The programme started with a brief introductory speech from the President from HCI-Dr. Soumitra Das. Following by a short video of 5 minutes, based on the future climatic conditions of Kolkata in 2050.

The main part of the webinar was the lecture of Dr. Peter Wadhams of 35 minutes. The overall lecture of Dr. Peter Wadhams was simple, specific and good. Before coming into his main topic, he named some books- “A Farewell to Ice” and a movie based on his books named “Ice of Fire” which was premiered last year 2019. His entire speech deals with -How Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is affecting our climate? What happens when the level of Caron Dioxide get increases? What are the causes for the rise of CO2 level in the atmosphere? Why it is so important to be control the level of CO2 in the air? How can it be controlled? Etc...

HOW CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) IS AFFECTING OUR CLIMATE?

According to the theory, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) controls temperature because the CO2 molecules in the air absorb infared radiation. The Carbon Dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere are virtually transparent to the visible radiation that delivers the sun’s energy to earth.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES FOR THE RISE OF CO2 LEVEL IN THE ATMOSPHERE?

• Excessive burning or use of fossil fuels.
• Industrial smoke
• Vehicle emissions
• Deforestation. etc

WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO CONTROL THE LEVEL OF CO2 IN THE AIR?

Dr. Peter Wadhams stated that the earth has been warming up rapidly since the 19th century. The excessive release of CO2 in the atmosphere has led to the rise of temperature. At Mauna Loa Obserevatory, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was recorded of two consecutive years 2019 and 2020.In September 18, 2020, the concentration was 411.15ppm while in the previous year it was recorded as 408.59ppm. That is, in single year the CO2 concentration is increased by 2.56ppm.

Due to this rising phenomenon, the climatic condition of the planet was largely affected. There were some big impact in terms of :

• The average increase in surface temperature since the 1951-1980 reference period is greatest in Arctic.
• August1 2019 – Biggest ever ice loss from Greenland Ice Sheet in a single day 12.5 billion tons of ice. Air temperature was 21 degree Celsius.
• Simulation of the jet stream has been changed. This stream is used to flow in a straight path but due to the variation of temperature at different places has made its path uneven.
• Crops based countries like India is highly affected. There is a drastic declination in crop production.
• The surface ice sheet of the Greenland has turned black because due to the dirt which was over the ice for last decades or centuries, is now getting accumulated on its top. So, it radiates less solar radiation and absorbs more radiation and thus the melting process is more accelerated resulting in rising sea level. Countries like Italy, Indonesia are already in a state of submerging.

That’s why it is so important to be controlled.

HOW CAN IT BE CONTROLLED?

Warming can be slowed down by reducing the carbon emissions, usage of fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy like solar, wind, hydro, nuclear etc. Some examples of it are:

• Re-Afforestation
• Methane outbreaks can be stopped by restoring the arctic Sea ice by GEOENGINEERING’
• Only real solution is taking CO2 out of atmosphere (Direct Air Capture.
• Carbon Engineering- This technology uses CO2 that has been directly captured from air to synthesize clean transportation fuels.
• Power to gas is a process by which the captured CO2 and renewable hydrogen are catalytically methanated in modular rectors by French company ATOMSTAT. Then the methane is liquefied and used to fuel natural gas lorries.

After the speech by Dr. Peter Wadhams, there was a 15 minutes time for Questions and Answers and the programme ended with a vote of thanks from our Vice-President Mr. Chandan Bhattacharyya.

Reported By: Surangama Banerjee, HCI Intern.