Global Envionmental Public Health Test 1

Why is climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century."

(1) Changing patterns of disease and mortality (heat related illness, increases in vector borne diseases); (2) food (decreasing crop yields undernutrition); (3) water and sanitation (reduction in clean water sources); (4) shelter and human settlements (increasing urbanization puts people more at risk of climate related hazards); (5) extreme weather events (infrastructure breakdown, contamination of water); (6) population (stress on shelter, food, and water scarcity) and migration (abandonment of inhospitable environments)

Three-legged stool

2002 UN World Summit on Sustainable Development 3 legs: economic development, social development (society/community), environment All should be of equal length If one of those three legs collapsed would we be able to come back?

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

46 ppb, but increasing rapidly Emissions come from soil microbes, use of nitrogen fertilizer, fossil fuel combustion, decomposition of wastes/sewage

Composition of the Atmosphere

78% nitrogen (N2) 21% oxygen (O2) 0.9% argon (Ar) 0.03% carbon dioxide (CO2) Trace amounts of other gases Only oxygen and carbon dioxide directly enter into biological processes Oxygen necessary for aerobic respiration Carbon dioxide for photosynthesis Atmospheric nitrogen can be used only by certain bacteria

Shifting rainfall patterns

A global average rise in precipitation due to increasing evaporation, but unevenly distributed Flooding in some areas, drought in others Exacerbates current conditions Areas prone to flooding: Ganges Delta in India, Pearl River Delta in China, Mississippi Delta Could see moderate drought affecting 50% of the world's land area (up from 25% at present); severe drought affecting 40% of land areas (now 8%); and extreme drought at 30% (now 3%)

health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease (WHO 1948

Drought in California

Agriculture (increasing food prices) reduced crop yield, water quality problems Wildfires (8,527 in 2018 alone) smoke inhalation, destruction of property, risk of death 1,893,913 acres burned in 2018 Estimated cost >$3.5 BILLION USD West Nile Virus (208 human cases in 2018, 10 deaths) Vector-borne diseases such as West Nile, spread by mosquitos, affects the central nervous system Water shortage

What is affecting YOU?

Air pollution Better in Boston vs worse in Boston Rural vs urban Climate change Last week?! Rising sea levels Long island vs Virgin Islands vs Florida Drought and wildfires California Increased storms and extreme weather Urbanization Pollution, traffic, questionable fumes

Anthropocene Era

An era in which human influence has altered many fundamental Earth processes: Climate Extent of photosynthesis Land cover River flows Ocean food webs Cycling of nitrogen, phosphorus and others Species extinctions Etc...

Population j curve

Another pattern of growth is much more dramatic because it can result in population crashes, where growth increases at rapid exponential rates up to or even beyond the carrying capacity. Environmental resistance only comes into play late, creating a more extreme dieback. Since the mid-20th century humans have experienced an unprecedented population explosion, with growth rates resembling those of a J-curve. Although average rates of growth are now decreasing after reaching a peak in the early 1970s (potential S-curve?). The annual increase to the world's total population is over 80 million.

Top meat eating countries

Australia US Isreal Argentina ...

Why did growth rates accelerate?

Birth rates stayed relatively stable, but death rates declined Improvements in agriculture (1750s-1900s) -> increase in food supply-> decline in death rates Improvements in public sanitation (late 1800s) -> decline in death rates Control of infectious diseases (late 1900s-1950s) -> decline in death rates These factors are all very good things, but combined with continuously high birth rates, a population explosion took place.

Age Structure

Brings us to the importance of age structure in populations. Age structure refers to the number of people in different age categories within a given population. The proportion of people who are economically productive (15-59) in relation to those who are dependent on them (children and elderly). Societies need young people, like yourselves. Not only because it makes societies more vibrant and interesting, but also because of what your work and skill and innovation can contribute to society.

