The relationship between human activity and climate

27.06.2018

Introduction

1. Causes of climate change

2. The concept and essence greenhouse effect

3. Global warming and human exposure

4. Consequences of global warming

5. Measures necessary to prevent global warming

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

The world is getting warmer, and humanity is largely responsible for this, experts say. But many factors affecting climate change have not yet been studied, while others have not been studied at all.

Some of the arid places in Africa have become even drier over the past 25 years. Rare lakes that bring water to people dry up. Sandy winds are intensifying. The rains stopped there in the 1970s. The problem of drinking water is becoming more acute. According to computer models, such areas will continue to dry out and become completely uninhabitable.

Coal mining is spread all over the planet. A huge amount of carbon dioxide (CO 2) is emitted into the atmosphere when coal is burned. As developing countries follow in the footsteps of their industrial neighbors, the amount of CO 2 will double during the 21st century.

Most experts, studying the complexity of the Earth’s climate system, associate the increase in global temperature and future climate change with an increase in CO 2 in atmospheric air.

Life flourishes on the planet for about four billion years. During this time, climate fluctuations were radical, from the ice age - which lasted 10,000 years - to the era of rapid warming. With each change, an indefinite number of species of life forms have changed, developed and survived. Others have weakened or simply become extinct.

Now, many experts believe that humanity endangers the global ecological system due to global warmingcaused by the so-called greenhouse effect. Evaporation of civilization products in the form of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO 2), delayed enough heat reflected from the earth's surface so that the average temperature at the earth's surface increased by half a degree Celsius during the twentieth century. If this direction of the modern industry continues, the climate system will change everywhere - melting ice, raising sea levels, destroying plants by droughts, turning areas into deserts, moving green areas.

But this may not be. Climate on the planet depends on a combination of many factors, interacting separately with each other and in complex ways that are not yet fully understood. It is possible that the warming observed during the last century was due to natural fluctuations, despite the fact that its speeds were much higher than those observed during the last ten centuries. Moreover, computer simulations may not be accurate.

However, in 1995, after long years of intensive study, the International Conference on Climate Change, sponsored by the United Nations, tentatively concluded that "many evidence suggests that humanity’s influence on global climate are huge. " The scope of these influences, as experts note, is unknown, since the key factor, including the degree of the impact of clouds and oceans on the change in global temperature, is not determined. It may take a dozen years or more additional research to eliminate these uncertainties.

In the meantime, much is already known. And although the specifics of the circumstances of human economic activity remain unclear, our ability to change the composition of the atmosphere is undeniable.

The purpose of this work is to study the problem of climate change on Earth.

The objectives of this work:

1. to study the causes of climate change;

2. to consider the concept and essence of the greenhouse effect;

3. to define the concept of "global warming" and show the influence of humanity on it;

4. show the consequences awaiting humanity as a result of global warming; 5. Consider the measures needed to prevent global warming.

1. CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

What is global climate change and why is it often called “global warming”?

It is impossible to disagree with the fact that the climate on Earth is changing and this is becoming a global problem for all mankind. The fact of global climate change is confirmed by scientific observations and is not disputed by most scientists. And yet around this topic are ongoing discussions. Some use the term "global warming" and make apocalyptic predictions. Others are predicting the onset of a new “ice age” - and also make apocalyptic predictions. Still others consider climate change natural, and evidence from both sides about the inevitability of the catastrophic effects of climate change - controversial ... Try to figure it out ....

What evidence is there of climate change?

They are well known to everyone (this is already noticeable without instruments): an increase in global average temperature (milder winters, hotter and drier summer months), melting of glaciers and rising sea levels, as well as increasingly frequent and increasingly destructive typhoons and hurricanes, floods in Europe and droughts in Australia ... (see also “5 prophecies about climate that have come true”). And in some places, for example, in the Antarctic, a cooling is observed.

If the climate has changed before, why has it become a problem now?

