Climate is the average weather in a place over many years. Climate change is a shift in those average conditions. Atmosphere gases make these weather conditions. UN defines Climate Change as direct or indirect human activities cause change in the composition of atmosphere. World temperatures are rising because of human activity, and climate change now threatens every aspect of human life.
Global warming is ongoing rise in global average temperature near earth’s surface
Left unchecked, humans and nature will experience catastrophic warming, with worsening droughts, rising sea levels and mass extinction of species. 95% are chances that human activities are causing/catalyzing Climate change.
Factors responsible for climate change
Pollution caused by human in all forms are anthropogenic factors contributing in climate change Solar radiation warms the atmosphere and is fundamental to atmospheric composition, while the distribution of solar heating across the planet produces global wind patterns and contributes to the formation of clouds, storms, and rainfall. Greenhouse gas emissions are trapping excessive heat in the atmosphere and not letting it vent to the outer space. Volcanic activities under earth cause many disasters and are responsible for temperature rise globally. Movement of tectonic plates are also causing many disasters and contributing in climate change.
Green House Effect
The greenhouse effect is a good thing. It warms the planet to its comfortable average of 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) and keeps life on earth, well, livable. Without it, the world would
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be a frozen, uninhabitable place, more like Mars. Human activities contribute to global warming by increasing the greenhouse effect. Industrial revolution (1950) has increased the amount of greenhouse gases. When these fossil fuels burn, they release greenhouse gases - mostly carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases trap the Sun's heat and cause the planet's temperature to rise. The world is now about 1.1C warmer than it was in the 19th Century - and the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen by 50%. How CO2 Levels are rising? Global population has tripled over the past 70 years. We are using/ consuming more food from animals that release Methane (Pollutant). We are using more and more fossil fuel for our homes, factories and transportation. Why is it alarming? According to UN, 1 degree Celsius planet temperature after industrial revolution is fine, even 1.5 degree Celsius is fine if it rises by the end of this century. But it has increased from 1 to 1.5 in just 10 years. Greenhouse gases: The major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapors, methane, and ozone.
Climate change prospects
“Climate change does not respect border; it does not respect who you are rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, this is what we call global challenges, which require global solidarity.”
About 50 years ago, human realized that climate change is a thing in 1972. In 1992, 197 countries of the world signed a convention with UN, which is called UNFCCC (United Nations Framework convention for climate change).
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1- Causes of climate change
2- How to control temperature? 3- Developed countries 4- Developing countries 5- What can be the solutions?
Conference of parties (COP) was established in 1995 (Berlin, Germany) to talk about this particular issue. It is the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Agenda of COP27 (Egypt, Sharm-al-Shheikh, 6-18 November)
Fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty
$100 billion fine to be paid by developed countries Loss and Damages compensation Gender Equality
Kyoto protocol
First legally binding international agreement for member countries was signed in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan and entered into force in 2005. International emission reduction targets were set. 192 countries ratified this agreement.
All member countries were divided into three groups.
Division of groups
• Industrialized countries (Annex II)
• Developed countries (Annex I: Countries with transiting economies Russia, European countries) • Developing countries ( Non Annex I: Countries with no binding targets China, India and Pakistan)
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Kyoto Mechanism
Help countries with Kyoto commitments to meet their targets by reducing emissions or removing carbon from the atmosphere in other countries in a cost-effective way. Encourage the private sector and developing countries to contribute to emission reduction efforts.
Kyoto Protocol objectives
Legally binding commitments for emission reduction for Annex I
Adaptation fund for developing countries Reports and policies by Annex I Compliance committee
Joint Implementation
An industrialized country can meet its emission reduction target by investing in an emission reduction project in another industrialized country.
Clean Development
An industrialized country invests in developing countries.
Emission trading
Industrialized countries may buy or sell emission credits.
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The Protocol was in fact doomed from its birth in 1997 because it did not encompass the world's largest and fastest growing economies; it excluded developing countries (including the Peoples Republic of China) from binding targets, and the USA failed to sign up.
Evidence of climate change
Glaciers are melting and sea levels (3mm/year) are rising (Trillion of tons of fresh water is melting from glaciers). Oceans are warming and becoming more acidic Rainfall is becoming less predictable Dry spells and droughts are becoming more frequent in many places
How Pakistan is affected by Climate Change?
In Pakistan, climatic changes are expected to have wide-ranging impacts, such as reduced agricultural productivity, increased variability of water availability, increased coastal erosion and seawater incursion, and increased frequency of extreme climatic events. Pakistan contributes less than 1% of the global greenhouse gases that warm our planet but its geography makes it extremely vulnerable to climate change.
• Floods • Decreased Water resources • Agricultural loss • Food Security • Increased Mortality rate • Social security
How to control Climate change?
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Undertake urgent reforestation and afforestation programs on mountain slopes
Build dams in Thar to store rainwater Devise and implement a waste management strategy for mountainous areas Ban diesel vehicles in the mountains Switch to renewable energy sources
Ozone Depletion
Gradual thinning of Ozone layer in upper atmosphere due to the release of chemical compounds CFCs by human activities.
The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). 191 countries including US ratified this agreement.
Buy air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment that do not use HCFCs as refrigerant. Buy aerosol products that do not use HCFCs or CFCs as propellants. Limit transportation use. Recycling Public transport Energy saving
Acid Rain
A chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
These toxic pollutants reach earth in the form of rain, fog or snow. Acid rain is measured on PH scale.
Dry Deposition (dust and smoke)
Wet Deposition (rain, snow fog)
How to control Acid Rain?