Ozone-depleting Substances

CFCs A component of refrigerants used in refrigeration, freezing, and air-conditioning A propellant in aerosol spray cans used from paints, to insecticides, to hair sprays and deodorants By the early 1970s one million tons of CFCs were being produced every year Banned/phased out in most countries since 1987 Montreal Protocol Halons Fire suppressants These chemicals don't break down, they drift upward into stratosphere Banned in the US except for aviation fire safety

Halocarbons

CFCs, PFCs, HFCs Both ozone depleters and GHGs More damaging than CO2 Water vapor Human activities have a negligible direct impact on amount in atmosphere, but may play a role in feedback loops

Cities: Slums or Solution?

Challenges: Current conditions for the poor are terrible Urbanization puts additional stress on inadequate water, sanitation, electrical, and transportation systems Violence Population density and natural disasters/infectious disease Opportunities: Total fertility rates decrease in urban environments Easier access to health care Population density has a positive association with more efficient resource use Urbanization poses significant problems, but also potential opportunities for more sustainable living. The current estimate is that 30-60% of the people in developing country cities live in substandard housing, and with these informal settlements growing even faster than urban areas as a whole, these conditions could be made worse.

energy consumption

China 23% US 17% india 5% non-oecd Asia 7% REST of the world 48% the rest of the world (developing countries) are less then 1/2 of the worlds primary energy consumption

Methane (CH4)

Current atmospheric concentrations are less than 2 ppm, but it is more damaging than CO2 Over 50% of methane emissions come from agriculture: rice cultivation (anaerobic bacteria in rice paddy fields) and cow gas (bacteria in gut) Also comes from landfills, fossil fuel combustion, deforestation

sustainability

Definition: the ability of a system to continue functioning without depleting or damaging the things it needs to function

D-P-S-E-E-A

Driving force (population growth, economic development, technology) Pressure (production, consumption, waste release) State (natural hazard, resource availability, pollution levels) exposure (external exposure, absorbed dose, target organ dose) effect (well-being, morbidity, mortality) ACTION>>>>

Why is global cooperation so difficult?

Economic concerns in the biggest polluting countries Financial interest of large companies Short time horizons Concerted campaign to undermine scientific consensus in the U.S.

Sources of CO2 in the U.S. by Sector 2013

Electricity production Transportation - our cars, trucks, planes, trains, ships etc. Industry - the manufacturing of goods, cement production Commercial and residential - burning fuels for heat, using products that contain greenhouse gases Agriculture - production

Nested Model of Sustainability

Environment (land, energy, habitat, water, materials, ecosystems, air) community (society & culture, education & learning, health & well-being, governance &policy) economy (economy & wealth) economy inside community inside envionment

environmental health

Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. (WHO)

Positive Effects of Reduced Population Growth

Environmental: less demand on agriculture, potentially less pollution and waste Societal: more investment in education, women's economic participation, greater stability and sustainability

Climate change

External causes Solar activity Earths orbit Meteorites Internal causes: Natural Feedback Volcanic eruption Chance Internal causes:Anthropogenic Emissions of greenhouse gases Particles/clouds Land change

Why is climate change happening?

Factors Influencing Rate of Increase

GIS: Agriculture

Farm management Pest/Disease tracking Crop monitoring Yield prediction Soil analysis

Diminishing crop yields

Flooding and drought Crop destroying insects Also newer evidence that rising CO2 levels in atmosphere can have a negative impact on crop production because it fosters weed growth and lowers the nutritional value of some plants

Water and sanitation

Flooding and drought can both destroy clean water supplies Warmer water also means more bacterial growth

GIS: Natural Resource Management

Forestry Ecology Mining Petroleum Water Resources

Primary Causes of CO2 Emissions

Fossil fuel combustion + Cement production = (77%) Deforestation and destruction of vegetation (23%)

GIS

GIS = Geographic Information System Links databases and maps Manages information about places Helps answer questions such as: Where is it? What else is nearby? Where is the highest concentration of 'X'? Where can I find things with characteristic 'Y'? Where is the closest 'Z' to my location?

