflected back to space in the form of infrared or long wave radiation

  5. Reflected energy passes through the atmosphere where greenhouse gasses are naturally present

  6. Greenhouse gasses absorb the reflected energy then re-emit it in different directions

  7. Some of the sun's energy escapes into space

  8. Some energy becomes "trapped" due to the greenhouse gasses that form a layer in the atmosphere

  9. The "trapped" energy warms the earth and the lower part of the atmosphere–making earth habitable
• Greenhouse gasses


  • Water vapor
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Methane
  • Nitrous oxide
• Without the greenhouse effect, Earth will be so cold that it's average. Surface temp. Would decline to -18°C (0°F) from the present 15°C (59°F)
• The Earth's Energy Balance

  • The rate at which energy is absorbed by the Earth is approximately balanced by the rate at which it is emitted back into space. 
  • keeps the Earth in a state of "Equilibrium" and at a stable temperature
  • This Earth's condition is maintained when the atmosphere has the same amount of greenhouse gasses and there is a constant rate of energy from the sun that reaches the Earth.
  • The energy balance was at equilibrium until the Industrial Revolution (late 1700s) came
• The Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

  • An increase in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere enhances the greenhouse effect
  • Disrupts the equilibrium due to increased concentration of greenhouse gasses that increase the global average temperature
  • The Earth's atmosphere is composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% natural greenhouse gasses such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and halocarbons
• • The Industrial Revolution brings new industrial processes. Since it started, human activities rapidly increased such as the burning of fossil fuels, more extensive agriculture, and a rapid increase in the world's population
• • Studies have shown a continuously increasing concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gasses mostly accounted for by human activities like burning fossil fuels, vast clearing of lands, and other activities where greenhouse gas emissions are involved.
• • From the start of the industrial revolution, research showed an increase of nearly 38% in carbon dioxide and 148% in methane levels in 2019. According to Lindsey (2020), the global average concentration of carbon dioxide is 409.8 ppm (parts per million), a new high record in 2019.
• Greenhouse gasses are gasses in the atmosphere that trap and absorb heat or infrared radiation emitted from the earth's surface and reradiating it back to the earth's surface, hence contribute to the greenhouse effect
• The greenhouse gasses trap some of the earth's outgoing energy thereby retaining heat on the earth's surface. This heat-trapping by the greenhouse gasses causes a change in the radiative balance of the earth- the balance between the energy received from the sun and the energy emitted from the earth.
• Emissions of some greenhouse gasses are exclusively coming from human activities. Others are naturally occurring but in an elevated amount due to human inputs, for example, carbon dioxide. Human activities that emit greenhouse gasses are considered anthropogenic sources.
• Main greenhouse gasses 

  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Methane
  3. Water vapor
  4. Ozone
  5. Nitrous oxide
  6. Chlorofluorocarbons
• Greenhouse gasses as reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)

  Greenhouse gases:

  1. CO2
  2. Methane
  3. Water vapor
  4. ozone
  5. Nitrous Oxide
  6. Synthetic Gases
• Sources of greenhouse gases:

  1. Electricity production: Contributes the most
  2. Transportation: Vehicles use petroleum based materials like gasoline and diesel that release greenhouse gasses
  3. Industry: Use of fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gasses
  4. Commercial and residential: Burning fossil fuel and handling waste in homes, markets and cities
  5. Agriculture: Greenhouse gasses released from livestock
  6. Land use and forestry: Cutting and burning of trees
  7. Clearing of lands, Goats, cows, agricultural soils, production of rice
• Carbon Dioxide

  • Greatest contribution
  • Occurs naturally (carbon cycle)
  • Anthropogenic sources like burning fossil fuels, combustion of fuels, burning
  • Can be regulated by natural sinks like green plants that absorb CO2
• Methane

  • Natural sources such as wetlands and termite mounds
  • Anthropogenic sources like coal mining, natural gas production, water decomposition in landfills, digestive process in livestock and agriculture
• Water Vapor

  • Part of water cycle
  • Most abundant and significant
  • Can trap more heat than carbon dioxide
  • More Co2 produce more water = hotter
• Ozone

