Royal Mail Climate Change Challenge Pack: UNIT 1 STATION 1

Station Information Sheets

Station 1: Causes
The temperature of the earth has always varied.
The earth has swung between relatively cooler
phases which have generated ice ages (glacial
periods) and warmer periods when ice has retreated
(inter-glacials). In between these phases there has
tended to be an irregular transition between the
two states, with shorter-term peaks and troughs
masking gradual longer-term increases or decreases
in temperature (see fig 1).

FIG 1 Variations in global near-surface land temperature

In recent years detailed analyses of these natural

fluctuations have suggested that an accelerated
warming (over and above what could be expected
naturally) is taking place. This has been termed
“global warming”.
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Global warming is the observed increase in the

average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and
oceans in recent decades. The earth’s average near-
surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2°C
during the 20th century. The majority of scientists
believe that most of the warming observed over
the last 50 years is the result of human activities
(see fig 2).

FIG 2 Global warming predictions

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The increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and
other greenhouse gases are the main causes of the
human-induced component of warming. They are
released by the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal and
gas), land clearing and farming etc. and lead to an
increase in the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are necessary for our
survival on earth (see fig 3).
They help to trap some of the solar radiation that
would otherwise be irradiated back out to space.
Without them our planet would be too cool for
human life. We have an atmospheric composition
that has evolved over millions of years and even
slight changes in the atmosphere can have enormous
impacts in terms of which species can survive and
which cannot. Increases in GHGs upset that balance.
They trap more solar radiation and cause a gradual
rising of temperature that affects everyone on the
planet whether we live in rich or poor countries.

FIG 3 Atmospheric composition

Gases in the atmosphere

N2 Nitrogen
N2 O2 Oxygen
78.084%
Ar Argon
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
Ne Neon
He Helium
CH4 Methane
O2
20.946% Kr Krypton
0.037680%
Ar H2 Hydrogen
0.9340%

CO2
0.035%

Ne
0.001818%

H2 He
0.000524%
0.000055%
CH4
Kr 0.0001745%
0.000114%
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By far the biggest contributor to GHGs, particularly

CO2, and global warming is the burning of fossil fuels.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
has increased by about a third since 1800 (see fig 4).

FIG 4 Global concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere 1870–1990

• Six to 7 giga tonnes of carbon equivalent are
currently being emitted globally per year when
fossil fuels are burnt by power stations, industry,
various forms of transport and in our homes.
• We depend on oil for 90% of our transport,
and for food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
• This demand will increase as standards of living
rise all over the world and population grows.
• The International Energy Agency says the world
will need almost 60% more energy in 2030
than in 2002, and fossil fuels will still meet
most of its needs.
The amount of carbon each country produces is
dependent upon many factors, including population,
level of development and the type of fuels used to
produce electricity. Because of their varying chemical
constituents, different fossil fuels produce different
amounts of carbon dioxide. Coal produces most, then
oil, and then gas. Some countries use more nuclear
power stations which produce little CO2 but may raise
other environmental concerns (see fig 5).
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FIG 5 Annual global greenhouse gas emissions by sector

Data Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) © Global Warming Art

FIG 6 Who adds most to the CO2 problem? (EU25 = the 25 countries that make up the EU)

It is clear from these figures that

the UK is not an insignificant
contributor to the problem of
global warming and has to look
seriously at what it can do to
reduce carbon emissions. The
growth of developing world
economies in the future will
generate the greatest increases
in greenhouse gases. Just as
the growth of industry in Britain,
Europe and America created a
lot of CO2 during the 19th and
20th centuries, the developing
world countries may be treading
a similar path but with even
faster and greater results.