Difference between climate change and global warming

GLOBAL WARMING Is the increase of the Earth's average surface temperature due to a build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. CLIMATE CHANGE Is the long-term changes in climate, including average temperature and precipitation. It recognizes that, although the average surface temperature may increase, the regional or local temperature may decrease or remain constant.

Historical Trends in Human Population Growth

Graph represents estimates of historical population #s based on circumstantial evidence such as the number of people who could be supported by primitive agriculture combined with better estimates for dates after 1650 AD. It is estimated that the world's human population was about 500 million in 1650, that it doubled to one billion by 1850, to two billion by 1930, and to four billion by 1975.

Population Growth Rate

Growth rate = birth rate - death rate (eg. Pakistan growth rate = 30/1000-7/1000 = 23/1000, typically expressed as 2.3% per year) A country can have a low growth rate and a high birth rate if the death rate is also high The best scenario for a reduced growth rate is a lower birth rate and a lower death rate

Extreme weather events

Heat waves, tropical storms, hurricanes Sea surface temperatures rising make tropical storms more severe Higher wind velocity Greater precipitation Remember that 75% of the world's people live within 36 miles of a coastline

Rising sea levels

Impact on coastal regions Melting could lead to a sea level rise of 2.6 feet to 6.6 feet by 2100 (lower end thought to be most likely) Carteret Island inhabitants, the "first climate change refugees" began being relocated in 2009 Other island nations, low-lying areas in countries such as Bangladesh, and both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S. are thought to be most at risk

Factors Influencing Rate of Increase

Increasing rate of emissions Global emissions of GHGs have been increasing every year Water vapor: higher temps ->higher evaporation rates -> more water vapor in atmosphere -> absorb more heat -> higher temps Ice: higher temps -> melting -> less sun reflection -> more heat radiation from exposed ground -> higher temps Permafrost: higher temps -> melting -> releases carbon and methane from permafrost -> more GHGs in atmosphere-> absorb more heat ->higher temps Oceans: higher temps -> less ability to absorb carbon dioxide -> more GHGs in atmosphere ->more heat absorption ->higher temps Rain forest: higher temps -> loss of vegetation -> release of GHGs from soil + fewer plants to absorb carbon dioxide-> more GHGs in atmosphere potential exponential growth

What caused declining birth rates?

Industrialization made children a liability instead of an asset Improvements in infant mortality led to families wanting to limit pregnancies Trend to later age of marriage reduced the number of sexually active high-fertility years for women Declining birth rates in Europe and North America started before the widespread availability of contraception, although contraception has since helped to further reduce birth rates.

Road Injuries (#8)

Kills 1,395,800 people/year (GBD 2013) Increases every year Most occur in low and middle-income countries Growth in motorization Poor quality roads Inadequate infrastructure for pedestrians Environmental contribution to road injuries is 40% (WHO 2006)

Preterm Birth (#4)

Kills 742,400 babies every year (GBD 2013) Air pollution, cigarette smoke, and inadequate nutrition can result in low-birth weight and preterm birth Other chemicals and substances classified as teratogens can cause birth defects resulting in low-birth weight, preterm birth, fetal loss, infant mortality, or life-long morbidities

population S-curve

Lag phase- little difference between death and birth rate Exponential phase- birth rate greater than death rate' Stable Equilibrium- death and birth rate equal shows a pattern where growth begins slowly and then proceeds very rapidly (most rapid growth reached at the mid-point of this exponential growth phase) and then gradually levels off (births and deaths reach equilibrium). The carrying capacity of the environment acts as resistance to the increasing population density. This pattern is typical of microorganisms, plants, and many types of birds and mammals.

