2007-9-10

Preface (pending)

Environment issue--

Exhibit 1. Global warming-glacier ablation with shock results

Text:

Definition: 'Global warming' refers to the trend that the global average surface temperature is increasing. The ground is the main space of human activities, and ground temperature has the most closely relationship with mankind living environment quality.

Phenomena: The global temperature showed an obvious increasing trend in past 100 years resulting in an average increase of 0.6C. (Picture 1: Surface Temperature Change)

Picture 1: Global Surface Temperature Change

Reason: Natural climate change: large-scale volcanic eruptions and solar activity changes will certainly affect the climate change. Human activities: the increase of CO2 density and other greenhouse gases density in the air caused by urbanization, deforestation, overgrazing, irrational use of land and industrialization accelerate the global warming.(Picture 2: Reasons Causing Climate Change)

Picture 2: Reasons Causing Climate Change

Related terms:

Climate-refers to the average weather indications and statistical features for a long-term period (a month, season, year, several years, several decades and hundreds of years), usually expressed by average values during a certain period of time or by difference from average values(departure value), and mainly reflects the basic meteorological conditions of a place including temperature, precipitation and humidity, etc.

Climate change-refers to the difference from the average values, which shows a significant change in statistics. Obvious difference means the increase of unstable climate conditions, also means that the climate system is more sensitive

Climate system-includes atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere (land). Climate change is caused by the variation of climate system.

Greenhouse effect-regard by many scientists through research that, earths atmosphere has an effect similar to that of a glass greenhouse, its aggravation of functions is the prevailing factor and reason making the global warming. (Picture 3: Greenhouse Effect; Picture 4: Carbon Dioxide emissions Per capita)

Picture 3: Green House Effect

Picture 4: Carbon Dioxide emissions Per capita (2002)

Impacts: Global warming will certainly impose impacts to human life including:

Make polar glacier ablation, sea level rise and risk of coastal lowlands being inundated;

Cause sea water intrusion, flood discharge obstruction and land salinization and other adverse consequences;

Affect rainfall and atmospheric circulation, producing abnormal climate and easy flood/drought natural disasters;

Possibly cause eco-system change, producing a series of major impacts to human life.

(Picture 4: Major Global Abnormal Climate Phenomena and Events; Picture 5: Sea Level Rise Caused by Global Warming)

Picture 4: Major Global Abnormal Climate Phenomena and Events

Picture 5: Sea Level Rise Caused by Global Warming

Pictures and notes

(See Picture 1-4 for details)

Picture 1: Everest Glacier Comparison

(Note: the upper photo is the Zhongrongbu Glacier photographed by CAS Everest Survey Team in 1968, the lower one is the Zhongrongbu Glacier photographed by Green Peace in 2007

Picture 2: The Yellow River Source Area Halong Glacier Icetongue Positions Comparison

(Note: the upper photo was photographed by Dr. Matthias Kuhle in June 1981; the lower one was photographed by John Novis in September 2005. Through comparison study on the icetongue and glacier thickness showed in these two pictures, it shows that Halong Glacier has an obvious ablation with global warming in recent 25 years.)

Picture 3: The Yellow River Source Ice Lake Outburst Comparison

(Note: the upper photo was photographed in June 2005, and the lower one was made in September the same year and between in July, it experience an outburst due to flood.)

Picture 4: Amazon Drought

Countermeasures:

Adjust energy strategy, increase existing energy utilization and gradually use clean energy;

Enhance greening through tree planting and forestation;

Control population growth, increase output per unit and restrict deforestation;

Enhance environmental protection education and promote global cooperation.