GE 217 Science, Technology and , Society
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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
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GE 217 Science, Technology and , Society
Module 3
SPECIFIC ISSUES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY
Lesson 6 CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENERGY CRISIS
What is Climate Change?
• a long-term shift of Earth’s
average weather patterns
• frequently and interchangeably
used with global warming – a
Image courtesy of National Park Service
continuing temperature increase Source:
[Link]
of Earth’s climate due to human justice/general-energy-climate-info/climate-
change
activities
Causes of Climate Change
• The causes of climate change could be natural or by human activities:
Volcanic Eruptions
When volcanoes erupt, it emits different
natural aerosols like carbon dioxide,
sulfur dioxides, salt crystals, volcanic
ashes or dust, and even
microorganisms like bacteria Source: [Link]
ready-for-more-volcanic-eruptions-as-the-planet-warms/
and viruses;
Can cause a cooling effect to the lithosphere because its emitted
aerosol can block a certain percentage of solar radiation;
Volcanoes located near the equator are more likely to cause global
cooling because of the wind pattern.
Volcanoes located near to north or south poles are less likely to cause
cooling
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GE 217 Science, Technology and , Society
Orbital Changes
Earth’s orbit can also cause climate change,
this was proposed by the Milankovitch
theory
As the Earth travels through space around
the Sun, cyclical variations in three
Source:
elements of Earth-Sun geometry combine [Link]
to produce variations in the amount of solar
energy that reaches Earth
The three elements that have cyclic variations are:
• Eccentricity is a term used to describe the shape of Earth's orbit around
the Sun.
• Obliquity is the variation of the tilt of Earth's axis away from the orbital
plane.
• Precession is the change in orientation of Earth's rotational axis.
Human Activities
The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which
releases carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere;
Source: [Link] [Link]
[Link] ct-human-activities-environment- shocking-images-impact-on-earth/
[Link] [Link]
Human activities result in emissions of four principal greenhouse gases:
Deforestation releases carbon dioxide and reduces its uptake by
plants;
High methane emission is related to agriculture, natural gas
distribution, and landfills;
High nitrous oxide is also emitted by human activities such as
fertilizer use and fossil fuel burning;
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Halocarbons released by human activities destroy ozone in the
stratosphere and have caused the ozone hole over Antarctica.
Evidences of Climate Change
• Global temperature rise
• Warming ocean
• Shrinking ice sheets
• Glacial retreat
• Decreased snow cover
• Rise of sea level Left: Shrinking ice sheets. Right: Decreased snow cover
Source: [Link]
• Declining Arctic Sea ice
• Extreme Events
• Ocean Acidification
Residents on rooftops as typhoon Ullyses hits Luzon Sea levels are rising and will continue to rise for
Source: [Link] centuries to come according to the IPCC's Special
[Link]/news/11/12/20/residents-on-rooftops-as- Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere. Source:
typhoon-ulysses-batters-luzon [Link]
report-sea-level-rise-challenges-are-growing
Effects of Climate Change on Society
It directly affects the basic elements of people’s lives like water, food,
health, use of land, and the environment.
Declining crop yields due to drought, especially in Africa, are likely to
leave hundreds of millions without the ability to produce or purchase
sufficient food.
It will increase worldwide deaths from malnutrition and heat stress.
Ecosystems will be particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Ocean edification will have major effects on marine ecosystems, with
possible adverse consequences on fish stocks.
Melting or collapse of ice sheets would raise sea levels
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It will increase flood risks during the wet season and it will strongly
reduce dry-season water supplies.
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