Less use of fossil fuel
Low sulfur or cleanable types of coal Renewable energy sources Individual efforts Chemically remove sulfur dioxide 7 General Science and Ability by Hala Tehreem
Natural Disasters and Hazards
Disasters are serious disruptions to the functioning of a community that exceed its capacity to cope using its own resources.
A hazard is a source or a situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health, damage to property, damage to the environment, or a combination of these.
Scale of Disaster
Intensity of hazard Population and assets involved Duration Lead-time Spatial Extent
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Disaster Management Cycle
Disaster management in Pakistan
Disaster management act 2005
NDMA 2007
The National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) is composed of the prime minister, leaders of opposition, cabinet ministers, chief ministers and the DG NDMA amongst others at the national level, with the responsibility of laying down policies and guidelines for disaster risk management and approval of the National Plan. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in line with the act, serves as the implementing, coordinating and monitoring body at the national level. It has also developed a framework under the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), which provides guidelines for disaster risk management at national, provincial and district levels.
National disaster management act Tiers
National Provincial District
Flaws in Disaster management in Pakistan
Focus on rescue and relief
Lack of risk assessment and Training
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Poor implementation of disaster management policy
Lack of integrated planning Biasness
Floods
High water stage that overflows its natural or artificial banks
Causes of Floods
Meteorological Hydrological Anthropogenic
Flood Prevention
Monitoring Forecasting
Management of floods
Structural Measures Non-structural Measures
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Causes of Pakistan Floods 2022
Monsoon Rains Melting Glaciers Heat waves
Earthquake
Sudden release of energy in the form of seismic waves that create vibration in the earth’s crust Abrupt movement of tectonic plates
The location below the earth's surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter
Body waves and surface waves
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep.
Deep-focus earthquakes are applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km.
Causes of Earthquake Effects of Earthquake
Human life, wildlife, buildings, bridges, Floods, land sliding, Economy, Migration
Measurement of Earthquake
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Management of Earthquake
Risk Assessment Risk zoning Planning Research and development Building code Public awareness Emergency management
Earthquake 2005
7.6 on Richter Scale
Epicenter 19 Km northeast of Muzaffarabad 1200 aftershocks 73000 died 4 million homeless
Causes
Poor management Poor risk assessment and planning
Response
Federal Relief commission
12 point plan for relied, recovery and rehabilitation International response
Tsunami
Abnormal sea wave that cause catastrophic damage when it hits a coastline. Flooding can be caused by Tsunami. Tidal wave formation is due to the gravitational pull of moon.
• 100-300Km wavelength • Sea bed is lifted or lowered • Epicenter near coastal area 12 General Science and Ability by Hala Tehreem
Worst Tsunami happened in 2004 in Indian Ocean. 9.1 magnitude of earthquake initiated in coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri lanka are the most effected countries. 225,000 deaths
Volcanoes
Vent on Earth’s surface through which molten magma escapes on to the earth (Active, Dormant and Extinct)
Huge amount of heat releases that damages environment, natural resources and surroundings.
Via Subduction Via rifting Hotspots
Pacific Ocean region (Ring of fire) is most prone to volcanoes.
Avalanche
Sudden and rapid mass movement of snow and ice due to gravity. It can weigh 1 million tons. It happens on mountains.
Types:
Loose snow (Top Layer)
Slab (Bottom)
Causes of Avalanches
• Terrain factors (Slope)
• Snowpack factors (Layers of snow)
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• Weather factors • Human factors (Vehicles)
Prevention
• Land use planning
• Risk assessment • Research and development • Capacity building and training • Public awareness • Afforestation
Droughts
Deficiency of rainfall over an extended
Pakistan’s water storage capacity is only 7%, which is sufficient only for 30 days.
Drought management
• Dams • Desalination of seawater • Rainwater harvesting • Water Conservation
Urban fire and wildfire
• Wildfire is an uncontrolled fire wiping out large areas of land
• Urban fire is a structured fire
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Wildfire management
• Fire breaks • Firing out • Air tankers • Remote sensing • Firefighters
Violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. It originates from earth and moves forward. Tornado is a smaller disaster. It can sustain from 10-30mins.
• typically ½ mile wide
• Enhanced Fujita Scale • 10 Minute duration • Wind speed more than 300 mph • Deaths or injuries due to debris.
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Cyclone
Large circulating air mass with a center on water bodies. Cyclone is called hurricane in Northern hemisphere and air rotates in anticlockwise direction.
Tropical disturbance Tropical depression - less than 39 mph Tropical storms - 39-74 mph Hurricane or typhoon - 74 mph and over
Mid latitude, cyclones (extratropical cyclones) are low-pressure systems outside of the tropics.
A warm ocean current that flows toward the poles results in warm air masses that move over land that the current flow past. This causes the climate of that land area to be warmer than it would be otherwise. A cold ocean current that flows toward the equator results in cold air masses affecting the nearby land.
An air mass is a volume of air defined by its temperature and humidity. Air masses cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles, and adapt to the characteristics of the surface below them. They are classified according to latitude and their continental or maritime source regions. Colder air masses are termed polar or arctic, while warmer air masses are deemed tropical. Continental and superior air masses are dry, while maritime and monsoon air masses are moist. Weather fronts
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separate air masses with different density (temperature or moisture) characteristics. Once an air mass moves away from its source region, underlying vegetation and water bodies can quickly modify its character. Classification schemes tackle an air mass' characteristics, as well as modification.
