Guide
This page is not intended to be modified, and is based directly on the self-study document.
Adult game
Card #1 : Human activities
Description
This is where it all begins...
Causes
None
Consequences
Card #2 : Industry
Description
Industry uses fossil fuels and electricity.
It accounts for 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Causes
Consequences
Card #3 : Building Usage
Description
The building sector (housing and commercial use) uses fossil fuels and electricity.
It accounts for 20% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Causes
Consequences
Card #4 : Transportation
Description
The transportation sector is highly dependent on oil.
It accounts for 15% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Causes
Consequences
Card #5 : Fossil Fuels
Description
Fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas.
They are used mainly in buildings, transportation, and industry.
They emit CO2 when burned.
Causes
Consequences
Card #6 : Deforestation
Description
Deforestation consists in cutting or burning trees beyond the ability to restore the forest.
80% of the deforestation is related to agriculture.
Causes
Consequences
Card #7 : CO2 Emissions
Description
CO2 (or carbon dioxide) is the first anthropogenic (ie linked to human activity) greenhouse gas in terms of emissions.
These emissions come from our use of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Causes
Consequences
Card #8 : Agriculture
Description
Agriculture does not emit a lot of CO2, but is responsible for the emission of large quantities of methane
(from cows and rice paddies) and of nitrous oxide (from fertilizers).
In all, agriculture amounts for 25% of GHGs if we include induced deforestation.
Causes
Consequences
Card #9 : Other GHGs
Description
CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas (GHG). Among others are methane (CH4 ), and nitrous oxide (N2O),
two gases mainly emitted by agricultural activities.
Causes
Consequences
Card #10 : Aerosols
Description
Nothing to do with aerosol spray cans.
Aerosols are a type of local pollution that comes from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
They are bad for human health and they contribute negatively to radiative forcing (they cool the climate).
Causes
Consequences
Card #11 : Concentration of CO2
Description
About half of our CO2 emissions are captured by natural carbon sinks.
The other half remains in the atmosphere ; the concentration of CO2 in the air has increased
from 280 to 410 ppm (parts per million) in 150 years.
Causes
Consequences
Card #12 : Carbon Sinks
Description
Half of the CO2 we emit every year is absorbed by carbon sinks :
- 1/4 by the vegetation (through photosynthesis)
- 1/4 by the ocean
The remaining half (1/2) stays in the atmosphere.
Causes
Consequences
Card #13 : Additional Greenhouse Effect
Description
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon – and incidentally, the first of the GHGs is water vapor.
Without greenhouse effect, the planet would be 33°C colder and life as we know it would not be possible.
But CO2 and other GHGs related to human activity increase the natural greenhouse effect and unbalance the climate.
Causes
Consequences
Card #14 : Energy Budget
Description
This graph explains where the energy accumulated on Earth due to radiative forcing goes :
it warms up the ocean, melts ice, dissipates into the ground, and warms up the atmosphere.
Causes
Consequences
- Melting of Glaciers
- Increase in Water Temperature
- Melting of Sea Ice
- Melting of Ice Sheets
- Temperature Rise
Card #15 : Radiative Forcing
Description
Radiative forcing represents the difference (caused by humans) between the energy that arrives on Earth each second and the energy that is released.
In the 5 th assessment report of IPCC, it is rated at (Watt per square meter).
Causes
Consequences
Card #16 : Melting of Glaciers
Description
Almost all glaciers have lost mass. Hundreds of them have already disappeared.
These glaciers play a regulating role in the provision of fresh water.
Causes
Consequences
Card #17 : Increase in Water Temperature
Description
Oceans absorb 93% of the energy accumulated on Earth.
Their temperature has therefore increased, especially in the upper layers.
The water expands as it warms up.
Causes
Consequences
Card #18 : Melting of Sea Ice
Description
Sea ice melting does not make the sea level rise (just as a melting ice cube does not make a glass overflow).
However, when it melts, it gives way to the much darker sea, which goes on to absorb more sun rays than white ice.
Causes
Consequences
- No main consequences
Card #19 : Melting of Ice Sheets
Description
Continental glaciers (or ice sheets) are in Greenland and Antarctica.
If they melt completely, they will cause a rise in ocean levels of 7 meters for Greenland and 54 meters for Antarctica.
During the last ice age, ice sheets were so much larger that the sea level was 120 m lower than today.