MODULE 6: TECHNOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: A FURTHER LOOK

Climate Change

Content Standard: learners demonstrate an understanding of the meaning,

causes and effects of climate change.

Learning Outcomes:

The students will be able to

1. State the meaning of climate change, global warming and greenhouse effect;
2. Identify the causes of climate change.
3. Describe the impact of climate change to the society and environment.
4. State possible solution to minimize the implication of climate change.

Word Bank:

climate change, global warming greenhouse gases, greenhouse effect

DISCUSSION

The Earth’s climate has changed throughout history but in the last 650,000 years
there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of
the last ice age about 7000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern era –
and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very
small variations in Earth's orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet
receives.

Earth is a very special planet - it orbits close enough to the sun to receive a lot of
energy, but far enough away not to be scorched. To help keep these conditions
constant, our planet is wrapped in a layer of greenhouse gases. This layer acts like
a blanket, keeping the earth warm and shielding it from the cold of universe.

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when

that change lasts for an extended period of time (ie., decades to millions of years).
Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment.
Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and
animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.

Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate
change now occurring: global temperature rise, shrinking ice sheets or loss of sea
ice, accelerate level rise and longer, more intense heat waves, water acidification
and extreme events.

Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over

the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading
scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this
position. One manifestation of climate change is global warming.

What is global warming?

Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's
near surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. In
common usage the term refers to recent warming and implies a human influence.
Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th
century is very likely observed increase in greenhouse gas concentrations," which
leads to warming and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect.
Natural phenomena variation combined with volcanoes also produced greenhouse
effect.

What causes climate change?

Human activities like mining, wrong practices in agriculture, illegal logging, burning
df fossil fuel, deforestation, too much car that emits carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide. and producing industrial waste are believe to be the sources of greenhouse
gasses that in the long run cause the climate change.

The Greenhouse gases and effect

 Small amounts of heat trapping gases such as water vapor (𝐻2 O), carbon
dioxide (𝐶𝑂2 ), ozone (), methane CH,. nitrous oxide (NO) and
chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) play a key role in determining the earth's average
temperature and thus its climates.
 Together, these gases are known as greenhouse gases. They allow light,
infrared radiation, and some ultraviolet radiation from the sun to pass
through the troposphere. The earth's surface then absorbs much of this solar
energy and degrade it to longer wave infrared radiation (that is heat), which
then rises into the troposphere, some of this heat escapes into space, some
is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases, warming the air. This natural
trapping of heat in the troposphere is called greenhouse effect.
 The greenhouse effect first proposed by Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in
1896, has been confirmed by numerous laboratory experiments and
atmospheric measurements. Significance: the earth would be a cold and
lifeless planet with an average surface temperature of -18°C.
  Measured atmospheric levels of certain greenhouse gases – CO2, CFCs,
methane, and nitrous oxide - have risen substantially in recent decades-
caused by human activities: burning fossil, fuels, agriculture, deforestation,
and use of CFCs.

Greenhouse gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include water vapour,
carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Water vapour (𝐻2 𝑂) Nitrous oxide (𝑁2 𝑂)

Methane (𝐶𝐻4 ) Carbon dioxide (𝐶𝑂2 )

Water vapour(𝑯𝟐 𝑶): Water is constantly cycling through the atmosphere. Water
evaporates from the Earth's surface and rises on warm updrafts into the
atmosphere. It condenses into clouds, is blown by the wind, and then falls back to
the Earth as rain or snow. This cycle is one important way that heat and energy
are transferred from the surface of the Earth to the atmosphere, and transported
from one place to another on our planet. Water vapor is also the most important
greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Heat radiated from Earth's surface is absorbed
by water vapour molecules in the lower atmosphere. The water vapor molecules,
in turn, radiate heat in all directions. Some of the heat returns to the Earth's
surface. Thus, water vapour is a second source of warmth (in addition to sunlight)
at the Earth's surface.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2): Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas,
responsible for about three-quarters of emissions. It can linger in the atmosphere
for thousands of years. In 2018, carbon dioxide levels reached 411 parts per
million at Hawaii's Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory, the highest
monthly average ever recorded. Carbon dioxide emissions mainly come from
burning organic materials: coal, oil, gas, wood, and solid waste.

