2024

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What is Climate Change?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as a change of climate
which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is
in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

Theories of Climate Change

Astronomical or The Earth's orbit around the sun changes overtime. It leads to variations in
Orbital Theory the amount of solar radiation received, thereby affecting the climate.

The continental drift theory of Wegner, the sea floor spreading by H.H. Hess,
Theories of and the plate tectonics by Morgan reveal that the continents and ocean basins
continental drift are under constant movement. Changes in the distribution of continents and
ocean basins also lead to changes in climate.

Variation in the composition of the atmosphere (Co2, NO2, CH4, H2O etc.) can affect
Theories Theories about the
climate.
changes in the
of Climate Atmospheric
Change The carbon dioxide theory about climate change was put forward by T.C.
Composition Chamberlin.

The volcanic dust deflects light of short wavelengths coming from the sun,
but allows the long wave terrestrial radiation to easily pass through, thus cooling
The Volcanic Dust the Earth's temperature.
Theory
The volcanic dust is considered to be responsible for the 'Little Ice Age'.

The number of sunspots increases and decreases over an 11-year cycle.

Sunspots Theory
There is a close relationship between the sunspots and the heat and energy
received at the earth's surface.

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Climate Change Drivers

heat trapping emissions from burning coal, gas and oil in

power plants and cars; cutting down and burning forests;
tiny pollution particles(aerosols); black carbon pollution

changes surface albedo

changes evapotranspiration rates and soil moisture

characteristics; Desertification also increases surface
An El Niño warm water phase changes global weather albedo
patterns

cows and sheep produce large amounts of methane

when they digest their food

Produce nitrous oxide emissions

Produce a very strong warming effect

Greenhouse Gases and Global warming: Green House Effect, Sources

& Causes and Evidences

What is Global warming?

Global warming refers to the increase in average global temperature since the Industrial Revolution. The average global temperature
has increased by more than one degree Celsius since 1880. Global warming is an ongoing process; scientists expect the average global
temperature to rise an additional 0.3 to 0.7 degrees Celsius through 2035.

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Greenhouse Gases: Sources and Causes

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Global Warming Potential (GWP):

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) was developed to allow comparisons of the global warming impacts of different gases.

It is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the
emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2).

The larger the GWP, the more that a given gas warms the Earth compared to CO2 over that time period. The time period usually
used for GWPs is 100 years.

Atmospheric
Greenhouse Gases GWP Sources/Causes
lifetime (yrs)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 50-200 1 Burning of fossil fuels, deforestation

12 +
_3 Growing paddy, excreta of cattle and other livestock, termites,
Methane (CH4) 21 burning of fossil fuels, wood, landfills.

Burning of fossil fuels, fertilizers; burning of crop residue

Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 120 310

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 150 to 11700 Primarily produced for use in refrigeration, air-
1.5 to 209 conditioning, insulating foams and aerosol propellants

6500 to 9200 The aluminum smelting industry has been a major source of
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) 2600 to 50000 atmospheric perfluorocarbons.

SF6 is a substance which originates only from

anthropogenic sources used primarily in the electricity and
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) 3200 23900 electronics supply industries, e.g., the semiconductor industry,
where it is used as an electronic insulator due to its inertness.

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Global warming evidences

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Ozone Layer Depletion

The main reason of ozone layer depletion is believed to be the release of chlorofluorocarbon compounds (CFCs), also
known as freons.

Once CFCs are released in the atmosphere, they mix with the normal atmospheric gases and eventually reach the
stratosphere. In stratosphere, they get broken down by powerful UV radiations, releasing chlorine free radical. The
chlorine radicals are continuously regenerated and cause the breakdown of ozone.

Ozone- Depleting Substances Sources

Manufacturing of polyurethane, phenolic, polystyrene and polyolefin foam polymers,

Chlorofluorocarbons
blowing agents
Halons Used in portable fire extinguishers.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Used in the refrigeration, foam, solvent, aerosol and firefighting sectors as a transitional
(HCFCs) substance to substitute CFCs.

Methyl Bromide Used as a fumigant in agriculture, for pest control in structures and stored commodities,
and for quarantine treatments.

Carbon Tetrachloride Used as chlorinated solvent in different industries, feedstock for different CFCs.

Methyl Chloroform Used for cold cleaning, vapour degreasing, chemical processing, adhesives in industries.

Nitrogen Oxides Explosions of thermonuclear weapons, industrial emissions and agricultural fertilizers.

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Role of Polar Stratospheric Clouds

In 1980s atmospheric scientists working in Antarctica reported

about depletion of ozone layer commonly known as ozone hole
over the South Pole. It was found that a unique set of conditions was
responsible for the ozone hole.

In summer season, nitrogen dioxide and methane react with

chlorine monoxide and chlorine atoms forming chlorine sinks,
preventing much ozone depletion.

