Chapter 5 Global environmental change
Professor
Liu Jingling
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
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In this field, whether concepts or methods far exceed the scope of
the standard textbooks. But so far it still lacks the backbone of a
research team familiar with the field and appropriate mathods. Of
course, researchers including a large number of young PhD are
fighting for committed to this field of research.In the next 10 years,
it will become the mainstream of health science research - an
international theme on sustainable development.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Main content
Global warming
Ozone depletion
Harm of Acid rain
The global ecosystem degradation
Environmental safety
Case studies
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Global warming and global environmental change
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Discussion on the concepts
 Global environmental problems are various phenomena appeared in
global environment, which are not conducive to human survival and
development.That can be divided into two categories
Primitive environmental problems:
Primitive environmental problems are caused by the forces of
nature, also known as the first environmental problems, such as
environmental problems caused by volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, etc.
Secondary environmental problems:
The damage to ecosystems and environmental pollution caused by
the production and living activities of human in return
endangers human survival and development.This phenomenon is
called secondary environmental problems,also known as the second
environmental problems.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
 Secondary environmental problems
Ecological destruction, environmental pollution and
waste of resources, etc.
Mainly include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The global climate change
Ozone depletion and loss
Acid rain pollution
Desertification
Destroyed the forest vegetation
declined the biodiversity
Marine resource destruction and pollution
Organic pollution
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Global warming
 The main reason of global warming is that human heavy use fossil fuels
(such as coal, oil, etc.),and discharge large amounts of carbon
dioxide and other greenhouse gases in nearly a century . Because
these greenhouse gases have highly permeability to the visible light
radiated from the sun, and highly absorbency to the on long-wave
radiation reflected from the earth.It is often called "greenhouse effect",
leading to global warming.
In addition to greenhouse gases carbon dioxide,there are methane,
nitrous oxide and others to cause greenhouse effect. Burning of fossil
fuels, agriculture and animal husbandry,waste disposal, and others will
discharge greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
The possible effect by global warming

Sea-level rise
Economically developed and densely populated delta, coastal and
lowland area are submerged and cause loss.

Climatic zones northward
*Tropical rainy areas will face the threat of flood prone. coastal towns will
suffer frequent storm hit.
* The polar permafrost zone will release a large number of CH4, speeding up
global warming.
*provide appropriate hotbed for the breeding and spreading of
many bacteria.
 Loss of the world economy
According to UNEP reports,if taking no measure on greenhouse gas
emissions, annual global economic losses caused will be up to 300 billion
U.S. Dollars in the next 50 years
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Possible effect on China
Cause natural disasters, damage the positive cycle of
ecosystem , harm to biodiversity
 Increasing the instability of Chinese agricultural
production
 Ecological problem and environmental problem
 Unbalanced water resources
 Snow disaster in the South of China and warm winter,
drought in the north of China
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
 Beginning of 2008, south of China was suffered the most extensive and
the largest,the longest snow disasters. Severe rain and snow had
caused the most severe ice storm and snow disaster since past fifty
years. Some areas had been without food.A wide range of areas were
powered off. Locomotives were trapped. Passengers were
stranded.Seven thousand people were affected and suffered hungry
and cold
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Economic loss
 In 2008 Chinese snow disasters,there were 19 provincial administrative regions
subjected to low temperature, rain, snow, ice disaster since January 10th.These
regions were Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui,Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan,
Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou,
Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Xinjiang Production
and Construction Corps. 60 persons died; 2 persons were missing.1.759 million
persons were evacuated urgently; 7270.8 thousand hectares of crops suffered
the disaster . 223 thousand houses collapsed.862 thousand houses were
damaged.The direct economic loss was 53.79 billion yuan.therein six regions
were affected most severely, including Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Guangxi,
Jiangxi, Anhui
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Reason and reflection
 There are two main reasons for the snow, respectively
illustrating from the macro global climate change and the
specific weather process of this south snow.
