and Water Presentation by Ms Neha Rathi Std XI, TISB, Bangalore

Transcription

1 Global Warming and Water Presentation by Ms Neha Rathi Std XI, TISB, Bangalore

2 What is global warming?

3 In the last century, our planet s average temperature has increased by approximately 1 C. Just 1 C? This seems very small. So why is global warming such a big problem? To answer your question, let s compare the earth to the human body. What will happen if your body temperature increases by even a few degrees?

4 I will fall sick. Exactly! Similarly, if the temperature of the Earth increases by even a few degrees the result is Climate Change.

5 The increase in temperature has caused glaciers to melt. Look at this effect on Pederson Glacier (Alaska).

6 In the short term, the increased melting of glaciers can cause floods. In the long term, these glaciers will disappear, causing rivers to dry up and droughts to occur.

7 Precipitation patterns will change There may be more intense rainfall on rainy days and more dry days in a year

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11 What is the impact of a rise in sea levels? Islands at low levels, such as Lakshadweep, can be flooded. These ecosystems are rich in biodiversity. The mangroves alone house marine turtles, freshwater dolphins and crocodiles. People too will be affected. More than a million people depend on the mangroves for natural resources such as honey, fish and wood. People living on the islands will have no home and will have to take refuge elsewhere. By 2100, the sea level will have risen by a meter.

12 Case study: How will an increase in sea levels affect Bangladesh? One of the countries worst affected by an increase in sea levels is Bangladesh. Even by a half meter increase in sea level, 10% of the land in Bangladesh will be lost. An increase in sea level will make diseases such as malaria (the mosquitoes that spread malaria lay eggs in watery areas) and cholera (which can spread by unclean water and illprepared food) 66% of the people of Bangladesh work in farms, however, low-lying farmland can be flooded by an increase in sea levels. This will reduce the economic activity in Bangladesh and, more importantly, displace people from their homes. To make matters worse, Bangladesh is an extremely densely populated country.

13 Burning fossil fuels, among other activities, raise the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans and decreases the ph of the oceans.) Many species can survive in only a narrow band of ph levels, they may become extinct. This image shows the change in ph of the oceans over the past 300 years. The brighter the color, the more the decrease in ph.

14 The scarcity of water has given rise to many conflicts between nations and states. This can lead to rioting, causing Loss of life Loss to public goods Loss to the economy

15 The solution is in our hands

16 Let s take action Before it s too late

17 Acknowledgements day.html _warming.html