Training for trainers on Sustainable Development file1 EU Project No....

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EU Project No. 224953-CP-1-2005-1-NL-GRUNDTVIG-G11

euSDET Grundtvig 3 Course Material

www.mecb.com.mt/eusdet.html

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Netherlands + Italy + Malta + France + Latvia + Romania + Bulgaria + Lithuania

Grundtvig 3 training courseGrundtvig 3 training course

Augusts Augusts RUPLISRUPLIS, Riga Tech. Univ., Riga Tech. Univ.Tutor:Tutor:

3.33.3Session: Session:

33Day:Day:

ClimateClimate ChangeChangeTitle of Lecture:Title of Lecture:

Training for trainers on Sustainable DevelopmentTraining for trainers on Sustainable Development

developed bydeveloped by


Project No. 224953-CP-1-2005-1-NL-GRUNDTVIG-G11

as a


Lecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture OutlineLecture Outline

•• Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

1.1. Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect

2.2. Temperature riseTemperature rise

3.3. Carbon cycleCarbon cycle

4.4. Gulf streamGulf stream

5.5. Ice Ice albedoalbedo effecteffect

•• ConclusionsConclusions

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Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning Objectives 11111111

By the endBy the end of this lecture you will : of this lecture you will :

•• Understand and Understand and

explainexplain

climateclimate’’s changes change


Learning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning ObjectivesLearning Objectives 22222222

By the endBy the end of this lecture you will : of this lecture you will :

•• Characterise:Characterise:

–– Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect

–– Global temperature riseGlobal temperature rise

–– Carbon cycleCarbon cycle

–– Feedback effects of positive and Feedback effects of positive and

negative rise of temperaturenegative rise of temperature

–– Role of Golf streamRole of Golf stream

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•• The greenhouse effect is the natural The greenhouse effect is the natural

process by which the atmosphere traps process by which the atmosphere traps

some of the Sun's energy, warming the some of the Sun's energy, warming the

Earth enough to support life.Earth enough to support life.

11111111.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effectGreenhouse effect

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•• Most mainstream scientists believe a Most mainstream scientists believe a humanhuman--driven increase in "greenhouse driven increase in "greenhouse gases" is increasing the effect gases" is increasing the effect artificially.artificially.



•• These gases include carbon dioxide, These gases include carbon dioxide,

emitted by fossil fuel burning and emitted by fossil fuel burning and

deforestation, and methane, released deforestation, and methane, released

from landfill sites.from landfill sites.


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22222222.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Temperature riseTemperature riseTemperature riseTemperature riseTemperature riseTemperature riseTemperature riseTemperature rise

•• In 2001, scientists predicted In 2001, scientists predicted

the Earth would warm bythe Earth would warm by

1.4 1.4 -- 5.85.8 CCelsiuselsius by 2100.by 2100.



•• Most scientists blame Most scientists blame ––

at least in part at least in part –– increasingincreasing

amount of certain gasesamount of certain gases

emmitedemmited by fossil fuelby fossil fuel

burningburning and and other humanother human

activities.activities.

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•• The scenarios compare a fossilThe scenarios compare a fossil--fuel driven fuel driven future with one where sustainable future with one where sustainable development is a priority.development is a priority.



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33333333.1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 Carbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon CycleCarbon Cycle

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•• The carbon cycle Carbon dioxide (COThe carbon cycle Carbon dioxide (CO22) )

is the main greenhouse gas of concern. is the main greenhouse gas of concern.

A finite amount of carbon is stored in A finite amount of carbon is stored in

fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and fossil fuels, the sea, living matter and

the atmosphere. the atmosphere.

33333333.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2 Carbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycleCarbon cycle


•• Without human influence, transfers Without human influence, transfers

between these stores roughly balance between these stores roughly balance

each other each other –– for example, plants absorb for example, plants absorb

carbon as they grow, but release it as carbon as they grow, but release it as

they decay.they decay.


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•• But when humans cut down trees or But when humans cut down trees or

burn fossil fuels, they release extra burn fossil fuels, they release extra

carbon into the atmosphere, increasing carbon into the atmosphere, increasing

the greenhouse effect.the greenhouse effect.




