BY: SARFRAZ SALMAN FAHAD Usually defined as the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle. Together with the hydrosphere, the exposed lithosphere absorbs higher energy radiation from the sun. ◦ Converts it into thermal energy and then emits the energy back as lower energy infrared radiation. The concept of the lithosphere as Earth’s strong outer layer was developed by Barrell, who wrote a series of papers introducing the concept. ◦ The concept was based on the presence of significant gravity anomalies over continental crust, from which he inferred that there must exist a strong upper layer. The lithosphere is the surface layer of the fluid parts of the Earth's convection system, therefore it thickens over time. The climate is being altered because of the global change in environment. Global warming is affecting the lithosphere because the earth is being warmed and there is more water being produced and the water level is rising. Lithosphere includes: ◦ Solid rock ◦ Soil ◦ Minerals on the land and extends under the oceans as well. Earth broken up into pieces called plates, which move independently relative to one another. This movement of lithosphere is described as plate tectonics. Mountains and other lands formations affect how air moves over an area. Oceanic lithosphere, which is associated with Oceanic Crust. Continental lithosphere, which is associated with Continental Crust Earths crust stretches about 8-32 km All the volcanic eruptions contribute to land formation and altitudes as well. After a molten cools down it becomes a rock that rock can be in a shape of a mountain or a hill. The “alpine climate” has a strong effect on the ecosystem found at high altitudes At high altitudes atmospheric pressure is lower because there is less air above. ◦ Air from lower altitude rises to high altitudes. ◦ It expands and cools down. The climate of the location is affected by its latitude, terrain, altitude, ice or snow cover. Basically includes: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Temperature Humidity Atmospheric pressure Rainfall Can be classified into 5 regions: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Tropical: Wet and dry Dry: semi arid and arid Moderate: Mediterranean Continental: Humid and subarctic Polar: Tundra, Ice cap, Highlands and Non permanent ice. Direct atmospheric inputs: ◦ Emissions gases: CO2 methane chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) nitrous oxide krypton-85 water vapor ◦ Aerosols:A gaseous suspension of fine solid or liquid particles. ◦ Thermal pollution: It is the degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient water temperature. Changes to land surfaces: ◦ Albedo change: Deforestation: Is the clearance of naturally occurring forests by logging and burning. Intensive grazing Dust addition to ice caps. ◦ Roughness change: deforestation Urbanization: is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. ◦ Extension of irrigation Alterations to the oceans: ◦ Current alterations by constricting straits ◦ Diversion of fresh waters into oceans since the melting of the glaciers will heat up the earth temperature then sea level will also rise. This can cause: flooding and tsunami Can be defines as the components of water present on the Earth, including bodies of water, water vapor, ice. To understand the interactions between climate and the hydrological cycle, it is necessary to understand the relative distribution as well as fluxes of water among its various repositories: ◦ The basic composition of the atmospheric and terrestrial water balance. Liquid water absorbs energy from warm air and the sun and then releases energy back. Water vapour and clouds in the atmosphere also reflect, absorb, and transmit energy from the sun. Hydrosphere is the most occupied sphere based on its ratio to land 71% : 28% More fresh water is frozen at the poles and in the glaciers than exists in all the freshwater lakes in the world. Hydrosphere includes: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Oceans Rivers Glaciers Ice sea/ice sheets The hydrologic cycle is basic to the Earth's climate system. The quantity and quality of water affects human society, both directly and indirectly through its control of the biosphere functioning. It is the processes by which water, in all its phases, moves through the atmosphere, and moves to and from the various repositories on the Earth's surface is inter-meshed with those governing the Earth's energy. The availability of water is a major controlling factor in the distribution and abundance of vegetation and of biological productivity all around the world. Some of the rivers are disappearing as people notice the increase in planets temperature. If it continues like that we will run out of water and there will be droughts on lowlands. Ice is the factor that contributes most to the hydrosphere since it is long lasting until the climate changes occur. The rate of exchange within reservoirs ranges from thousands of years is caused: ◦ by the oceans and ice sheets which stayed under: several hundreds- thousands years of groundwater several years for surface impoundments several months for soil moisture and days for atmospheric stability One of the most significant consequences of climate change will be a geographical shift of regional hydrological regimes, and associated changes in the availability of water resources which are a critical factor in planning for economic and sustainable development. Changes in the hydrological cycle will create feedbacks to the global climate system. Availability of adequate water of appropriate quality is a major factor in planning for sustainable development. Consequently, studies providing evidence that both water quality and quantity can be reduced by climate change raise valid social concerns. Many ecological systems will be dramatically changed by global warming and this might lead to changes in all climate zones or even loss of biodiversity. ◦ This can even cause extinction of all living things including humans.