Indeed, the climate of our planet is constantly changing. Everyone knows about the glacial periods (they are small and large), with the global flood, etc. According to geological data, the average global temperature in different geological periods ranged from +7 to +27 degrees Celsius. Now the average temperature on Earth is about +14 o C and is still quite far from the maximum. So, what are scientists, heads of state and the public concerned about? In short, the concern is that, to the natural causes of climate change, which have always been added, another factor is added - anthropogenic (the result of human activity), whose influence on climate change, according to some researchers, is becoming stronger with each passing year.

What are the causes of climate change?

The main driving force of climate is the sun. For example, uneven heating of the earth’s surface (stronger at the equator) is one of the main causes of winds and ocean currents, and periods of increased solar activity are accompanied by warming and magnetic storms.

In addition, the climate is affected by changes in the Earth’s orbit, its magnetic field, the size of continents and oceans, and volcanic eruptions. These are all natural causes of climate change. Until recently, they, and only they, defined climate change, including the beginning and end of long-term climate cycles, such as glacial periods. Solar and volcanic activity can be attributed to half of the temperature changes before 1950 ( solar Activity leads to an increase in temperature, and volcanic - to decrease).

Recently, another one has been added to the natural factors - anthropogenic, i.e. caused by human activity. The main anthropogenic impact is the increased greenhouse effect, the effect of which on climate change over the past two centuries is 8 times higher than the effect of changes in solar activity.

2. CONCEPT AND ESSENCE OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is the delay of the planet’s thermal radiation by the Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse effect was observed by any of us: in greenhouses or greenhouses the temperature is always higher than outside. The same is observed on the scale of the globe: solar energy, passing through the atmosphere, heats the Earth’s surface, but the thermal energy radiated by the Earth cannot escape back into space, since the Earth’s atmosphere delays it, acting like polyethylene in a greenhouse: it transmits short light waves from the Sun to the Earth and delays long thermal (or infrared) waves emitted by the Earth’s surface. There is a greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect occurs due to the presence of gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, which have the ability to trap long waves. They are called "greenhouse" or "greenhouse" gases.

Greenhouse gases have been present in the atmosphere in small amounts (about 0.1%) since its formation. This amount was enough to maintain, due to the greenhouse effect, the heat balance of the Earth at a level suitable for life. This is the so-called natural greenhouse effect, if its average temperature of the Earth’s surface were 30 ° C lower, i.e. not + 14 ° С, as it is now, but -17 ° С.

The natural greenhouse effect does not threaten neither the Earth nor humanity, since the total amount of greenhouse gases was maintained at the same level due to the cycle of nature, moreover, we owe it to life.

But an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an increase in the greenhouse effect and disruption of the thermal balance of the Earth. That is what happened in the last two centuries of civilization. Coal-fired power plants, car exhausts, factory pipes and other sources of pollution created by mankind emit about 22 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

What gases are called "greenhouse"?

The most famous and common greenhouse gases are water vapor (H 2 O), carbon dioxide (CO 2), methane (CH 4) and laughing gas or nitrous oxide (N 2 O). These are direct greenhouse gases. Most of them are formed in the process of burning fossil fuels.

In addition, there are two more groups of direct-acting greenhouse gases, this halocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Their emissions to the atmosphere are associated with modern technology and industrial processes (electronics and refrigeration equipment). Their amount in the atmosphere is completely insignificant, but they have an impact on the greenhouse effect (the so-called global warming potential / GWP), tens of thousands of times stronger than CO 2.

Water vapor is the main greenhouse gas responsible for more than 60% of the natural greenhouse effect. An anthropogenic increase in its concentration in the atmosphere has not yet been noted. However, an increase in the temperature of the Earth, caused by other factors, increases the evaporation of ocean water, which can lead to an increase in the concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere and - to an increase in the greenhouse effect. On the other hand, clouds in the atmosphere reflect direct sunlight, which reduces the flow of energy to the Earth and, accordingly, reduces the greenhouse effect.

