Impact of Climate Change
Tomohiro Toyoda
■ Climate Change Impact
There are many impacts caused by Global Warming (climate variability).
① Temperature rise
In the beginning, the sunlight (whose wavelength is short) comes to the Earth. This radiation can
completely penetrate the layer of GHGs. Next, the ground emanates infrared radiation (whose
wavelength is long). And then, the infrared radiation this radiation cannot penetrate the GHGs layer,
and it is absorbed by GHGs. In conclusion, the Temperature rises. Recently however, the amount of GHGs
increases rapidly and the temperature will be higher than previous centuries. This phenomenon is called
“Global Warming”
200 years ago
now
(280ppm)
(370ppm)
GHGs
Heat is absorbed
GHGs
② Precipitation pattern change
When the temperature of atmosphere rises, the wind circulation changes occur. It causes Precipitation
pattern change.
・ Adiabatic expansion
If the heated air parcel which contains water vapor rises, this air parcel is exposed into the low
pressure condition. Next, the volume of the air parcel increases, and the temperature of the air parcel
decreases (adiabatic expansion). This phenomenon makes the saturated water vapor of the cloud low.
So the vapor changes to liquid water, and this water falls as rain. So, if the temperature of the Earth
increases, more hazardous Precipitation occurs.
air
Precipitation
air
・ Land features
If the air parcel follows the shape of the mountain, same phenomenon occurs.
air
・ Atmospheric depression
Because of Atmospheric depression, the wind blows into this location, and the updraft occur.
・ Fronts
When the Front comes, the warm air is raised by the Front.
Warm air
Cold air
③ Sea level rise
When the temperature of atmosphere rises, two phenomena occur. First, the Ice which locates in pole
regions melts. Second, Ocean water swells by the density decreasing. Both effects cause sea surface
elevation.
In Japanese elementary school, students study about Global Warming with the example of Tuvalu Island.
Because of 1m sea surface elevation, this island will sink into the ocean. Because of extreme events and
deforestation, the coast of this island has been eroded. Now, the village located in this island sometimes
soaks into the ocean water. Same phenomenon will occur in Indonesia. Government said that 2000 island in
Indonesia will disappear until 2030.
④ Extreme Events
This chart indicates two things. First, maximum probability of the normal distribution increases. It
means that crucial concentrated heavy rain will occur in the specific season. Second, decentration of the
normal distribution decreases. It means that crucial heavy drought will occur in the specific season. In
conclusion, both flood risk and drought risk increase because of global warming.
Precipitation
1990-2010
1960-1990
1930-1960
Jan
⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯
Dec
⑤ Abnormal season change
There are two reasons why the four seasons exist. First, the difference of the entry angle of the sunlight
causes the season. In summer, The Sun will rise higher and the sunlight hits the ground vertically. That
phenomenon increases the area density of the light. So, the temperature rises in summer. Second, the sun
rises earlier and sets later in summer. It makes the daytime long. This phenomenon also causes high
temperature in summer. Both phenomena are caused by the gradient of the axis of the Earth.
Spring
23.4°
Summer
Winter
Fall
Japan
・ Summer: The location of Japan is more heated because the length of the daytime is long.
・ Winter: The location of Japan is less heated because the length of the daytime is short.
First, the temperature changes (Temperature gradient occurs). Next, the density of the air changes (The
atmosphere will be unstable). And then, because of the difference of the pressures, the wind occurs. Finally,
by the convection, the annual climate change occurs.
Because of Global Warming, cold days will decrease and hot days will increase in almost places. the
atmosphere temperature tends to increase all over the world.
These Followings are the predicted climate changes in Japan.
・ Winter: Period of the cold season become shorter. The less snow falls because of high temperature.
・ Spring: Cherry blossoms bloom earlier than normal case.
・ Summer: Period of the cold season become longer. More huge typhoons and heavy rain cause flood.
・ Fall: Leaves turn into red later.