MODULE 1

INST 1
CLIMATE CHANGE AND
DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

First Semester
2022-2023

LOIDA P. TAPAOAN
Faculty In-charge
Objectives:
• At the end of this module, students should be able to:

• identify the components of the Earth’s Climate System and their interaction
abilities;
• briefly explain the Philippine’s Climatic and Geological Position;
• differentiate Greenhouse Effect and Enhanced Greenhouse Effect and
their sources;
• discover the important role of Carbon Dioxide;
• explain basic concepts of climate, climate change and related terms;
• discover the factors affecting the global climate condition;
• identify the impacts of climate change;
• discuss various climate change adaptation and mitigation processes;
• appreciate Government initiatives for climate change adaptation and
mitigation; and
• proposeplan of actions to be taken to mitigate climate change.
 Chapter I:
The Earth’s Climate System & Climate Change
The Earth’s Climate System and It’s Components

Figure 1. Schematic view of the components of the global climate system (bold), their processes and
interactions (thin arrows) and some aspects that may change (bold arrows).
 Five Major Components:
1. Atmosphere - the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth.

It is the most unstable and rapidly changing part of the system. Its
composition, which has changed with the evolution of the Earth. The Earth’s dry
atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen (N2, 78.1% volume mixing ratio),
oxygen (O2, 20.9% volume mixing ratio, and argon (Ar, 0.93% volume mixing
ratio). These gases have only limited interaction with the incoming solar
radiation and they do not interact with the infrared radiation emitted by the
Earth. However there are a number of trace gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2)
, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone (O3), which do absorb and emit
infrared radiation. These so called greenhouse gases, with a total volume
mixing ratio in dry air of less than 0.1% by volume, play an essential role in the
Earth’s energy budget.
Five Major Components:
2. Hydrosphere is the component comprising all liquid surfaces and
subterranean water, both fresh water, including rivers, lakes and aquifers, and
saline water of the oceans and seas.
Fresh water runoff from the land returning to the oceans in rivers influences
the ocean’s composition and circulation. The oceans cover approximately 70%
of the Earth’s surface. They store and transport a large amount of energy and
dissolve and store great quantities of carbon dioxide. Their circulation, driven by
the wind and by density contrasts caused by salinity and thermal gradients (the
so-called thermohaline circulation), is much slower than the atmospheric
circulation.
Five Major Components:
3. Cryosphere includes the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, continental
glaciers and snow fields, sea ice and permafrost, derives its importance to the
climate system from its high reflectivity (albedo) for solar radiation, its low
thermal conductivity, its large thermal inertia and, especially, its critical role in
driving deep ocean water circulation. Because the ice sheets store a large
amount of water, variations in their volume are a potential source of sea level
variations.
4. Biosphere (terrestrial and marine):
The part of the Earth system comprising all ecosystems and living
organisms… including derived dead organic matter, such as litter, soil organic
matter and oceanic detritus.
Vegetation and soils at the land surface control how energy received from the
Sun is returned to the atmosphere.
5. Lithosphere
The upper layer of the solid Earth, both continental and oceanic, which
comprises all crustal rocks and the cold, mainly elastic part of the uppermost
mantle.
The Philippine’s Climatic and Geological Position

The Philippines is located along a typhoon belt and the so-called Ring of Fire,
where the oceanic Philippine plate and several smaller micro-plates are
subducting along the Philippine Trench to the E, and the Luzon, Sulu and several
other small Trenches to the W. The tectonic setting of the Philippines is complex.

The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the
Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.
Roughly 90% of all earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, and the ring is
dotted with 75% of all active volcanoes (approximately 452 volcanoes) on Earth.

Located along the typhoon belt in the Pacific, the Philippines is visited by an
average of 20 typhoons every year, five of which are destructive. Being situated
in the “Pacific Ring of Fire” makes it vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions.
Plate Tectonics and the Ring of Fire
Greenhouse Effect:
The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to Earth's
surface by “greenhouse gases.” These heat-trapping gases can be thought of as
a blanket wrapped around Earth, keeping the planet toastier than it would be
without them.

The greenhouse effect is a good thing. It warms the planet to its comfortable
average of 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) and keeps life on earth,
well, livable. Without it the world would be a frozen, uninhabitable place, more
like Mars.