Carbon dioxide is the best-known of greenhouse gases. Natural sources of CO 2 are volcanic emissions, the vital activity of organisms. Anthropogenic sources are the burning of fossil fuels (including forest fires), as well as a number of industrial processes (for example, the production of cement, glass). Carbon dioxide, according to most researchers, is primarily responsible for global warming caused by the "greenhouse effect." The concentration of CO 2 over two centuries of industrialization has increased by more than 30% and is correlated with a change in global average temperature.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. It is released due to leakage in the development of coal and natural gas deposits, from pipelines, during biomass burning, in landfills (as an integral part of biogas), and also in agriculture (cattle breeding, rice growing), etc. Livestock, fertilizer use, coal burning and other sources produce about 250 million tons of methane per year. The amount of methane in the atmosphere is small, but its greenhouse effect or global warming potential (GWP) is 21 times stronger than that of CO 2.

Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas: its effect is 310 times stronger than that of CO 2, but it is contained in very small amounts in the atmosphere. It enters the atmosphere as a result of the vital activity of plants and animals, as well as in the production and use of mineral fertilizers and the work of chemical industry enterprises.

Halocarbons (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) are gases created to replace ozone-depleting substances. Used mainly in refrigeration equipment. They have exceptionally high coefficients of influence on the greenhouse effect: 140-11700 times higher than that of CO 2. Their emissions (emission into the environment) are small, but they increase rapidly.

Sulfur hexafluoride - its release into the atmosphere is associated with electronics and the production of insulating materials. While it is small, but the volume is constantly increasing. Global warming potential is 23900 units.

3. GLOBAL WARMING AND IMPACT ON HUMAN

Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature on our planet, caused by an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

According to direct climatic observations (changes in temperature over the past two hundred years), average temperatures on Earth have increased, and although the reasons for this increase are still the subject of debate, but one of the most widely discussed is the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. An anthropogenic increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere disrupts the planet’s natural heat balance, increases the greenhouse effect, and as a result, causes global warming.

This process is slow and gradual. So, over the past 100 years, the average temperature Earth increased by only 1 o C. It would seem a little. What, then, is causing global concern and forcing many governments to take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

First, this was enough to cause the melting of polar ice and rising sea levels, with all the ensuing consequences.

And secondly, some processes are easier to start than to stop. For example, as a result of the melting of permafrost subarctic, huge amounts of methane are released into the atmosphere, which further enhances the greenhouse effect. And the desalination of the ocean due to the melting of the ice will cause a change in the warm current of the Gulf Stream, which will affect the climate of Europe. Thus, global warming will trigger change, which in turn will accelerate climate change. We started a chain reaction ...

How strong is the human impact on global warming?

The idea of a significant contribution of mankind to the greenhouse effect (and hence to global warming) is supported by most governments, scientists, public organizations and the media, but is not yet a definitively established truth.

Some argue that: the concentration of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere from the pre-industrial period (since 1750) increased by 34% and 160%, respectively. Moreover, it did not reach such a level for hundreds of thousands of years. This is clearly related to the growth of fuel consumption and the development of industry. And it is confirmed by the coincidence of the graph of increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide with the graph of growth of temperature.

Others object: carbon dioxide is dissolved in the surface layer of the World Ocean 50-60 times more than in the atmosphere. In comparison, the impact of a person is simply negligible. In addition, the ocean has the ability to absorb CO 2 and thereby compensates for human exposure.

Recently, however, more and more facts appear in favor of the influence of human activity on global climate change. Here are some of them.

1. The southern part of the world ocean has lost its ability to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, and this will further accelerate global warming on the planet.

2. the flow of heat coming to Earth from the Sun has been decreasing in the last five years, but there is not a cooling but warming on earth ...

How much will the temperature rise?

According to some climate change scenarios, by the year 2100 the average global temperature may increase by 1.4-5.8 degrees Celsius - if no steps are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, periods of hot weather can become longer and more extreme in temperature. At the same time, the development of the situation will vary greatly depending on the region of the Earth, and it is extremely difficult to predict these differences. For example, for Europe they predict at first a not very long period of cooling in connection with a slowdown and a possible change in the course of the Gulf Stream.

4. CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL WARMING

Global warming will greatly affect the lives of some animals. For example, polar bears, seals and penguins will be forced to change their habitat, as polar ice will disappear. Many species of animals and plants will also disappear, failing to adapt to a rapidly changing habitat. 250 million years ago, global warming killed three-quarters of all life on earth.

