Climate Change

Climate Change

The greenhouse effect

The types of radiation transfer and nature of the greenhouse effect are explained in detail in lesson 1. Here, an overview is included in the context of climate change. The Sun emits energy in the form of visible light and ultra-violet (UV) radiation, which travels towards the Earth. Some of this energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and some is reflected by the clouds back into space. The rest heats the Earth's surface. The Earth is much cooler than the Sun and re-radiates this heat as infra-red (IR) radiation. Some of this IR radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, making the Earth warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. This is called the greenhouse effect.

Representation of the greenhouse effect.
The enhanced greenhouse effect

Increasing the concentrations of the greenhouse gases will make the natural greenhouse effect more powerful. Some of mankind's activities have resulted in an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These extra greenhouse gases are trapping more of the heat trying to escape from the Earth and this is causing the atmosphere, and consequently the Earth's surface, to heat up. So what is commonly called the greenhouse effect is really the increase of the natural greenhouse effect due to human pollution, and should be called the "enhanced" greenhouse effect.

The key greenhouse gases and their main sources.

Man-made emissions of greenhouse gases come from a variety of sources including the burning of coal, oil and gas (the fossil fuels), destruction of the world's forests, vehicle exhausts fumes and aerosols. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is released when fossil fuels are burnt, and also through the destruction of the world's forests. Although CO2 is not the most powerful greenhouse gas it has the greatest concentration in the atmosphere after water vapour. Since 1765, its concentration has increased by 30%. Methane (CH4) emissions come mainly from modern farming methods, but also from coal mining, natural gas production and waste landfill sites. Methane concentrations have increased over 100% since 1765. Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions come from the productions of fertilisers, nylon, chemicals and the burning of fossil fuels. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are used in air conditioning units, plastic foams and aerosol cans. CFCs are very powerful greenhouse gases compared to CO2. Even though the concentrations of CFCs in the Earth's atmosphere are very small, their total effect is significant, because they trap much more radiation than CO2. CFCs also destroy the ozone layer. Water vapour (H2O) is the most abundant greenhouse gas. It plays a role in maintaining a stable temperature on Earth through the production of clouds.

Temperature trends

Temperature records show the Earth has warmed by 0.5ºC during the 20th century. This is shown below.

Global average temperatures 1861 to 1995 relative to 1951-1980 average.

Temperature varies naturally from decade to decade and even from century to century. How can one be certain that the rise in temperature that is now occurring is due to mankind's enhancing of the Earth's natural greenhouse effect and not due to natural changes in the climate?

Scientists use computer models to simulate man-made climate change. The results show that the warming over the past 100 years is most likely to be due to mankind, and that if we continue to emit greenhouse gases at the present rate the Earth will continue to warm by 1.5ºC every 50 years. This does not sound like much, but it is useful to remember that the Earth warmed by only 5ºC at the end of the last ice age; this warming took several thousands of years.

Reducing the threat of global warming

Most greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for many tens of years and continue to affect the climate long after being released. If emissions of greenhouse gases stopped today, those already in the atmosphere would continue to affect the climate.

The effects of climate change could have serious impacts on the world. Sea levels may rise, affecting many low-lying coastal regions. Changes in the amount of rainfall will affect agriculture. The most at risk will be those least able to adapt to changes. To minimise these impacts, we must reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases.

There is much uncertainty about how climate change will affect us, but scientists and governments believe that we must start reducing greenhouse emissions now. The Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) represents a first step to achieve this goal. Signed in June 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, by 162 Governments, the FCCC aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. In 1997, Governments drew up the Kyoto Protocol which now commits nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% from 1990 levels by the year 2012.