The greenhouse effect: some of the infrared radiation from the Sun passes
through the atmosphere, but most is absorbed and re-emitted in all directions
by greenhouse gas molecules and clouds. The effect of this is to warm the
Earth’s surface and the lower atmosphere.
Greenhouse Effect
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Natural vs Human Enhanced Greenhouse
Greenhouse Gas:
Greenhouse gas, any gas that has the property of absorbing infrared radiation
(net heat energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiating it back to Earth’s
surface, thus contributing to the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane,
and water vapour are the most important greenhouse gases. (To a lesser extent,
surface-level ozone, nitrous oxides, and fluorinated gases also trap infrared
radiation.) Greenhouse gases have a profound effect on the energy budget of
the Earth system despite making up only a fraction of all atmospheric gases.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases have varied substantially during Earth’s
history, and these variations have driven substantial climate changes at a wide
range of timescales. In general, greenhouse gas concentrations have been
particularly high during warm periods and low during cold periods.
Major Greenhouse Gases:
1. Water Vapor
Water vapor is the most potent greenhouse gas in Earth’s atmosphere, but its
behavior is fundamentally different from that of the other greenhouse gases.
The primary role of water vapour is not as a direct agent of radiative forcing but
rather as a climate feedback—that is, as a response within the climate system
that influences the system’s continued activity.

Hydrologic Cycle
Major Greenhouse Gases:
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning
fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological
materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture
of cement). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or "sequestered")
when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

Carbon Cycle
Major Greenhouse Gases:
3. Methane (CH4)
Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas,
and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural
practices, land use and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste
landfills.
4. Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural, land use, and industrial activities;
combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of
wastewater.

5. Fluorinated Gases
Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen
trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a
variety of household, commercial, and industrial applications and processes.
Fluorinated gases (especially hydrofluorocarbons) are sometimes used as
substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting substances (e.g.,
chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons). Fluorinated gases
are typically emitted in smaller quantities than other greenhouse gases, but
they are potent greenhouse gases.
Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change
Weather and Climate

SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM

Manifestations of Climate Change
Manifestations of Climate Change
Manifestations of Climate Change
Manifestations of Climate Change
Manifestations of Climate Change
Global Warming
– Global warming is the phenomenon of increasing average air
temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two
centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered
detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as
temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of related influences on
climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s chemical
composition).

– Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall

temperature. Though this warming trend has been going on for a long
time, its pace has significantly increased in the last hundred years due to
the burning of fossil fuels. As the human population has increased, so
has the volume of fossil fuels burned. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and
natural gas, and burning them causes what is known as the “greenhouse
effect” in Earth’s atmosphere.

– Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to

life on earth in the forms of widespread flooding and extreme weather.
Global Warming Effect
Factors Affecting Global Climate
• Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object is. It affects climate
because it makes the surface of the Earth warmer or colder. The surface of
the Earth can absorb heat from the Sun and so, when it becomes hotter, it
will cause global warming.

• Humidity has an effect on climate. High humidity in the air, especially when it
is combined with stagnant atmospheric layers, can reduce both the amount
of ground-level solar radiation and the amount of that radiation that escapes
directly to space.

• Precipitation is a measure that takes into account the amount of water that
falls from the sky. The term precipitation can refer to rain, snow, hail, or other
forms of liquid and solid precipitation. It affects climate by bringing in more
water to the Earth’s surface which cools it down. It also helps regulate the
cycle of water through evaporation and condensation which ultimately
impacts other things such as plant life. It can also create natural disasters
such as flooding and landslides.
Factors Affecting Global Climate
• Winds and Ocean Currents are the most important factors in determining
the climate of a region. Winds and ocean currents affect temperature,
humidity, wind speed, precipitation and air pressure. As they move over
land or water they pick up heat energy from the sun’s rays or warmth from
the earth’s surface. This causes them to rise and cool which in turn creates
rain or snow.