 The first reason (the macro reason), this year we are in a La
Nina state, that is, sea surface temperature of the equatorial
eastern Pacific is 0.5 degree lower than the
average years.This phenomenon impact on the climate of
China is very obvious,resulting in the meridional circulation
anomaly in East Asia under the influence of La
Nina phenomenon. such a circulation is very conducive to the
cold air going down to the south. It takes us a cold winter, so
we can see this cold winter this year.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
 The second reason (the specific reasons), snow or rain must meet two
conditions:1.there is warm and humid airflow from the tropics. 2. there
is cold airflow from the high-cold region. Winter snowfall regions (summer
rainfall regions work the same way) locate near the frontal surface, that
is, the junction of cold and warm air masses.
Since entering 2008, the Asian high pressure is very active, continuously
form cold air mass southward to influence the Country, resulting in largescale wind cool weather. But because the warm air mass of the south this
year is also very active.A large number of warm and humid airflow from
the Pacific, Indian Ocean frequently patronize the southern region. The
powerful cold air mass coming from Mongolia, Siberia rapidly goes to the
south, and later meets with the warm air mass. the cold, and the warm air
mass just hang together. By the combined effect of these two airflow,
especially in the Yangtze River there are more rain and snow, and the
cold weather will be maintained for a long time in the most recent period.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Reflection and essence of problems
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Warm winter and drought in west China
 Drought is a climatic disaster.It leads to the largest economic
losses in disasters caused by meteorological.
Meanwhile, drought disaster have the characteristic of high
frequency , long duration, wide effect, big impact.The harm to
the environment and agriculture is also very large. The change
characteristic of modern climate show that warming trend is
most evident in North. There are already 17 consecutive warm
winters in a wide range of country.The rainfall is reduced in
northern China.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Contrast and reflection
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
The cooperative activity of protecting
global climate
 Threat of global warming is a serious challenge faced
by mankind. It depends on a wide range of international
cooperation to find out issues related to greenhouse gases
and reduce emissions.
 Important decision
《United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change 》
《 Kyoto Protocol 》
Questions？！
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
The fundamental reason –what’s your opinion
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Degeneration of global ecosystem
The shrinking of forests, grasslands and wetlands
From 1990 to 2000, the world's natural growth and planted forest area was only
5.2 × 104km2 per year.While deforestation area was as high as 14.6 ×
104km2, The average annual net decrease of the area is 9.4 × 104km2.
One hundred years of the 20th century, the
global tropical forest area fell by nearly 1 / 5.
Wetlands around the world reduced by half
than in the early 20th century. The main
reason is the loss of agricultural
development and urbanization.
Most of the world grassland have different
degrees of degradation.
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Reduction of biological diversity
 The degradation of forests, wetlands, grassland lead to the organism
habitat change or loss, Which results in loss of biodiversity
 In the past four centuries, human activities have resulted in the
extinction of more than 700 global species. Therein 1 / 3 was
disappeared before 19th century , l / 3 was extinct in 19th century, and
the other 1 / 3 was extinct in the past 50 years. The extinction trend
is significantly accelerating
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Urbanization and world convergence
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Mode A or mode B
Where is the way?
Sustainable development ???
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Group discuss
Topic
Environmental security VS food security
1-6 group
Summation
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Case study
River ecological health evaluation of Beijing
Research achievement of 863 project
The typical case
Theoretical support
Innovation of the research method
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Mid-term Exam
Test content ：1－5 chapter
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Subject to: pay attention to the hot issue of environmental protection
Tracking the forefront of science
Science thinking and reasoning rigorous
Perspective extraordinary
Rational novel Conclusion
 Scientific and timeliness of the references
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Subsequent course arrangement
The next key lecturing:
Principles:
 Environmental ethics
 Environmental geological
 Environmental and ecological
 Environmental chemistry
 Technology and method (slightly)
Environmental management and practics
Watershed + city - bilingual module, cooperate with the professor
from Cornell university
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
THANK YOU!
KEEP CONTACT!!
ROOM NO.501
jingling@bnu.edu.cn
School of Environment, Beijing Normal University