800 likes | 2.5k Views
Global Warming. Lauren Pollock SCI 210 Dr. Sandy November 18, 2003. "An increasing body of observations gives a collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system." Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2001. What is global warming??.
E N D
Global Warming Lauren Pollock SCI 210 Dr. Sandy November 18, 2003 "An increasing body of observations givesa collective picture of a warming worldand other changes in the climate system."Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2001
What is global warming?? • An increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface, especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change. -American Heritage Dic. of the English Language, 4th Ed.
Evidence that Global Warming Exists • Increase in emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere -cars, power plants, etc. • Global average temperatures increasing- 2002 was the second warmest year on record.
Effects on U.S. Climate • There are several predicted climate pattern changes -warmer temperatures -drought and wildfire -more intense rainstorms -changing weather patterns • Predictions are made based on warning signs today NRDC.com
Global Effects • Some of the global effects tend to have a domino effect -for example, rising temperatures causes warming waters, which leads to thinning and melting ice. -The melting of glaciers contributes to another problem, the rise of sea level. NRDC.com An ice shelf melting away over several months. Time.com Increased melting season in Antarctica, which affects the Adelie penguins who live there.
More Global Effects • Health -heat waves -increase in spread of disease via mosquitoes • Ecosystem -possible extinction of species 279 species of plants and animals are already reacting to global warming, including these Pacific Salmon, who experienced a sharp decline in population in 1997 and 1998. Time.com
Consequences of Global Warming • Orange-indicates direct manifestations of a widespread and long-term trend toward warmer global temperatures,such as heat waves, ocean warming, glacier melting, and Arctic and Anarctic warming. • Red- indicates foreshadowed likely impacts with continued warming, such as spreading disease, earlier spring arrival, population changes, etc. Climatehotmap.org
What can you do? • This is a really cool site about common ways to reduce emissions of CO2 and other harmful gases! • What can you do??