• Solar Radiation is an important factor in climate change due to the heating

effects of the sun. Solar radiation is the heat that comes from the sun and
heats up our planet. It can cause a positive feedback loop where more
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere creates a warmer environment, which
causes more solar radiation to be absorbed, resulting in even higher levels
of atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Factors Affecting Global Climate
• Topography refers to the condition of a place with respect to the earth’s
surface. It can be described as different types of relief, such as hills,
mountains, valleys etc. In Atmospheric Science, topography affects climate
because it influences wind flow and moisture. For example, mountain
ranges cause air to rise because they create a wall of higher terrain. Air rises
because there is less pressure pushing down on it at higher altitudes. This
causes it to cool and condense water vapor into rain or snow which then falls
as precipitation on the other side of the mountain range at lower altitudes.

• Latitude is the angle between the equator and the north pole. Latitude
influences the amount of sunlight that hits the earth. This affects the
amount of energy that is absorbed by the earth’s surface and the amount of
heat that is released. Latitude is also the main factor that determines the
temperature of the earth’s surface.

• Elevation (or altitude) is the vertical distance between the surface of the
Earth and the centre of the Earth. It is measured in metres above the mean
sea level (MSL).
Types of Climate
• Today, climate scientists split the Earth into approximately five main types of
climates. They are:

• A: Tropical. In this hot and humid zone, the average temperatures are
greater than 64°F (18°C) year-round and there is more than 59 inches of
precipitation each year.

• B: Dry. These climate zones are so dry because moisture is rapidly

evaporated from the air and there is very little precipitation.
• C: Temperate. In this zone, there are typically warm and humid summers
with thunderstorms and mild winters.

• D. Continental. These regions have warm to cool summers and very cold
winters. In the winter, this zone can experience snowstorms, strong winds,
and very cold temperatures—sometimes falling below -22°F (-30°C)!

• E: Polar. In the polar climate zones, it’s extremely cold. Even in summer, the
temperatures here never go higher than 50°F (10°C)!
Global Climate Zone
Weather Instruments
• Daily Temperatures
Modern thermometers are often
electronic
Thermometers measure the high and low
outdoor temperatures in degrees
Fahrenheit and degrees Celsius.
Meteorologists first used liquid-in-glass
thermometers in the late 1800s, but they
now use electronic maximum-minimum
temperature sensor systems more
frequently. The newer systems use an
electronic temperature sensor to
measure and record high and low
temperatures.
Weather Instruments
• Atmospheric Pressure
Barometers measure atmospheric
pressure, providing the measurement
in millibars. Under most conditions,
high and rising pressure indicates
sunny weather, while low and falling
pressure indicates approaching rain.
The traditional aneroid barometer first
appeared in the 1840s. The
microbarograph also measures air
pressure but records its continuous
measurements on paper.
Weather Instruments
• Humidity Sensors
Hygrometers measure temperature
and humidity using degrees Celsius
and degrees Fahrenheit. One type of
hygrometer, called a sling
psychrometer, uses one dry and one
wet bulb thermometer to measure the
relative humidity of the air. Some
older hygrometers used a sheaf of
hair, which increases in length as
relative humidity increases.
Weather Instruments
• Wind Speed
Anemometers measure the direction
and speed of wind in miles per hour. A
common type of anemometer has
three cups fixed to a mobile shaft. As
the wind blows faster, the cups spin
around faster. The actual speed of the
wind shows up on a dial. Another type
of anemometer uses a propeller
instead of cups to accomplish the
same function.
Weather Instruments
• Wind Vane
A wind vane, also called a wind sock,
measures the direction of the wind at
any given point in time. A weighted
arrow spins around a fixed shaft and
points north, south, east or west,
typically marked on separate fixed
shafts parallel to the arrow.
Weather Instruments
• Rain Gauge
A rain gauge measures the amount of
rainfall. The standard rain gauge
consists of a long, narrow cylinder
capable of measuring rainfall up to 8
inches. Many rain gauges measure
precipitation in millimeters, or to the
nearest 100th of an inch. Other
gauges collect the rain and weigh it,
later converting this measurement
into inches.
Weather Instruments
• Hail Pad
• Hail pads measure the size of hail
that falls during a storm. A
standard hail pad consists of
florist's foam and aluminum foil.
The falling hail strikes the foil and
creates dimples for the observer
to measure after the storm.
Weather Instruments
• Campbell Stokes Recorder
The Campbell Stokes Recorder
measures sunshine. Sunlight shines
into one side of a glass ball and leaves
through the opposite side in a
concentrated ray. This ray of light
burns a mark onto a thick piece of
card. The extensiveness of the burn
mark indicates how many hours the
sun shone during that day.
Weather Satellites
• There are two types of
weather satellites: polar
orbiting and geostationary.
Both satellite systems have
unique characteristics and
produce very different
products. The two polar
orbiting satellites, in their
north-south orbits, observe
the same spot on the Earth
twice daily, once during the
daylight and once at night. Polar Orbiting Satellites

Geostationary Satellite
 Chapter II:
IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
What are the impacts of Climate Change ?