Water in high-income countries

Lead exposure in Flint, MI Estimated 400 households, 9000 children exposed What are the health effects? In adults: Kidney damage, sterility, miscarriage, birth defects In children: Damage to central nervous system creating hyperirritability, poor memory, mental retardation, coma and even death 18 million Americans get their water from systems in violation of EPA lead rules (NRDC 2016) Violations include: Failure to monitor for lead Failure to reduce lead levels Failure to report test results to citizens

Malnutrition and food security

Less food, food becomes more expensive

Vector-borne infectious diseases

Malaria, dengue fever, and others Scientists warn that warmer temperatures will cause mosquitos to develop faster, bite more frequently, move into new areas, be active for more days during the year, and to survive winters that used to be too cold

birth dearth

Many, particularly in Europe, have been experiencing what is called a "birth dearth" Fertility rates well below replacement level EU nations will find it extremely difficult to finance retirement benefits, additionally, this aging of the population will put additional stress on healthcare systems as the vast majority of health care dollars are spent on elderly and end-of-life care. Not an environmental sustainability problem, but it is a societal sustainability problem.

Other Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Methane (CH4) Nitrous oxide (N2O) Halocarbons

Shifting range of biological species

Migratory species are moving northward

Urbanization

One of the other important population trends is the tremendous population increase in metropolitan areas. The Industrial Revolution created more job opportunities in cities, and the rate of increase in city population has continued to accelerate ever since. By 1950 29% of the world's people lived in cities, in early 2008 city dwellers surpassed 50% of world population for the first time, reaching 3.3 billion. It is projected that by 2050 that number will reach 6.4 billion. In fact between now and then, virtually all the increase in world population will occur in urban areas in developing countries.

Malaria (#9)

Parasitic protozoa spread by mosquitos Kills 854,600 people/year (GBD 2013) 200 -300 million people get malaria every year (WHO 2015) The proportion of malaria attributable to modifiable environmental factors is 42% Land use, deforestation, water resource management, improved drainage

Per Capita Emissions

Per-person emissions through the equation: national population/emissions = total emissions Canada(24), US(19), Russian Federation(16), Japan(9), European Union(8), Indonesia(8) , china(7.5), brazil(7), world average(6.5), mexico(6), india (2) But it is also important to keep in mind that one individual in Europe or North America has a far more negative impact on the environment than one individual in a low-income country. There are 196 countries in the world, this is a very skewed distribution Population size and sustainability are certainly related and important to consider, but so is relative use of resources. We waste more food in America than in any other country. One person in the United States uses far more resources and has way more of a negative impact on the environment than one person in Africa.

Climate change is impacting these plants and animals

Phenology refers to the timing of plant and animal life cycles stages, such as when flowers bloom, birds migrate or when offspring are born. Many of these events are sensitive to changes in the climate and are indicators of changing climate. This map shows plants and animals that are already responding to climate change and those that are projected to respond.

Lower Respiratory Infections

Pneumonia, acute bronchitis Kills 2,652,600 people/year (GBD 2013), primarily children, elderly, immunocompromised In high-income countries, about 20% of LRIs are attributable to environmental causes, in low-income countries it is 42% Associated with indoor air pollution related to household solid fuel use Second-hand tobacco smoke

Share of the World's Population by Region

Population will continue to grow the fastest in the poorest parts of the world, which could further exacerbate human suffering. Providing adequate food and shelter is a tremendous challenge. asia has greatest share of worlds population

Negative Effects of Reduced Population Growth

Primarily societal: aging of population, stress on social security and healthcare systems, concerns over workforce and military

Regions of the Atmosphere

Regions of the atmosphere are divided by temperature zones Troposphere extends from sea level to an altitude of about 8 miles above the ground. Virtually all life activities occur within this region, and most of the weather and climatic events. Temperatures here fall with increasing altitude Stratosphere: temperature gradient reversal. It contains the ozone layer, a region characterized by higher-than-usual concentrations of the rare gas ozone (O3). Ozone concentrations are lowest above the equator, increase toward the poles, also increase between autumn and spring Upper layers, mesosphere and thermosphere, air progressively becomes more diffuse Closed system, every material that goes into the air remains within the earth atmosphere system It also regulates both the quality and quantity of solar radiation that enters and leaves Thermal radiation is also held in, what is known as the greenhouse effect

