Climate change and Water resources

Transcription

1 Climate change and Water resources

2 Changes are being seen around the world

3 Upsala glacier, Patagonia Source: Greenpeace

4 Pederson Glacier (Alaska)

5 Larsen B ice shelf, West Antarctica 3250 square km of ice 220 m thick broke off Source: NASA

6 Sea levels are rising Source:

7 Drought in Amazon river, 2005 Source: Greenpeace

8 All is not well

9 Why is this happening?

10 Source: Vital Climate Graphics, Grid Arendal / UNEP Gases like carbon dioxide are essential for life on Earth.

11 They trap some of the heat (infra-red radiations) leaving the Earth. Without them, Earth s average temperature would be C

12 They are called Green House Gases (GHGs)

13 Source: IPCC (2007)

14 Some are natural some manmade

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16 The Earth has natural systems that heat it and other natural systems that act as cooling factors. Thus an equilibrium is maintained. But there is an imbalance being created and the factors that heat the Earth are becoming more prominent.

17 Atmospheric CO 2 has increased from a pre-industrial concentration of about 280 ppmv to about 367 ppmv at present

18 Methane and nitrous oxide fare no better

19 To learn more about the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere before the era of instruments and measurements, scientists are analyzing gases trapped in ice And we find that.

20 The concentrations of greenhouse gases that we are seeing now, has not been witnessed in the past years Source: IPCC (2007)

21 Source: We re blanketing the Earth with more and more of these gases and the ball is going warm

22 Eleven of the last twelve years were the warmest since thermometer records began in 1850

23 A hot future awaits us Global mean surface temperature could rise between C by 2100

24 What is increasing GHGs?

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26 Forests are becoming croplands to feed our growing millions. Fewer trees, more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

27 Intensification of agriculture to feed the growing millions Global fertilizer consumption More nitrous oxide released Source: IGBP

28 Changing lifestyles More methane generated by anaerobic decomposition of wastes in landfills Source: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

29 Changing lifestyles

30 Increasing industrialization to meet our growing demands

31 Increased demand for electricity From domestic consumers From industries From the agriculture sector

32 Electricity generation Source: International Energy Agency 0.82 kg of CO 2 produced for every unit of electricity generated from coal. That s approx. 1 kg of CO 2 produced for every unit of electricity we use.

33 Energy use Source: CDIAC

34 What changes do scientists predict?

35 By the end of the century Global mean surface temperature could increase by 1.0 to C (best estimates) Global mean sea level could rise by m

36 How will this affect our water resources

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38 Precipitation patterns will change There may be more intense rainfall on rainy days, resulting in floods and more dry days in a year, causing drought

39 Damages due to floods has cost India over Rs 800 crore every year

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41 350 million Indians have been affected badly due to drought in past ten years

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43 Groundwater it s finite! 78% of assessed groundwater units in Delhi are over-exploited (extraction > recharge)

44 India will reach a state of water stress before 2025

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46 Sea level will be a minimum of 40 cm higher than today by the end of 21st century Source: TERI % of Bangladesh's coastal land is likely go underwater, creating 7 to 10 million climate refugees

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48 What is the impact of a rise in sea levels? Entire ecosystems, such as the mangroves, can be wiped out. Islands at low levels, such as Lakshadweep, can be flooded.

49 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.

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52 The solution is in our hands

53 We can do many things Electricity Water Green buildings Transport Renewable energy Afforestation Spread awareness

54 Acknowledgements Ms Ulka Kelkar Ms Neha Rathi