Climate Change

1
(No Transcript)
2
Climate Change
3
Weather

• Rain
• Wind
• Sun
• Snow

4
Climate
The climate for a place is taken to be the
average weather over 30 years

• Long term average in the weather

5
How do we know what the climate was like?

• Historical evidence
• Ice samples
• Samples from old trees
• Geology

6
Our Climate is getting Warmer

• The global climate has warmed by an average of
  0.6 degrees
• The poles have warmed far more than this (11
  degrees)

7
Green House Effect

• CO2 in the air keeps the earth insulated.
• Without the Green House effect earth would be 15
  degrees
• Because of the CO2 released from fossil fuels the
  world is now too insulated

8
Greenhouse Effect

• Green House Effect aka Global Warming, Climate
  Change, accelerated climate change
• Caused by CO2, Methane and Nitrous Oxide being
  released into the atmosphere increasing the
  amount of insulation the earth receives and so
  the global temperature is going up.

9
Human Activity Has Caused the release of extra
Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere

• Burning fossil fuels to make electricity
• Mass car ownership
• Air travel
• Consumerism
• Industrialisation
• Agriculture

10
What will the Climate be like?

• The summers in Wales will be drier
• The winters will much wetter and stormier

11
Rising Sea Levels

• Scientists from UKCIP predict sea level rise of
  80cm above current MHWS
• Storm forcing currently can cause sea levels 4m
  above MHWS

12
Present
1m rise (2080) plus 4m forcing
13
2080 on a spring tide
2080 with storm forcing
14
What about the World?

• The Global average up 3 degrees over the next 100
  years
• Bigger change at the poles and equator of up to
  11 degrees has already been recorded

15
(No Transcript)
16
How can anyone predict the future?

• Scientists represent different parts of the
  planet using formula
• Powerful computers run MODELS to see how all the
  different parts of our planet work together
• By comparing the results these models give us for
  the past with what actually happened the
  scientists can see how reliable they are.

17
Its not Fair!

• Some of the poorest countries will be hardest hit
  by climate change
• They have the least resources to help their
  people
• They produced very small amounts of green house
  gasses in the first place

18
What Opportunities are there for Wales?

• Wales could be a world leader in renewable
  technologies
• The tourist industry may benefit in the summer
• Farmers will be able grow different crops

19
What is the downside?

• Rising sea levels and more powerful storms
• Pests that would have died off over winter will
  survive
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Changes in our landscape

20
Climate Change Jobs

• Climate Scientist
• Computer programmer
• Solar hot water installer
• Energy Efficiency advisor
• NGO aid worker
• PV electrician
• Wind turbine engineer
• Ecologist
• Coastal Defence Engineer
• National Parks Warden
• Just to get started