Ice core analyses

Samples taken from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of years ago create a record of past climatic conditions - evidence that concentrations of GHGs were much lower and have been increasing, fluctuations in GHGs also correspond to fluctuations in temperature

The prevailing theory of the greenhouse effect (since 1859)

Science has determined that CO2 in the atmosphere keeps our planet warm, suggests that increasing CO2 would increase temperature

Global Sea Level Rise

Sea level rise is caused by two factors related to global warming: the added water coming from the melting of land ice, and the expansion of sea water as it warms up. The above graphs show how much sea level has changed since 1993 (right, satellite data record) (increase 3.16 mm/ year) and about 1880 (left, coastal tide gauge data) (increase 1.70 mm/year)

Health Impact of Ozone Depletion

Skin Cancer For every 1% decrease in the concentration of atmospheric ozone, cases of basal cell carcinoma would rise by 2-5%, squamous cell carcinoma by 4-10% The UN Environmental Programme estimated in 1992 a 26% worldwide increase in nonmelanoma skin cancer if stratospheric ozone levels dropped by 10% The ozone layer had been depleting by 4% per decade since the early 2000s Concentrations of chlorine in the stratosphere continue to increase, but at a slower rate Cataracts Ozone depletion may result in up to 830,000 additional cases of cataract by 2050 in the United States

Glaciers are melting

So are ice caps on both North and South poll.

Population Projections

So now projecting into the future, The UN makes population projects, using estimates of high, medium and low fertility. The medium level estimate has global population reaching about 9 billion in 2050, stabilizing by 2100. · High-fertility countries: Countries that until 2005 had no fertility reduction or only an incipient decline; · Medium-fertility countries: Countries where fertility has been declining but whose level was still above 2.1 children per woman in 2000-2005; · Low-fertility countries: Countries with total fertility at or below 2.1 children per woman in 2000-2005. Growth primarily happening in developing countries, so the population growth that is potentially concerning is in the developing world. In North America and Europe however, population growth has stabilized and is even decreasing.

Definition of a GIS

So what is GIS? the first word, geographic, tells you that our focus is on geography. What is geography? -- the study of where things are, why they are located there, and how the character of a location or place influences events and processes taking place there or at nearby locations. the second word is information. Information is data; properties that we can measure, or characteristics that we can describe. In other words, information refers to the attributes of the objects comprising our GIS. and finally, the last word is system. System means a framework for managing and organizing information, or data - in this case, data of a geographic nature. The system also provide sets of tools and functions to interact with, manipulate, explore, analyze, and visualize that information. For the moment, we can say that GIS is a tool for organizing, storing, analyzing, and mapping all kinds of geographic information.

UV Protection from the Ozone Layer

Some UVB and most UVA radiation make it to the surface of the Earth. UVB is most concerning for skin cancer and sunburn. One of the reasons why the ozone layer is so important. Visible light and infrared radiation (heat) are largely unaffected by the ozone layer, but can be reflected or absorbed by clouds, atmospheric gas molecules that become more dense closer to the earth's surface, as well as the surface of the earth.

Timing of Biological Activity

Some seasonal biological activities are happening 15-20 days earlier than several decades ago: Trees blooming earlier Migrating birds arriving earlier Butterflies emerging earlier Changes in timing differ from species to species, so ecological interactions are disrupted If all of the species in an ecosystem shifted their seasonal behavior in exactly the same way, shifts in the timing of biological activity might not create problems. But when a species depends upon another for survival and only one changes its timing, these shifts can disrupt important ecological interactions, such as that between predators and their prey. For example, the European pied flycatcher has not changed the time it arrives on its breeding grounds even though the caterpillars it feeds its young are emerging earlier. Missing the peak of food availability means fewer chicks are surviving, in turn causing the flycatcher's population to decline. How might earlier blooming of trees and flowers affect other species? What about the species that pollinate them?

