Climate

Phenology changes

migration, reproduction, biological processes, blooming changes. more evident in higher latitudes where warming is the greatest. - reproductive timing (earlier) (PARUS MAJOR) - early flowering dates (blooming) - earlier breeding very strong in amphibians - earlier migratory arrival (butterflies) most species experience an advance in timing of spring activities these changes are having great effects on one another. ex: earlier migration and flowering.

Trends in Arctic Sea ice

the arctic sea ice coverage has substantially declines over the years. delines at 9% per decade summer ice could be completely gone by 2040 arctic ice would no longer be presented year round

Changes in Communities

"Shifts in the geographic ranges of species and changes in the nature of species interactions have led to regional changes in patterns of diversity in both terrestrial and marine communities as a result of recent changes in global climate." there is also a general decrease in primary productivity due to the dying off of plants due to drought in the southern hemisphere.

how polar bears use ice

- as shelter or dens - hunting seals: polar bears catch their prey when they come up through holes in the ice to breathe - breeding: happens in the spring/summer

Causes of climate change- human

- deforestation - trees absorb carbon dioxide - cows. They produce a load of methane - increased fossil fuel use (coal, gasoline, oil, natural gas) - agriculture (use of CO2 and methane) - fires release C02

effect of global warming on biodiversity

- habitat loss - change in range and distribution of species - disruption of aquatic life - extinction of plants and animals

effects of global warming on agriculture

- shifts in food producing areas - changes in crop yields - increased need for irrigation - increased pests, crop diseases, and weeds.

decline in polar bears

- the polar bear population today is 20,000 - there has been a 15% drop in birth rates - polar bears are significantly underweight: 15-20% below normal - there have been multiple documented polar bear drownings.

Other effects of global warming

1. average global ocean temperatures have increased 2. precipitation is not uniform and greatly varies over regions. not spatially uniform. 3. Phenology changing: the timing of seasonal activities of plants and animals. 4. Migration dates shifting - arrival and departure dates changing due to temperature change

effects of global warming: forests

1. changes in composition and location of forests 2. disappearance of some forests leading to higher C02 level. 3. increased drying leading to more fires and higher levels of C02 4. habitat and species loss.

global changes in surfaces has caused:

1. changes in northern hemisphere spring now cover; decline. 2. arctic summer sea ice extend; decline 3. increase in global average heat content of upper oceanic water. 4. Increase in average sea level

effects of global warming: water resources

1. changes in water supply 2. decreased water quality 3. increased drought in some areas 4. increased flooding in other areas

global climate change facts

1. has warmed 0.74 degrees in the past 100 years 2. The ocean has absorbed 80% of added heat 3. Rate of warming has doubled during the second half of the century 4. Polar regions have warmed the most; arctic. 5. Winter months show greatest warming

effects of global warming: human health

1. increased death from heat and disease 2. disruption of food/water supply 3. spread of tropical diseases and pests to temperate areas 4. increased respiratory disease from blowing dusts 5. increased allergies from longer flowering seasons 6. increased coastal water pollution from flooding 7. freshwater polluted by seawater.

effects of global warming: human populations

1. increased deaths from natural disasters 2. increased deaths from disease 3. more environmental refugees 4. increased migration

polar effects of climate change

1. loss of polar ice caps 2. rising sea levels 3. shift in weather patterns 4. desertification 5. loss of coral reefs 6. loss of species 7. range expansion of some species

effects of global warming on weather

1. prolonged heat waves and drought 2. increased flooding of low-lying areas 3. more frequent 100-year floods 4. more intense storms 5. more frequent storms

effects of global warming: sea levels and coasts

1. rising sea levels 2. flooding of low-lying islands and coastal communties 3. flooding of estuaries and wetlands 4. fishery disruption due to flooding 5. beach erosion

Results of changed weather patterns:

1. shift in rainfall patterns 2. disruption of migration events 3. change in phenology (when events occur) 4. shift in species found in a given area. - Species richness correlates to environmental factors. Northern shift in regions of higher diversity Shifts in the geographic ranges of species and changes species interactions have led to regional changes in patterns of diversity in both terrestrial and marine communities as a result of change sin global climate.

effects of global climate change

1. warming effects of earth's natural cycles (hydrologic, carbon, nitrogen) 2. global weather disruptions (large storms) 3. sped up decomposition and C02 and Nitrogen turnover. 4. Extinction.

changed plant growth

As warmer zones cover more the united states, different types of plants will grow in many area. - In the winter, Georgia now grows firebush - Serviceberries and dogwoods can be planted in Nebraska - Warmer New York helps a type of fungus to grow - In Seattle, more difficult to grow black eyed susans.