Methane (CH4): The main component of natural gas, methane is released from
landfills, natural gas and petroleum industries, and agriculture (especially from
the digestive systems of grazing animals). A molecule of methane doesn't stay in
the atmosphere as long as a molecule of carbon dioxide—about 12 years—but it is
at least 84 times more potent over two decades. It accounts for about 16 percent
of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide occupies a relatively small share of global
greenhouse gas emissions—about six percent—but it is 264 times more powerful
than carbon dioxide over 20 years, and its lifetime in the atmosphere exceeds a
century, according to the IPCC. Agriculture and livestock, including fertilizer,
manure, and burning of agricultural residues, along with burning fuel, are the
biggest sources of nitrous oxide emissions.

What are the Effects of Climate Change?

The effects of anthropogenic human-caused) climate change ranged from more

frequent and severe droughts to snowstorms and extreme winter weather in
temperate regions as a result of warming Arctic weather fronts

It’s not only humans that are affected Warming ocean temperatures are increasing
the frequency of coral reef bleaching, warmer, drier weather means that forests in
some regions are no longer recovering from wildfires and wildlife habitats around
the world are becoming less hospitable to animals.

Environmental Awareness
Learning Outcomes

At the end of the chapter the students should be able to

 explain the reasons for environmental awareness;

 show the row of education particularly the schools, in making people
environmentally aware, and
 demonstrate their level of environmental awareness through actions
Introduction

Environmental awareness leads us to understand the fragility of our environment

and the importance of its protection Promoting environmental awareness is an easy
way where each one can keep sustaining and improving nature and ecology

Environmental awareness is important for several reasons:

1. it fosters a sense of connection to the natural world,

2. promotes sustainable development, and
3. it encourages conservation of irreplaceable natural resources and vulnerable
plant and animal species

In addition, environmental awareness essentially serves as an educational tool

making people understand the economic, aesthetic and biological importance of
preserving resources and reducing or eliminating the harmful impacts of alterations
caused by man. ([Link]) Environmental awareness on education helps people
realize the consequences of human activities on lands and identifies remedial
solutions.

Promotion of Environmental Education

Environmentalism is an ideology that evokes the necessity and responsibility of

humans to respect, protect and preserve the natural word from the abusive or
wrong use of humans

There is a need to keep our environment healthy for our children. They should not
have to inherit our environmental problems and in order to keep their future bright
spreading awareness is imperative

While efforts are being exerted at the national and international level to protect our
environment, we should do our part as individual citizens. Each one becomes aware
of the worth of good quality living.

The school is the major venue for developing environmental awareness in students.
Environmental issues often arise with a lack of understanding of nature and the
ecological environment and the inappropriate use of natural resources.
The school plays an important role in the formation of children's positive attitudes
towards the environment.

Environmental education in a process that allows individuals to explore

environmental issues, engage in problem solving and take action to improve the
environment as a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of
environmental issues and show the skills to make informed and responsible
decisions.

The components of environmental education are:

 awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental

 knowledge and understanding of the environment;
 attitudes of concern for the environmental and motivation to improve or
maintain environmental quality
 skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges, and
 participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental
problems.
([Link] US Environmental Protection Agency)

There is no one road to solving problems. Rather, environmental education teaches

us how to weigh various options and use problem-solving and decision making skills
to arrive at the correct options.

Top 10 benefits of Environmental Education

1. Imagination and enthusiasm are heightened.

2. Learning transcends the classroom.

3. Critical and creative thinking are enhanced

4. Develop tolerance and understanding

5. State and national learning standards are met for multiple subjects
6. Biophobia and nature deficit disorder decline

7. Healthy lifestyles are encouraged

8. Communities are strengthened

9. Responsible action is taken to better the environment

[Link] and teacher are empowered