Range Shifts

Species are relocating to areas with more tolerable climate conditions. Range shifts particularly threaten species that: cannot move fast enough depend on conditions that are becoming more rare (like sea ice) About 40 percent of wild plants and animals that have been studied over decades are relocating to stay within their tolerable climate ranges. Some organisms—those that cannot move fast enough or those whose ranges are actually shrinking—are being left with no place to go. For example, as arctic sea ice shrinks, so too shrink the habitats of animals that call this ice home, such as polar bears and seals. As these habitats contract toward the North and South poles, the animals that depend on them will reach the end of the Earth as they know it.

What proof do we have? climate change

Temperature & CO2 Data Global Climate Change Glaciers are melting Global Sea Level Rise Range Shifts Timing of Biological Activity

Climate Change in the USA

Temperatures are rising, especially in winter. Extreme rainfall and flooding events (24-hr and 7-day) are more frequent. Extreme droughts and massive wildfires are more common In rural communities, forests and farmland are impacted, making crops and food more scarce and expensive for all.

The Greenhouse Effect

The Earth is surrounded by a thin layer of gasses we call greenhouse gases. These gases are what make up our atmosphere. The thickness of the atmosphere and the concentration of its gases influence the surface temperature on any planet.

Total Fertility Rate

The average number of children each woman within a given population is likely to bear during her reproductive lifetime This rate can provide a clearer picture of reproductive behavior than a crude birth rate According to demographers the best is replacement level fertility ~2 kids

Global Climate Change

The earth's temperature is increasing due to rising levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere In 2009 the global average temperature was 0.8ºC warmer than it was at the beginning of the industrial era (CO2 concentrations at 389ppm) Thought that catastrophic damage can be prevented if the global temperature increase is no greater than 2ºC (CO2 concentrations less than 450ppm) Many negative consequences of climate change will still take place with temperature increases less than 1ºC, some of which we are already seeing

carrying capacity

The largest population that an area can support the limit at which an environment can support a population

Human Impact on the Atmosphere

The major causes of human-induced atmospheric change are: (1) Introduction into the atmosphere of pollutant gases and particles not usually found there in significant amounts (2) Changes in the concentrations of natural atmospheric components The resulting problems are: (1) Depletion of the ozone layer (2) Global climate change

biotic potential

The maximum rate at which a population could increase under ideal conditions The maximum growth rate a population could achieve true of all organisms, not just humans Assumes ideal conditions Biotic potential is limited by environmental resistance pressures such as drought, lack of food, competition with other organisms, disease, etc.

Policy Response - The Montreal Protocol

The original international protocol (1987) called for freezing CFC consumption at 1986 levels by 1990, followed by a 50% reduction in the production of these chemicals by 2000 The list of chemicals has since expanded, and in 1996 a ban on CFC sale and use went into effect in industrialized countries Developing countries were given until 2010 184 countries ratified the treaty Unfortunately even full implementation of the treaty will not prevent further losses in the short-term CFCs will persist in atmosphere for several decades Example of significant and unilateral cooperation against climate issue

Melting sea ice and mountain glaciers

The poles are heating up, more rapidly than other areas on the planet rapid melting sea level rise

How do we know that rising GHG levels are having an impact on climate?

