Transcript Physical Effects of Climate Change

Physical Effects of Climate
Change
Effects of Climate Change in the
Atmosphere
Heat Waves
 Drought
 Wildfires
 Storms
 Floods
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http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/earths-atmosphere.jpg
Heat Waves
http://thegoddessblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/heat-wave.png
http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/JUN07southEuropeHeat.jpg
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Extreme Heat Alerts often involve hot humid smoggy air
These result in increased use of air conditioning and in
wildfires, both actions that increase greenhouse gases
Warm air warms the surface of the planet, leading to
thawing of ice and previously permanently frozen soil
(permafrost)
Drought
http://thecalloftheland.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/drought.jpg
http://www.ethioguardian.com/e107_images/newspost_images/hunger_ethiopia.jpg
Most severe near deserts
 Seasonal rains have stopped
 People are unable to grow food – increased famine
Ex. Ethiopia
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Wildfires
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/wildfire-blm4.jpg
When weather is hot and
dry for a long time trees
become dry and lose their
leaves
 Probability of wildfires
increase
 Frequency of wildfires is
increasing globally
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Storms
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The rapid increase in global temperature has caused
changes in the frequency and severity of storms
Floods
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/images/image002-E.gif
When air
temperatures rise
rapidly in the
spring,snow can melt
too quickly for rivers
and streams to handle
 These seasonal floods
are becoming more
frequent
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Effects of Climate Change in the
Hydrosphere
http://sos.noaa.gov/images/fullsize/Ocean/seacurrents.jpg
Melting Ice
 Ocean Warming
 Ocean Currents
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Melting Ice 1
http://save-environment.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/melting-ice-polar-bear.jpg
As the average global
temperature increases, the
Earth’s ice (sea and
glacier) is melting
 The average level of the
world’s oceans has
increased by about 20 cm
in the last 100 years
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Melting Ice 2
http://climateprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/greenland_ice_melting.jpg
Melting ice can affect the
Earth by:
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Flooding land that is currently
just above sea level
Changing habitats of shoreline
plants, animals and microorganisms
Causing loss of property
Changing geographic coastlines
and shapes of continental
coasts
Reducing the amount of fresh
water available to communities
Melting Ice 3
Ocean Warming1
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The impact of rising
temperatures on oceans is
less obvious than those on
land
Water warms up more
slowly
The average ocean
temperature has increased
by approx. 0.6 ºC in the
last 100 years
Ocean Warming2
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Projected-sea-level-rise.gif
As the water
warms it expands
so warmer oceans
mean higher sea
levels
 This leads to loss
of coastal land

Ocean Warming3
http://www.nature.com/climate/2007/0708/images/climate.2007.35-i3.jpg
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Warmer water
absorbs less
carbon dioxide
so is less
effective as a
carbon sink
Ocean Warming4
http://i.livescience.com/images/ig29_phytoplankton_02.jpg
http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/image/photos/phyto.jpg
Warmer water is not
ideal for
phytoplankton growth
 Phytoplankton
photosynthesize and
are an important
carbon sink
 Warm oceans mean
fewer phytoplankton

Ocean Warming5
http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID23333/images/hurricane_fran_nasa.jpg
http://www.companysj.com/v244/cuban-hurricane.jpg
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Warmer water produces more intense hurricanes
Ocean Currents1
Ocean Currents2
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Melting ice and warming oceans can change the flow of ocean currents
As ice melts it adds fresh water to the oceans
Fresh water is less dense than salt water
The change of salinity affects the mechanisms that drive currents
The North Atlantic deep-water current could slow down to about half
its present speed
Effects of Climate Change on
Wildlife
http://www.colorado-video.com/observerapps_files/wildlife.jpg
Range Shifts
 Threatened Species
 Benefits (?)
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Range Shifts
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/uploadedImages/News/Chicago/Images/Urban/HUGHES_BIRDS_031809.jpg
EX.
In February, the Audubon
Society released an
analysis of data compiled
over almost half a century
that they say suggests
that a slow, northbound
shift of wintering grounds
for almost every type of
North American bird was
directly linked to global
warming.
Threatened Species
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/science/25frog.html?_r=1
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The change in climate will
force many organisms to
adapt, migrate or become
extinct
Between 40 – 70 % of all
species are at risk of
extinction if the global
average temperature
increases by only 3.3 ºC
Organisms that benefit from
Climate Change
http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0525-starfish.html
http://imagess3.enature.com/seashore/seashore_l/sc0082_1l.jpg
EX. A new study identifies starfish
as one of the possible winners
from rising ocean temperatures
and carbon dioxide
concentrations.
Increased temperature and
acidity will significantly boost
the echinoderm's (Pisaster
ochraceus, a species of sea
star) growth rate
The End
http://www.solcomhouse.com/images/Global_Warming.gif