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44444444.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Gulf streamGulf streamGulf streamGulf streamGulf streamGulf streamGulf streamGulf stream

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Dramatic temperature Dramatic temperature shifts have happened in the shifts have happened in the past, driven partly by past, driven partly by changes in a major ocean changes in a major ocean currents.currents.



A "great ocean conveyor" helps A "great ocean conveyor" helps

transport heat around the globe transport heat around the globe

via surface and deepvia surface and deep--sea sea

movements of water.movements of water.

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This could disrupt mostly windThis could disrupt mostly wind--driven surface driven surface

currents such as the Gulf Stream, which currents such as the Gulf Stream, which

helps to bring milder weather to Northern helps to bring milder weather to Northern

Europe.Europe.



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44444444.6.6.6.6.6.6.6.6 Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.Gulf stream 4.66666666

1 Surface currents carry warm, salty 1 Surface currents carry warm, salty

water from the tropics.water from the tropics.


4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.4 Gulf stream 4.77777777

2 The water cools, its density increases 2 The water cools, its density increases

and it sinks to the deep ocean.and it sinks to the deep ocean.

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3 The cold water flows back to the 3 The cold water flows back to the

equator, driving the "ocean conveyor" equator, driving the "ocean conveyor"

which in turn contributes to the Gulf which in turn contributes to the Gulf

Stream that warms northern Europe.Stream that warms northern Europe.




water from the tropicswater from the tropics

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55555555.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice albedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedo effecteffecteffecteffecteffecteffecteffecteffect


55555555.2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2 Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice Ice albedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedoalbedo effect effect effect effect effect effect effect effect

((((((((explanationexplanationexplanationexplanationexplanationexplanationexplanationexplanation))))))))

1.1. Light coloured ice reflects back the Light coloured ice reflects back the SunSun’’s energy efficiently.s energy efficiently.

2.2. Exposed land is darker coloured and Exposed land is darker coloured and absorbs more energy.absorbs more energy.

3.3. As the ice melts, more land is exposed. As the ice melts, more land is exposed. This absorbs more heat, melting more This absorbs more heat, melting more ice.ice.

4.4. The altitude of the melting ice is The altitude of the melting ice is reduced so it becomes harder for new reduced so it becomes harder for new ice to form.ice to form.

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•• Warming will trigger some processes Warming will trigger some processes

which speed further warming, and other which speed further warming, and other

effects which mitigate it. The balance effects which mitigate it. The balance

between these positive and negative between these positive and negative

feedbacks is a major cause of feedbacks is a major cause of

uncertainty in climate predictions.uncertainty in climate predictions.



•• For example, as the diagram shows, For example, as the diagram shows,

decreasing ice cover will mean exposed decreasing ice cover will mean exposed

land absorbs more heat and speeds land absorbs more heat and speeds

warming further.warming further.


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•• In contrast, for example, plants' CO2 In contrast, for example, plants' CO2

intake is likely to increase as higher intake is likely to increase as higher

temperatures increase growth rates, temperatures increase growth rates,

somewhat countering the warming somewhat countering the warming

effect.effect.











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Lecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture ConclusionLecture Conclusion

InIn thisthis lecturelecture youyou havehave been been introducedintroduced

fivefive scientificscientific arguments arguments thatthat justifyjustify

thethe EarthEarth’’ss climateclimate changechange nowadaysnowadays: :

•• Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect

•• Temperature riseTemperature rise

•• Carbon cycleCarbon cycle

•• Gulf streamGulf stream

•• Ice Ice albedoalbedo effecteffect..

ThThis confirms the is confirms the ofof thethe humanhuman activitieactivities. It is s. It is up to us to take action to reduce/stop this.up to us to take action to reduce/stop this.


Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

This course material has been developed through the financial support provided by the European Commission's SOCRATES programme called Grundtvig 1 for project no. 224953-CP-1-2005-1-NL-GRUNDTVIG-G11

Training for trainers on Sustainable Development file1 EU Project No....

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