The prevailing theory of the greenhouse effect (since 1859) Science has determined that CO2 in the atmosphere keeps our planet warm, suggests that increasing CO2 would increase temperature Ice core analyses Samples taken from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of years ago create a record of past climatic conditions - evidence that concentrations of GHGs were much lower and have been increasing, fluctuations in GHGs also correspond to fluctuations in temperature Work by scientist John Tyndall discovered the heat absorbing properties of certain atmospheric gases, became accepted as the explanation for the earth's temperate climate Melting sea ice and mountain glaciers The poles are heating up, more rapidly than other areas on the planet rapid melting sea level rise Oceans heating up and acidifying Waters are warmer, which also means less CO2 will be absorbed in the future As CO2 is absorbed, the ocean becomes more acidic which threatens marine life, also means less CO2 will be absorbed in the future Shifting range of biological species Migratory species are moving northward

Doubling Time

The time required for a population to double in size Approximated by dividing 70 by the percentage growth rate Expressing growth rates in percentages or as a fraction doesn't always communicate clearly what that growth rate means. 4% sounds small, but in terms of how long it would take for the population to double, 17 years, that is actually quite significant. So doubling time may be a more effective way of communicating.

Exploding population

This became apparent in the 1960s and 70s Referred to as "The Population Bomb" by biologist Paul Ehrlich, he warned of the mass starvation that would take place in developing nations if global population was not contained. He even made the argument for reducing population growth by force if necessary. The dire predictions of this book did not play out, but it helped to set off a global movement for population control

Average daily domestic water use

US 382 L per person per day Canada 343L Italy 250L swedan 200 L france 150 isreal 135

Types of Solar Radiation (non-ionizing, electromagnetic waves)

Ultraviolet rays (9% of total energy from the sun) Visible light rays (38% of total energy) Infrared rays - heat (53% of total energy) These are defined by differences in wavelength UV rays are shortest,

Diarrheal Disease (#5)

Variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites Kills 4,750,500 people/year (GBD 2013) 2nd leading cause of death for children under 5 An estimated 57% of the diarrheal burden is associated with risk factors such as unsafe drinking-water and poor sanitation and hygiene (WHO 2016)

Human Impact of Climate Change

Vector-borne infectious diseases Malnutrition and food security Water and sanitation Vulnerability of human settlements to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, flooding, droughts, and heat waves Healthcare for people displaced by climate related events Increased conflict over scarce resources

Oceans heating up and acidifying

Waters are warmer, which also means less CO2 will be absorbed in the future As CO2 is absorbed, the ocean becomes more acidic which threatens marine life, also means less CO2 will be absorbed in the future

China's Carbon Footprint

While the U.S. and China are the two largest emitters, China surpassed the U.S. in 2007 To power their booming economy China has turned primarily to burning coal - the dirtiest fuel Experts struggling with international climate change treaty negotiations are convinced that unless China signs on as a full participant, there is little hope that we will be able to stabilize atmospheric CO2 concentrations at a level low enough to prevent damaging climate change impacts

Carbon Sinks

Young forests, photosynthetic plants, and oceans absorb almost 50% of CO2 emissions, but unfortunately the ability of land and water to act as a carbon sink is reaching capacity and will decline as concentrations of atmospheric CO2 continue to rise

population bomb

explosive growth of population in the future will cause the earth not to have enough resources to sustain us, leading to mass starvation. Paul Ehrlich, predicted to happen in the 70s or 80s.

climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century" : Which countries are responsible for the most CO2 emissions?

higher-income and rapidly developing. In order: China, the U.S., the EU, India, Russian Federation, Japan, and Canada.

population dynamics

how the size of the population changes over time

Environmental Impact of Global Warming

shifting rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, diminishing crop yields, loss of biodiversity

GIS Integrates 5 basic components

software, hardware, data, methods, people

climate change "the biggest global health threat of the 21st century" : Which groups of people are the most likely to face these detrimental health effects?

the poor Follow up question: Why? Because they have greater exposure and they don't have the means to adapt

phenology

the study of events in nature. (i.e. observing the date of the first snowfall, or arrival of migratory insects and animals. These events are changing.)

Large Dams

what is affected? River flows, ecosystems and habitats, agriculture, flooding

ocean acidification

when CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which lowers ocean pH coral, shellfish, marine animals affected