MULTI-SECTORAL IMPACTS
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
Climate Change : Global and Local Scenarios
What and who contributes to Climate
Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
What and who contributes to Climate Change?
 Chapter III:
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Climate Change Mitigation
Climate Change Mitigation
Climate Change Adaptation
Climate Change Adaptation
Mitigation and Adaptation
Mitigation and Adaptation
Concept of Maladaptation and Adaptigation

• Maladaptation is a process that results in

increased vulnerability to climate variability and
change, directly or indirectly, and/or significantly
undermines capacities or opportunities for
present and future adaptation.
• " Adaptigation is a response to climate change
that integrates a focus on adaptation with a
focus on mitigation, to avoid conflicts and create
synergies (Langlais, 2009; Langlais & Dymén,
2009).
The five principles of the Pathways framework

Characteristic of maladaptation Principle for avoiding maladaptation Justification

Increasing emissions of 1. Ensure that the initiative does not “The problem with energy-intensive
greenhouse gases increase emissions of greenhouse adaptation actions is that while they
gases may address current needs, they
create a positive feedback by
increasing emissions of
greenhouse gases, thereby
increasing the likelihood that further
adaptation to climate change will be
required in the future” (p.212).
Adaptation must not contribute to
increasing greenhouse gases
emissions, as mitigation and
adaptation are complementary
means and goals of the fight
against climate change.

Disproportionately burdening the 2. Ensure economically and socially “Adaptation actions are maladaptive
most vulnerable equitable initiatives if, in meeting the needs of one
sector or group, they increase the
vulnerability of those most at risk,
such as minority groups or low-
income households” (p.212).
Strengthening part of the society by
weakening the most vulnerable
cannot be a sustainable option, as it
will very likely result in an increase
in pressures on other natural and
The five principles of the Pathways framework

Characteristic of maladaptation Principle for avoiding maladaptation Justification

High opportunity cost 3. Avoid high-cost initiatives “Approaches may be maladaptive if

their economic, social or
environmental costs are high relative
to alternatives” (p.212).Cost-benefit
analyses (on economic, social,
environmental… dimensions) should
be conducted before choosing the
right option to implement. Neglecting
such an approach can lead to
adopting options that are too costly
in the long run.

Reduce incentive to adapt 4. Increase incentive to adapt Actions are maladaptive if “they
reduce incentive to adapt, for example
by encouraging unnecessary
dependence on others, stimulating
rent-seeking behaviour, or penalising
early actors” (p.212).The involvement
of community, economic and policy
bodies into an adaptation process is
of major importance to allow its
achievement. This multilateral
involvement however relies on various
elements such as equity, risk
perception, power relations, etc. that
must not be eroded.
The five principles of the Pathways framework

Characteristic of maladaptation Principle for avoiding maladaptation Justification

Path dependency 5. Build flexibility into the initiative “A major issue with large
infrastructural development [the one
considered in the authors’ case study]
is the way they commit capital and
institutions to trajectories that are
difficult to change in the future” (p.
212).This deals with the extent to
which present choices (here,
infrastructural) can restrict the range
of future options, and thus reduce the
room for manoeuvre of the system in
the future. This criterion refers to the
generation of irreversibility and the
induced decrease in the system’s
flexibility.
Adapted from Barnett & O’Neill, 2010
What are the interventions to address Climate
Change?

A. Global Initiatives
Kyoto Protocol: Key Points
Kyoto Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
Signed by 195 countries

Opposed: Syria and

Nicaragua

Widraw: USA
B. Local Initiatives
Climate Change
Mitigation:
Addressing Causes

Climate Change
Adaptation:
Responding to
Impacts
 Sustainable Development
GREEN GROWTH Goals (SDGs)

Social
Inclusion

Environmenta
Economic
l
Growth
Sustainability