Global warming will change the climate globally. Growth in the number of climatic disasters, an increase in the number of floods due to hurricanes, desertification and a decrease in summer precipitation by 15–20% in the main agricultural areas, rising ocean levels and temperatures, and the boundaries of natural zones are expected to move to the north.

Moreover, according to some forecasts, global warming will cause the onset of a small ice age. In the 19th century, the eruption of volcanoes was the cause of such a cooling down; in our century, another cause was the desalination of the ocean as a result of the melting of glaciers.

How will global warming affect a person?

In the short term: a shortage of drinking water, an increase in the number of infectious diseases, problems in agriculture due to droughts, an increase in the number of deaths due to flooding, hurricanes, heat and drought.

The most serious blow may be inflicted on the poorest countries, which are the least responsible for exacerbating this problem, and who are least prepared for climate change. Warming and rising temperatures, in the end, can reverse everything that was achieved by the work of previous generations.

Destruction of established and customary farming systems under the influence of droughts, irregular precipitation, etc. can really put on the brink of hunger about 600 million people. By 2080, 1.8 billion people will experience severe water shortages. And in Asia and China, due to the melting of glaciers and the changing nature of precipitation, an environmental crisis may occur.

An increase in temperature of 1.5-4.5 ° C will lead to an increase in ocean level of 40-120 cm (according to some calculations, up to 5 meters). This means the flooding of many small islands and coastal flooding. In areas prone to flooding, there will be about 100 million inhabitants, more than 300 million people will be forced to migrate, some states will disappear (for example, the Netherlands, Denmark, part of Germany).

The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that the health of hundreds of millions of people may be threatened as a result of the spread of malaria (due to an increase in the number of mosquitoes in flooded areas), intestinal infections (due to violations of plumbing systems), etc.

In the long run, this may lead to the next stage of human evolution. Our ancestors faced a similar problem when, after the ice age, the temperature rose sharply by 10 ° C, but this is what led to the creation of our civilization.

Experts do not have accurate data on the contribution of mankind to the observed increase in temperatures on Earth and what a chain reaction can be.

The exact relationship between the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the increase in temperature is also unknown. This is one of the reasons why the forecasts of temperature changes differ so much. And it gives food to skeptics: some scientists find the problem of global warming somewhat exaggerated, as is the data on the rise in average temperature on Earth.

Scientists have no consensus on what the final balance of positive and negative effects of climate change could be, and according to which scenario the situation will develop further.

Some scientists believe that some factors may weaken the effect of global warming: with increasing temperatures, plant growth will accelerate, which will allow plants to take more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Others believe that the possible negative effects of global climate change are underestimated:

· Droughts, cyclones, storms and floods will occur more often,

· An increase in the temperature of the world’s ocean also causes an increase in the strength of hurricanes,

· The speed of melting glaciers and rising sea levels will also be faster ... And this is confirmed by the latest research data.

· Already, the ocean level has increased by 4 cm instead of the predicted 2 cm, the melting rate of glaciers has increased 3 times (the ice cover thickness has decreased by 60-70 cm, and the area of non-flowing ice of the Arctic Ocean has decreased by 14% in 2005 alone).

· It is possible that human activity has already doomed the ice cover to complete extinction, which can result in several times higher sea level rise (by 5-7 meters instead of 40-60 cm).

· Moreover, according to some data, global warming may occur much faster than previously thought due to the release of carbon dioxide from ecosystems, including the oceans.

· And finally, we must not forget that after global warming a global cooling may occur.

However, whatever the scenario, everything speaks for the fact that we must stop playing dangerous games with the planet and reduce our impact on it. It is better to overestimate the danger than to underestimate it. It is better to do everything possible to prevent it than to bite your elbows later. He who is warned is armed.

5. MEASURES NECESSARY TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING

The international community, recognizing the danger associated with the continuous increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, agreed to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC).

In December 1997, the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto (Japan), which obliges industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% from the 1990 level by 2008–2012, including the European Union should cut greenhouse gas emissions by 8% , USA - by 7%, Japan - by 6%. It is enough for Russia and Ukraine that their emissions do not exceed the level of 1990, and 3 countries (Australia, Iceland and Norway) may even increase their emissions because they have forests that absorb CO 2.