temperature affects the carbon cycle

Atmospheric CO2 causes the greenhouse effect in which the sun's warmth gets trapped in a planet's lower atmosphere. This is because the atmosphere is more transparent to visible radiation from the sun than to the infrared radiation emitted from planet's surface. The CO2 allows for the soaking up of the heat in the atmosphere. more C02 = warmer temperatures soil stores 2 to 3 times more carbon than the atmosphere does, and therefore adds a lot of C02 to the atmosphere due to the carbon cycle. burning fossil fuels, deforestation and other land use changes are disrupting the carbon cycle by increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This disruption is significant for our climate because carbon dioxide is the most important gas for controlling Earth's atmospheric temperature.

greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect. a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons.

GCM predictions

General global trend of increasing mean annual temperature and associating mean annual precipitation changes will not be evenly distributed: greatest warming during winter and in northern latitudes. "Atmospheric scientists have developed complex computer models of Earth's climate system—called general circulation models (GCMs)—to help determine how increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases may influence large-scale patterns of global climate in the future. All of the models predict an increase in the average global temperature as well as a corresponding increase in global precipitation over the next century."

animal changes from global warming

In endotherms: increased temperatures = decreased body sizes; more energetically efficient - lower metabolic activity. In ectotherms: metabolic activity increases with temperatures. Increase in metabolic activity will increase the energy intake.

coral bleaching

Occurs when a coral becomes stressed and expels most of its colorful algae, leaving an underlying ghostly white skeleton of calcium carbonate Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

Melting permafrost

Permafrost comprises 24% of the land in the Northern Hemisphere, and stores massive amounts of carbon. As a result of climate change, permafrost is at risk of melting, releasing the stored carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, which are powerful heat-trapping gases.

Dealing with climate change

Possible Solutions Include: 1. Reducing the use of fossil fuels (driving less, using less electricity) 2. Use and share more efficient technology 3. Use renewable energy sources (wind and solar) 4. Reduce deforestation: plant more trees 5. Use sustainable agriculture with low amounts of chemicals 6. limit human population growth

great barrier reef bleaching

The Great Barrier Reef has experienced mass coral bleaching events in the past. In 1998, there was a global mass bleaching event where 50 per cent of the reefs on the Great Barrier Reef suffered bleaching. During this time, sea temperatures on the Great Barrier Reef were the highest ever recorded. Warmer water temperatures can result in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. This is called coral bleaching. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are subject to mortality.

Ocean currents and climate

When currents from low-latitude regions move into higher latitudes, they transfer heat from warmer to cooler areas on Earth. Warming the oceans can: - disrupt global weather patterns - change amount of C02 in them - kill of species and sensitive creatures (species richness) Climate change can have a vast effect on ocean currents because of the change in temperature it causes, which results in change in ocean water temperatures and a subsequent distortion in current flow. Changes in acidity due to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels also has an effect (Effects of Acidity).

changed specie interaction

animals want to reproduce and bring offspring during the seasons with the greatest amount of resources, but plant growth has shifted due to changed climate example: more climate change = more varied plant phenology. This causes a larger mismatch between animal and plant species. the caribou mating season and offspring are affected as a result. (higher calf mortality rate) also climate change increases the fitness of one species at expense of the fitness of another. Drought = decreased tree health; beetles more frequently attack dying trees.

changed geographic distribution of species

as northern latitudes warm up, species increase their geographic borders. They can now exist in northern environments which they were not able to in the past. expansion of shrubs in arctic regions overall shift of species due to warming and rainfall variation (drought) in warmer areas.

plants affected by global warming

directly affected by increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. water deficits are killing off trees.

greenhous effect

gases in the atmosphere are transparent to visible light but absorb infrared (heat) waves that are reradiated from the earth's surface the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere, due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

gases in global warming

greenhouse gases in the atmosphere warm earth's surfaces while the role of greenhouse gases in warming surfaces is well established, the specific influence on the doubling amounts of C02 is more uncertain. GCM's were developed to determine how increasing concentrations of these gases may influence large scale patterns of global climate. - they differ in their predictions, but are consistent with overall outcome

global warming and C02

humans are putting large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as human activities continue to increase the atmospheric concentration of C02. global climate change has coincided with this increase in greenhouse gases. historically warm periods have also been periods with high levels of C02.

changes in mean annual surface temperatures

surface temperatures have substantially increased. Moreso it northern regions. this has caused a 10% decrease in snow cover and ice extent

sea level change due to ocean warming

when the ocean temperature increases it causes seawater to expand. This results in the rising of sea levels.