  • Naturally occurring in the stratosphere
  • Largely found in troposphere
• Nitrous Oxide

  • Emission from agricultural and industrial activities
  • Combustion of solid waste and fossil fuel
• Synthetic gasses

  • Emission from commercial, industrial, or household uses
  • Include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons
  • Sulfur hexafluoride, and etc
• When Global Warming Goes Beyond 1.5 Degrees Celsius

  • The Earth has already warmed significantly since preindustrial times, leading to more extreme weather events like heat waves and floods. 
  • To prevent further warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, we need to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030 and 100% by 2050, along with other measures like pricing greenhouse gas emissions and using technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. 
  • However, simply blaming greenhouse gas emitters won't solve the problem entirely. We need global cooperation and action to address climate change.
• Causes and Effects of Climate Change 

  As the world’s average temperature continues to rise, it continues to change the climate. As the climate changes, it brings along serious consequences affecting human lives and the environment. 
• Scientists have identified the impacts of the enhanced global warming such as the following: 

  1. More frequent hot days and fewer cool days

  2. More intense heat waves

  3. Worsening storms, floods and droughts

  4. Intensified hurricanes

  5. Warmer ocean surface temperatures

  6. Rising sea levels

  7. More frequent coastal flooding

  8. Possible disappearance of island nations

  9. Accelerated melting of ice sheets and glaciers

  10.Changes in the growing season of plants

  11. Disruption of normal ecosystem

  12.Loss of animal habitat

  13.Possible extinction of animals (Bautista et al., 2018). 
• Some of the projected possible impacts of climate change on human health as outlined by Bautista (2018) include:

  • Increased malnutrition and consequent disorders
  • Increased suffering and dying from diseases, heatwaves, floods, storms, fires, and droughts
  • Continuous change in some infectious disease vectors
  • Effects of malaria
  • Diarrhea
  • Cardio-respiratory disease and death
• Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is used as an indicator that will significantly provide information about global warming.

  Since every individual is emitting carbon into the atmosphere that causes global warming, each individual should also be responsible for ways that can reduce global warming and the alarming climate change.
• Bautista et al. (2018) listed the following ways by which people can take their part of reducing global warming and climate change:

  1. 3Rs
  2. Use less heat and air conditioning
  3. Drive less and drive smart
  4. Buy energy efficient products
  5. Grow foods in the backyard
  6. Plant trees
  7. Replace incandescent lights with fluorescent
  8. Use hybrid electric cars
  9. Encourage others
  10. Support government projects geared toward environmental preservation
• Climate change Mitigation in the Philippines

  • The country is investing in Renewable Energy Resources to have cleaner air
  • Shifting into solar, hydro, and wind
  • Investing on Early warning systems
  • Replant Mangroves to protect our land
• Mangroves – best buffers from storm surge
• Energy – most important inputs for economic growth

  • Most production and consumption rely on energy as basic input
  • A sustainable and reliable source of energy can make a country grow and develop.
  • can be derived from both renewable and non-renewable sources.
• Renewable Energy

  • include solar, geothermal, hydropower, wind, biomass, and bio-fuels which can replenish naturally in a short period.
• Nonrenewable Energy

  • include crude oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear energy (extracted from the ground to produce solids, liquids, and gasses)
  • Do not replenish in a short period of time
• Causes of energy crisis as described by Rinkesh (2021)


  • Overconsumption of natural resources
  • Overpopulation leading to increased demand for fuels and products
  • Poor infrastructure with outdated energy-generating equipment
  • Underutilization of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power
  • Delays in building new power plants to meet energy demands
  • Energy wastage due to lack of conservation efforts
  • Inefficient distribution systems causing breakdowns
  • Major accidents and natural disasters disrupt energy supply, leading to oil price inflation
  • Wars and attacks in major oil-producing regions causing global energy shortages
  • Miscellaneous factors like strikes, political events, and extreme weather increase energy demand and affect supply
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

  • one of the latest energy technologies that can efficiently produce clean, renewable electricity by using the temperature differences between the surface ocean waters and the deep ocean waters.