Global Warming

Objecti
ves
1-Analyze and interpret different types of
evidences for global warming and its causes
(including records of CO2 levels, temperature
records, pollen in peat bogs and
dendrochronology) recognizing correlations
and causal2-Explain
relationships.
the effect of increasing
temperature on the rate of
enzyme activity in plants, animals
and micro-organisms.

One of the biggest challenges facing ecosystems is

climate change. Older people often say that the
weather in their childhood was different- usually
much better than today! Is the climate really
changing? How can we say if this is true???
Evidence from person memory of specially older
people is often unreliable and can go only back to
100 years. We cannot rely on their reports ; we need
reliable scientific evidence.
At present we seem to be in a period of
global warming. This view is supported by
evidence from sources such as:
Carbon dioxide
levels
Temperature
records

Pollen in peat
bogs
Dendrochronolog
y

vidence for increasing carbon dioxide levels

Rising CO2 levels have been blamed for current climate
change

Direct measurement

Measuring continuous CO2 levels in atmosphere

st famous evidences for increase in CO2 levels come from the Mauna Loa

una Lao Observatory collects and monitors data related to atmospheric c

s sampled continuously, and an hourly average of CO 2 concentration is t

Measured using a type of infrared spectrophotomete

vidence for increasing carbon dioxide levels

The graph shows that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
are increasing from 1958-2008.
Since Mauno Lao
Observatory is remote
from large centers of
human population, it is
clear that this is a global
change.

Peaks of CO2 levels indicate winter. In winter

plants lose their leaves and take up less CO2.
Hence respiration exceeds photosynthesis.

vidence for increasing carbon dioxide levels

Carbon dioxide levels in Antarctica

fluctuation of CO2 levels due to seasonality is less marked in Anta

WHY?

There is less biological activity in Antarctica.

vidence for increasing carbon dioxide levels

imates of carbon dioxide levels from ice cores

hen water freezes, small bubbles of air are trapped within the ice.
Its possible to determine the CO2 concentration of the
atmosphere at the time of freezing by analyzing the CO2
content of the air with in these bubbles.
Ice cores are drilled and taken.
The deeper the ice the older air it contains.

Evidence for temperature records

ct temperature measurement using thermometers began in 1850s.

s reliable but short term data.
Proxy measurement:
Used to reconstruct the temperature record before the historical
period.
These include analyzing tree ring widths (dendrochronology)
and isotope variations in ice cores.
Scientists drill deep down in to the ice.
Analyze the air trapped in the different layers.

Records of oxygen isotopes in this melted ice

reflect the air temperature at the time the ice layer
was laid down.
ong term data sets allow changes in temperatures to be analyzed.

General trend: Increase in global temperature is evidence of global war

Correlation and causation

Just because there Is a correlation it does not mean

that one thing causes the other to happen.
They both may be fluctuating in step for some other reasons.

Evidence from dendrochronology

Studying the size of tree rings
In a tree trunk a new layer of xylem vessels grow annually
(each year) and are visible as new ring in the bark of the tree
trunk.
Diameter of a tree ring gives an indication of climatic
conditions of that year.
One ring per year.
Enables us to identify the age of the plant and, more
importantly to global warming, the year of each tree ring.
Climatic conditions of the environment in which trees
grew determine the success of the growth of the xylem
vessels.
Instead of cutting down the tree to see the rings, an
increment borer (a kind of hollow drill), is used tot take
a small core sample out of the living tree.

Evidence from dendrochronology

Thicker/Wider rings in spring
indicates more successful growth of xylem vessels, more
favorable conditions .
Thinner/Narrow rings in summer
indicates less successful growth of xylem vessels due to less
favorable conditions.
No growth in winter and autumn as there are no leaves
deciduous trees during these seasons.

During a good year, a tree will produce a thick band of growth

nd of increasing ring thickness suggests that climate of tree became war

Evidence from dendrochronology

To date preserved trees or wood samples accurately, experts

find common patterns of tree-ring growth that allow crossdating.
counting inwards you can date the year each ring was formed

Evidence from peat bogs

Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed organic matter,
mainly the remains of dead plants.
When plant materials die, they normally decays. However, in the
anaerobic and often acidic conditions of peat bog, the decay rate
is slowed or stopped together.
Pollen grain are well preserved in peat, and can be used to
determine climatic conditions in the past.

en from peat is useful for reconstructing past climates because:

Plants produce pollen in vast amounts.

Pollen grains have tough outer layer that is resistant to decay

Each plant species has a distinctive type of

pollen, allowing us to identify the plant species
from
it of
came.
Each which
species
plant has a particular set of ecological
conditions in which they flourish best. If we find pollen
species favouring warmer conditions , we can infer that
peat was laid down in a warmer climate.

How peat bogs form?

CLAY

CLAY

CLAY

CLAY

Effect of temperature on enzyme

activity in plants, animals and microorganisms.

When temp rises more than optimum, H bonds in the

enzyme have broken, resulting in a change in the 3D
shape of the active site.

The substrate can no longer bind to the enzyme (forming the enzymesubstrate complex) and the reaction doesnt occur. The enzyme has
permanently denatured.

Therefore, global warming may decrease the growth rate of some plants
and animals, but it may equally do the opposite
(e.g. plants living in polar habitats).
It is likely that global warming will increase the rate of growth of microorganisms, resulting in;
- Faster rate of decomposition

- Increased probability of disease

In other places, temperature may exceed the optimum for some enzymes and
organism will die.

REFERENCE

Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology for Edexcel A2 Biology

Edexcel A2 Biology, Ann Fullick
Edexcel A2 Biology Revision Guide for SNAB and concept-led
approaches- Gary Skiner Robin Harbord Ed lees

THANK YOU!