For the Kyoto Protocol to enter into force, it is necessary for it to be ratified by states that account for at least 55% of greenhouse gas emissions. Today, the protocol has been ratified by 161 countries of the world (more than 61% of global emissions). In Russia, the Kyoto Protocol was ratified in 2004. The United States and Australia, which made a significant contribution to the greenhouse effect, but refused to ratify the protocol, were a notable exception.

In 2007, a new protocol was signed in Bali, expanding the list of measures to be taken to reduce the anthropogenic impact on climate change.

Here are some of them:

1. Reduce the burning of fossil fuels

Today, we get 80% of our energy from fossil fuels, the burning of which is the main source of greenhouse gases.

2. Increase the use of renewable energy sources.

Solar and wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy, tidal energy - today the use of alternative energy sources is becoming a key factor for the long-term sustainable development of mankind.

3. Stop the destruction of ecosystems!

Any attacks on intact ecosystems should be stopped. Natural ecosystems absorb CO 2 and are important element in maintaining a CO 2 balance. The forests are especially good at this. But in many regions of the world, forests continue to be destroyed at a catastrophic speed.

4. Reduce energy losses during energy production and transportation.

The transition from large-scale energy (hydro, thermal power plants, nuclear power plants) to small local power plants will reduce energy losses. When transporting energy over a long distance, up to 50% of energy can be lost on the way!

5. Use new energy efficient technologies in industry

Currently, the efficiency of most of the technologies used is about 30%! It is necessary to introduce new energy efficient production technologies.

6. Reduce energy consumption in the construction and housing sector.

Regulations must be adopted that prescribe the use of energy-efficient materials and technologies in the construction of new buildings, which will reduce the energy consumption in houses several times.

7. New laws and incentives.

Laws should be enacted that impose higher taxes on enterprises that exceed the limits of CO 2 emissions, and provide tax concessions for energy producers from renewable sources and energy-efficient products. Redirect financial flows to the development of these particular technologies and industries.

8. New ways to move

Today, in large cities, motor vehicle emissions account for 60-80% of all emissions. It is necessary to encourage the use of new environmentally friendly modes of transport, to support public transport, to develop infrastructure for cyclists.

9. Promote and stimulate energy conservation and careful use of natural resources by the inhabitants of all countries.

These measures will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by developed countries by 80% by 2050, and by developing countries by 30% by 2030.

H ACCESS

Recently, the problem of the greenhouse effect is becoming more and more acute. The climate in the world requires urgent action. Proof of this can serve some of the effects of the greenhouse effect, manifested today.

The lazy areas become even wetter. Continuous rains, which cause a sharp increase in the level of rivers and lakes, are becoming more frequent. Flooded rivers flood coastal settlements, forcing residents to leave their homes, saving their lives.

Intensive rains occurred in March 1997 in the United States. Many people died, the damage was estimated at 400 million dollars. Such continuous precipitation becomes more intense and is caused by global warming. Warm air may contain more moisture, and in the atmosphere of Europe there is already much more moisture than it was 25 years ago. Where will the new rains fall? Experts say that areas prone to flooding should be preparing for new disasters.

In contrast, dry areas have become even more arid. There are droughts so intense in the world that have not been observed for 69 years. Drought destroys corn fields in America. In 1998, corn, which usually reaches two meters or more, grew only to the waist of a man.

However, despite these natural warnings, mankind is not taking measures to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. If humanity continues to behave so irresponsibly in relation to its planet, it is not known what other disasters this will turn into.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Barlund K., Klein G. "Medieval" diseases of modern Europe. - M. 2003. - 199 pp .;

2. Bobylev S.N., Gritsevich I.G. Global climate change and economic development. - M .: UNEP, 2005. - 64 p .;

3. Drozdov OA, Arapov PP, Lugin KM, Mosolova G.I. About the features of the climate during the warming of the last centuries // Proc. report Vseross scientific conf. Kazan 2000. p. 24-26;

