EGE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT

PLANT ECOLOGY

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Prepared By:
0607-6038 Melisa ZELKAN
Controller:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eftal DZYAMAN

 What is Global Climate Change?

Climate change is any long-term significant change in the average
weather that a given region experiences. Average weather may include
average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. It involves changes in
the variability or average state of the atmosphere over durations ranging
from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by dynamic
process on Earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity,
and more recently by human activities. (http://en.wikipedia.org)

What is Global Worming?

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the
Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-twentieth century, and its
projected continuation.
The average global air temperature near the Earth's surface increased
0.74 0.18 C (1.33 0.32 F) during the hundred years ending in 2005.
(http://en.wikipedia.org)

What are the differences between Global Climate

Change & Global Worming?
Planet Earth's current warming trend is based largely on natural warming
and cooling cycles that have been happening for eons; as well as humancaused additions to greenhouse gases, which are boosting the atmosphere's
ability to trap heat in the biosphere. Minor factors like an overall increase in
the sun's solar intensity play a smaller role.
While greenhouse gases are an essential component of a livable planet
they're what keep Earth from being a lifeless ball of icehumans are causing
greenhouse gas levels to increase so quickly that it's causing the average
global temperature to rise much faster than it would naturally.
This warming is predicted to lead to a variety of negative effects,
including:
I.

Melting (and possible disappearance) of glaciers and mountain snow

caps that feed the world's rivers and supply a large portion of the fresh
water used for drinking and irrigation.

II.

A rise in sea levels due to the melting of the land-based ice sheets in
Greenland and Antarctica, with many islands and coastal areas ending
up more exposed to storm damage or even underwater.

III.

Increasingly costly "bad weather" events such as heat waves,

droughts, floods, and severe storms.

IV.

Lowered agricultural productivity due to less favorable weather

conditions, less available irrigation water, increased heat stress to
plants, and an increase in pest activity due to warmer temperatures.

V.

Increases in vector-borne infectious diseases like malaria and Lyme

Disease.

VI.

Large numbers of extinctions of higher-level species due to their

inability to adapt to rapidly changing climate and habitat conditions.

The first two of these effects are mostly related to increasing average
temperatures. Items 3-6 are related to heat too, but also playing a role are
non-temperature factorsi.e. "climate-change factors."

What are the reasons of Global Climate Change?

Climate change is about much more than how warm or cool our
temperatures are. Whereas "global warming" refers to increasing global
temperatures, "climate change" refers to regional conditions. Climate is
defined by a number of factors, including:
Average regional temperature as well as day/night temperature
patterns and seasonal temperature patterns.
Humidity.
Precipitation (average amounts and seasonal patterns).
Average amount of sunshine and level of cloudiness.
Air pressure and winds.
Storm events (type, average number per year, and seasonal patterns).
To a great extent, this is what we think of as "weather." Indeed, weather
patterns are predicted to change in response to global warming:
Some areas will become drier, some will become wetter;

 Many areas will experience an increase in severe weather events like

killer heat waves, hurricanes, flood-level rains, and hail storms.
It's tempting to think that all of these changes to the world's climate
regions will average out over time and geography and things will be fine. We
have massive societal and industrial infrastructure in place, and it cannot be
easily moved. Climate-change effects will generally not be geographically
escapable in the timeframe over which they happen, at least not for the
majority of humans and species. (http://www.grinningplanet.com/)

Can Global Climate Change be prevented?

What would you success to reduce Global Climate
Change?
It may seem hard to believe that people can actually change the Earths
climate.
But, we can all make small changes to our daily lives which can reduce
emission levels and if enough of us do them, then we can help slow down
global climate change.
Change a light. Replacing a regular light bulb with a compact
fluorescent one saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool, take mass transit and/or trip chain. All of
these things can help reduce gas consumption and one pound of carbon
dioxide for each mile you do not drive.
Recycle more and buy recycled. Save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon
dioxide each year just by recycling half of your household waste. By recycling
and buying products with recycled content you also save energy, resources
and landfill space!
Check your tires. Properly inflated tires mean good gas mileage. For
each gallon of gas saved, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide are also not produced.
Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Reducing the
amount used means big savings in not only your energy bills, but also in
carbon dioxide emissions. Using cold water for your wash saves 500 pounds
of carbon dioxide a year, and using a low flow showerhead reduces 350
pounds of carbon dioxide. Make the most of your hot water by insulating your
tank and keeping the temperature at or below 120 degrees.

Avoid products with a lot of packaging. Preventing waste from being

created in the first place means that there is less energy wasted and fewer
resources consumed. When you purchase products with the least amount of
packaging, not only do you save money, but you also help the environment!
Reducing your garbage by 10 percent reduces carbon dioxide emissions by
1,200 pounds.
Adjust your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat at 68 degrees in
winter and 78 degrees in summer not only helps with your energy bills, but it
can reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well. No matter where you set your
dial, two degrees cooler in the winter or warmer in the summer can mean a
reduction of 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Plant a tree. A single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its
lifetime.
Turn off electronic devices when not in use. Simply turning off your
TV, VCR, computer and other electronic devices can save each household
thousand of pounds of carbon dioxide each year. (http://earth911.org/)