In winter, special type of clouds called polar stratospheric clouds

are formed over Antarctica. These clouds provide surface on which
chlorine nitrate formed gets hydrolysed to form hypochlorous acid. It
also reacts with hydrogen chloride produced to give molecular
chlorine.

ozone depletion effects

climate change increased UV-B radiation reaching earth's surface

accumulation of tropospheric photochemical

ozone and acid aerosols, causing formation of direct human damage to materials: damage to biological
worsening air pollution and acid rain tropospheric ozone health effects paint, plastic, rubber links in humen food chain

environmental effects: suppression of immunity: eye damage: increased

crop and forest damage increase in infectious incidence of contracts aqualastic: Less
diseases, less effective and bindness ocean plantion,
vaccination lower fish harvests

human health effects: rise in incidence

respiratory illness of skin cancer terrestrial: reduced crop,
and heart problems yield, stunted paint growth

Consequences/ Impacts of climate change:

Impact on Hydological Cycle
1. Water: Reduced availability of water resources/ Serious threat to water security.
2. Agriculture: Water demand for crops and livestock will be affected. Affecting the crop yield in both irrigated and rainfed regions.
3. Energy Production: Climate change increases streamflow variability thus affecting the hydropower generation.

4. Municipal Services: Increased temperature can also encourage presence of algal bloom and cyanotoxins thus needing additional and
new treatment methodologies.
5. Freshwater Ecosystem: Between 1970 and 2000, populations of freshwater species included in the Living Planet Index declined on
average by 50%.

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Impact on Oceans
Ocean warming: Climate Change leads to more stable stratification of layers by density. Which promotes more Oxygen Minimum
Zones (OMZs)

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Ocean Acidification: Anthropogenically emitted CO2 gets dissolved in the sea water. It forms Carbonic Acid in the process, reducing
the pH of water.

Ocean Deoxygenation: Volumes of areas depleted of oxygen, known as "anoxic waters. Major causes include - degassing due to
warming of sea water and less intermixing due to stable stratification of layers e.g. Baltic Sea and Black Sea.

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Impact on Food Security

The multiple adverse impacts
of global warming and climate change
on food production
Climate and
Global warming Climate change
atmosphere Production
Heat waves Seasonal variation
Temperature aspects
Drought Powerful storms
Precipitation Crops
Soil erosion Torrential rains
Carbon dioxide Livestock Food security Combined
Tropospheric/ Floods
Ozone... Fish... Food systems ground level Waterlogged land
adapted to ensure ozone (toxic
to plants) Cumulative Soil erosion
availability,
Non-climate access, Weeds (more
Non-production and resistant)
factors utilization,
aspects Pests (more
Soil fertility and stability
Incomes and resistant)
Irrigation Processing Plant diseases
Fertilizers Transports Soil salinization
Demography Storage - from sea
Economics Retailing... level rise
Social-politics...

Socio-Economic Impact of Climate Change

Sensi-
climate tivity
to Other
Sector change Sign
drivers
drivers climate
change

Cooling Temp- Positive for Population

demand erature suppliers Income
Humi- Energy
dity Negative for prices
consumers Technology
Hot
spells change

Temp- Positive for Aging

Health erature suppliers Income
services
Precip- Negative for Diet/
itation consumers lifestyle
Temp-
Negative for
Population
Transp- erature
ortation Precip- all users Income
Positive for Urbaniz-
itation transport ation
Starm construction Regulation
Intensity industry
Mode
Seasonal Shifting
Variability Consumer
Freeze/ and
Thaw commuter
cycles behavior

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Impact of Climate change on Gender and Security

Impact on Human Health and Security

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HUMAN HEALTH
Injuries, fatalities, mental Asthma, cardiovascular
health impacts disease

Severe Air Malaria, dengue,

Weather Pollution encephalitis,
Heat-related illness hantavirus, Rift
and death, Valley fever, Lyme
MOR
cardiovascular E E Changes disease,
failure Extreme NGTURES WE
A in Vector chikungunya, West
A
X HER
PE I
INGS TEM RIS

Heat
TR

Nile virus
T
R

Ecology
EME
SEA RISI

Environ-
A VEL

mental Increasing
L

E
E
S

Degrada-
L 2
NGVELS
Forced migration, CO RE allergens
civil conflict, tion INC
Respiratory aller-
mental health gies, asthma
Water and
impacts Water Quality
Food Supply
Impacts
Impacts
Malnutrition Cholera,
diarrheal cryptosporidiosis,
disease campylobacter,leptospirosis,
harmful algal blooms

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Impact On Urban and Rural Areas

On urban Areas On urban Areas

Urban temperature variation: Increased frequency of It will affect rural livelihood as they are dependent mostly
hot days and warm spells will exacerbate urban heat island on natural resources.
effects.
Loss of land and disruption to transport.
Drought and water scarcity
Increased migration
Coastal flooding, sea level rise
Increased intensity of knowledge diffusion.
Inland flooding
Urban Heat Islands (UHI)

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Changes in Climate in the Indian Region

The Ministry of Earth Sciences’ (MoES) has come up with the report titled ‘Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region’. As
per the report, following are the observed and projected changes in various climatic dimensions over the Indian region:

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