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Climate Change Effects: Global and Local Views

Climate Change Effects: Global and Local Views. General Scientific Consensus. Average surface temperatures have risen .74 degrees Celsius in the past century Most warming due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations CO2 levels 100 ppm higher than before Industrial Revoluton

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Climate Change Effects: Global and Local Views

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  1. Climate Change Effects: Global and Local Views

  2. General Scientific Consensus • Average surface temperatures have risen .74 degrees Celsius in the past century • Most warming due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations • CO2 levels 100 ppm higher than before Industrial Revoluton • Global warming is like a blanket

  3. Predictions • CO2 will rise to 600–1000 ppm by 2100 • IPCC: avg. surface temperature expected to rise between 1.8 and 4 * C by 2100 • Now 5 Degrees Warmer than the most recent Ice Age

  4. What does this mean for us? • Heat Waves expected to increase 100 fold • Heat-related deaths • Extreme Weather • Tropical storms: As oceans warm, increase in intensity • Wind speed increase 5% by every degree C.

  5. Hurricane Katrina

  6. What does it mean for us? • Air Pollution • Malaria with mosquito populations • Water and resource depletion • Agricultural damage, decreased food supply • Population displacement due to higher sea levels

  7. Sea Level Effects

  8. What does this mean for biodiversity? • Extinction rates • Coral reefs • Disruption of migratory patterns • Shift in seasons • Chance of adaptation? • QUESTION: Do you think animal and plants can adapt on their own? Natural selection?

  9. QUESTION: How responsible are humans for the effects on biodiversity? Is it our duty to protect other species besides ourselves?

  10. Effects on Hydrologic Cycle • Increases evaporation and precipitation • Disrupt local rain patterns (drought, flood) • Water vapor (important greenhouse gas) may increase warming even further • Water supply

  11. Regional Effects • Different effects for different parts of the world • Africa: erosion, reduced food supply, inundation • Asia: coral reefs, population displacement • Pacific: endangered species, disappearance of islands • Latin America: biodiversity, food shortages • Europe: wetter, warmer, drought in some areas • US: droughts, wildfires, invasive species

  12. Case Study • Canadian Arctic Inuit • Cultural reliance on permafrost • Declining food supply • Invasive species • Global warming has arrived to northern latitudes • Even more intense warming

  13. Inuit Population

  14. QUESTION: As developed nations emit the largest concentration of greenhouse gases, is it their responsibility to mend the situation in developing nations whose contributions to global warming have been substantially less?

  15. Case Study: California • Temperatures may increase 2-7* C by end of the 21st century • More precipitation -> less water in mountains as snowpack -> decrease in water supply • [In general] Nationwide food shortages, damage to economy • Ozone-> air quality • Demand for energy-> more power plants • Wildfire • Insects infestations

  16. Current Events: California Wildfires

  17. Benefits of Global Warming? • At higher latitudes • Higher stocks of marine fish • More timber, agriculture • Expanded access to Arctic waters • QUESTION: Do the benefits of global warming outweigh the costs?

  18. History Repeats Itself • “The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” – Winston Churchill • QUESTION: What can WE do as college students to slow climate change?

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