4. Kondratyev K.Ya. Global change at the turn of the millennium // Bulletin of RAS. 2000. pp. 29-37;

5. Lavrov S.B. Global problems modernity. - SPb .: Prospect, 2000. - 341 p .;

6. Losev K.S., Gorshkov V.G., Kondratiev K.Ya. Problems of Ecology of Russia - Moscow: VINITI, 2001. - 247 p .;

7. Mazurov G.I., Vishnyakova T.V., Akselevich V.I. Does the Earth's climate change? // Materials Intern. scientific and practical conf. Permian. 2002. pp. 57-60;

8. Order of J. Global Ecology. - M .: Mir, 1999 - 377 p.

State budgetary educational institution of higher

Vocational Education "Nizhny Novgorod State

Medical Academy »Ministry of Health of Russia

Department of Hygiene

Essay on the topic:

"Global climate change and its consequences"

Completed: medical students

faculty 340 group

Loginova A.A. and Salnova M.S.

Nizhny Novgorod

year 2014

Introduction ……………………………………………………… ... ……………………… 3

Global climate change ……………… .. ………. ……………………… ..3

Anthropogenic theory of climate change …… .. ……………………………… 4

Implications of global climate change ……… .. ……………………… .... 6

References ……………………. ……………………… ..10

Introduction

Hurricanes in the USA, drought in Australia, abnormally hot summer in Europe, catastrophic rainfall and floods in foggy Albion - the list can be continued. Here are just some examples of the effects of climate change. Extreme natural phenomena beat all records in almost all regions of the world. And natural disasters entail economic consequences.

Global climate change

In addition to rising temperatures, a number of other warming-related changes occur in a complex and multiply connected system, such as our “weather machine” - the Earth’s climate system. They manifest themselves in increasing weather variability (severe frosts, followed by sharp thaws in winter, an increase in the number of unusually hot days in summer), an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (storms, hurricanes, floods, droughts), increased precipitation irregularity, and such processes like melting glaciers and permafrost, rising sea levels, etc. These and other manifestations of climate variability cause thousands of deaths every year and cause tens of billions of dollars in damage.

Warming or cooling?

Often in various sources, including scientific and mass media, one can hear that in fact in the near future it is not global warming that is expected but global cooling.

As you know, in the past, our planet has repeatedly experienced periods of cooling and subsequent warming associated with centuries-old natural cyclical processes. The last ice age was 10,000 years ago, now we live in the interglacial period. Naturally, in a few thousand years we should expect a global cooling.

However, climate warming, which is happening now, does not fit into natural cycles in any way; moreover, it happens extremely rapidly: after all, this is not about millennia, but about hundreds and even decades. The average temperature of the planet has never changed at such an incredible speed: 0.7 degrees for 100 years, 0.5 of them for the last 50. And 11 of the last 12 years were the hottest meteorological observations over the entire instrumental period. Such an unprecedented speed is not characteristic of natural cyclic processes and leaves little chance for species and ecosystems to adapt to such rapid climate change.

Scientists attribute the observed changes in the Earth’s climate system to the anomalous increase in atmospheric concentrations of so-called “greenhouse gases” (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.). These gases trap infrared radiation that emits the earth’s surface, thereby creating a “greenhouse effect”. The phenomenon of the greenhouse effect allows you to maintain on the surface of the Earth the temperature at which the emergence and development of life. If the greenhouse effect were absent, the average temperature of the surface of the globe would be much lower than it is now.

Introduction

1. Causes of climate change

2. The concept and essence of the greenhouse effect

3. Global warming and human exposure

4. Consequences of global warming

5. Measures necessary to prevent global warming

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

The world is getting warmer, and humanity is largely responsible for this, experts say. But many factors affecting climate change have not yet been studied, while others have not been studied at all.

Coal mining is spread all over the planet. A huge amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) is emitted into the atmosphere when coal is burned. As developing countries follow in the footsteps of their industrial neighbors, CO2 will double in the 21st century.

Most experts, studying the complexity of the Earth’s climate system, associate the increase in global temperature and future climate change with an increase in CO2 in atmospheric air.

