CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE AND IMPACT - Alvin Pratama, S.Si., M.T

Summary

In this session, Alvin Pratama, a lecturer in atmospheric and planetary sciences, delves into the causes and impacts of climate change. He explains the scientific foundations behind climate change, including the greenhouse effect and the role of human activities like deforestation and burning fossil fuels in accelerating global warming. The session covers the impacts on human health, ecosystems, weather patterns, and global temperatures, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this global issue. Climate change is portrayed as both an environmental and public health crisis that requires immediate action for mitigation and adaptation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Climate change is a significant global issue impacting the environment, human health, food security, water availability, and community stability.
• 😀 Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and other atmospheric variables, unlike short-term weather fluctuations.
• 😀 The Earth's energy budget is critical for understanding climate change: incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth, but a portion of this energy is trapped by greenhouse gases, leading to warming.
• 😀 Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) trap heat in the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming.
• 😀 Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary drivers of current climate change, rapidly accelerating warming at a global scale.
• 😀 Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric that compares the heat-trapping effect of various gases relative to CO2, with methane and nitrous oxide having much higher warming potentials despite their smaller quantities.
• 😀 Projected global surface temperatures are expected to rise significantly, particularly under high-emission scenarios, causing heatwaves, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruption.
• 😀 Extreme weather events, including more frequent and intense storms, floods, and droughts, are becoming more prevalent due to climate change, with devastating impacts on infrastructure and agriculture.
• 😀 Climate change threatens ecosystems by altering rainfall patterns, increasing temperatures, and raising sea levels, jeopardizing biodiversity and the availability of clean water and food.
• 😀 The health impacts of climate change include increased heat-related illnesses, extreme weather injuries, the spread of diseases, food and water insecurity, and mental health challenges.
• 😀 Addressing climate change is not just an environmental issue—it’s a public health crisis that requires urgent action to mitigate its impacts on human health, ecosystems, and global communities.

Q & A

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place, such as rain, sunshine, or temperature. In contrast, climate refers to long-term average weather patterns over a period of 30 years or more.

How has the Earth's average temperature changed over the past few decades?

Global temperatures have shown a consistent upward trend, particularly since the 1980s. The Earth's average temperature anomaly has reached approximately 1°C above the 30-year average.

What is the Earth's energy budget, and how does it relate to climate change?

The Earth's energy budget refers to the balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation. A disruption in this balance, caused by greenhouse gases trapping heat, contributes to global warming and climate change.

What are greenhouse gases and how do they contribute to global warming?

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. They absorb infrared radiation (heat) from the Earth's surface and radiate part of it back, raising the planet's temperature, known as the greenhouse effect.

What is the role of human activities in climate change?

Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, significantly increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

What are the major greenhouse gases and how do they differ in impact on global warming?

The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide is the largest contributor to global warming, while methane is more effective at trapping heat, and nitrous oxide has a longer-lasting warming effect.

How does the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases vary?

Greenhouse gases vary in their impact on global warming. For example, methane has a GWP of 21, meaning one ton of methane has the same warming effect as 21 tons of carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide has a GWP of 310, and some industrial gases, like sulfur hexafluoride, have a GWP of 23,000.

What are some natural processes that contribute to climate change?

Natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate movements, and changes in the Earth's orbit or the Sun's energy output, can influence the Earth's climate. However, human activities are now the dominant driver of rapid climate change.

What are the projected impacts of climate change on the oceans?

The oceans are absorbing more heat due to global warming, leading to rising sea surface temperatures, which can increase the frequency and intensity of storms and hurricanes. Thermal expansion of seawater and melting ice contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal areas.

How does climate change impact human health?

Climate change affects human health through extreme heat, which can cause heat-related illnesses, as well as severe weather events like storms and floods, leading to injuries and fatalities. Additionally, changes in disease patterns, food and water security issues, and mental health impacts are also linked to climate change.