Now, many experts believe that humanity is endangering the global ecological system due to global warming caused by the so-called greenhouse effect. Evaporation of civilization products in the form of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), detained enough heat reflected from the earth's surface so that the average temperature at the earth's surface increased by half a degree Celsius during the twentieth century. If this direction of the modern industry continues, the climate system will change everywhere - melting ice, raising sea levels, destroying plants by droughts, turning areas into deserts, moving green areas.

However, in 1995, after many years of intensive study, the International Conference on Climate Change, sponsored by the United Nations, tentatively concluded that "many proofs show that the influence of humanity on the global climate is enormous." The scope of these influences, as experts note, is unknown, since the key factor, including the degree of the impact of clouds and oceans on the change in global temperature, is not determined. It may take a dozen years or more additional research to eliminate these uncertainties.

The purpose of this work is to study the problem of climate change on Earth.

The objectives of this work:

1. to study the causes of climate change;

2. to consider the concept and essence of the greenhouse effect;

3. to define the concept of "global warming" and show the influence of humanity on it;

4. show the consequences awaiting humanity as a result of global warming; 5. Consider the measures needed to prevent global warming.

1. CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

What is global climate change and why is it often called “global warming”?

What evidence is there of climate change?

If the climate has changed before, why has it become a problem now?

Indeed, the climate of our planet is constantly changing. Everyone knows about the glacial periods (they are small and large), with the global flood, etc. According to geological data, the average global temperature in different geological periods ranged from +7 to +27 degrees Celsius. Now the average temperature on Earth is about + 14 ° C and is still quite far from the maximum. So, what are scientists, heads of state and the public concerned about? In short, the concern is that, to the natural causes of climate change, which have always been added, another factor is added - anthropogenic (the result of human activity), whose influence on climate change, according to some researchers, is becoming stronger with each passing year.

What are the causes of climate change?

In addition, the climate is affected by changes in the Earth’s orbit, its magnetic field, the size of continents and oceans, and volcanic eruptions. These are all natural causes of climate change. Until recently, they, and only they, defined climate change, including the beginning and end of long-term climate cycles, such as glacial periods. Solar and volcanic activity can be attributed to half of the temperature changes before 1950 (solar activity leads to an increase in temperature, and volcanic activity - to a decrease).

2. CONCEPT AND ESSENCE OF GREENHOUSE EFFECT

What gases are called "greenhouse"?

The most famous and common greenhouse gases are water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) and laughing gas or nitrous oxide (N2O). These are direct greenhouse gases. Most of them are formed in the process of burning fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide is the best-known of greenhouse gases. Natural sources of CO2 are volcanic emissions, the vital activity of organisms. Anthropogenic sources are the burning of fossil fuels (including forest fires), as well as a number of industrial processes (for example, the production of cement, glass). Carbon dioxide, according to most researchers, is primarily responsible for global warming caused by the "greenhouse effect." The CO2 concentration over two centuries of industrialization has increased by more than 30% and is correlated with a change in global average temperature.

Nitrous oxide is the third most important greenhouse gas: its effect is 310 times stronger than that of CO2, but it is contained in the atmosphere in very small amounts. It enters the atmosphere as a result of the vital activity of plants and animals, as well as in the production and use of mineral fertilizers and the work of chemical industry enterprises.

Halocarbons (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) are gases created to replace ozone-depleting substances. Used mainly in refrigeration equipment. They have exceptionally high coefficients of influence on the greenhouse effect: 140-11700 times higher than that of CO2. Their emissions (emission into the environment) are small, but they increase rapidly.

3. GLOBAL WARMING AND IMPACT ON HUMAN

Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature on our planet, caused by an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

This process is slow and gradual. So, over the past 100 years, the average temperature Earth increased by only 1oS. It would seem a little. What, then, is causing global concern and forcing many governments to take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

First, this was enough to cause the melting of polar ice and rising sea levels, with all the ensuing consequences.

How strong is the human impact on global warming?

Recently, however, more and more facts appear in favor of the influence of human activity on global climate change. Here are some of them.

1. The southern part of the world ocean has lost its ability to absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, and this will further accelerate global warming on the planet.

2. the flow of heat coming to Earth from the Sun has been decreasing in the last five years, but there is not a cooling but warming on earth ...

How much will the temperature rise?

4. IMPACT OF GLOBAL HEATING