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Why study GLOBAL WARMING?. www.noaanews.noaa.gov/ stories/s412.htm . Photograph by Peter Essick. As Habitats Change. Species distributions are changing Some animals are moving toward the poles Some are moving up mountains Many are losing habitat, migration routes. Plants and Disease.
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Why study GLOBAL WARMING? www.noaanews.noaa.gov/ stories/s412.htm
As Habitats Change • Species distributions are changing • Some animals are moving toward the poles • Some are moving up mountains • Many are losing habitat, migration routes
Plants and Disease • Agricultural crops may be affected as local weather and seasons change • Insect population explosions • Invasive species • Disease distributions: malaria, cholera, etc http://www.mindfully.org/Air/Global-Warming-Health20aug00b.GIF www.uaf.edu/.../2004/ ninilchik-beetles.html
Increased severe weather: droughts, floods, hurricanes http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0409/feature3/zoom5.html
“More than a hundred million people worldwide live within three feet of mean sea level.” ~National Geographic fact http://www.ourbangla.com/bangladesh/pg/flood/FLOOD_JESSORE_17_8AP_JWH_s0.jpg
Causes: Greenhouse gases • Burning fossil fuels • Forest fires • Volcanoes • Deforestation www.ctv.ca/.../ 1038431872899_41?s_name=&no_ads=
Collapsing ground from melting permafrost • Melting sea ice http://climchange.cr.usgs.gov/info/assessment/tok.jpeg http://www.phenology.org.uk/standard/home/why/images/polalbearsicemelt.jpg http://www.ciel.org/Pictures/ice_arch.jpg
REDUCE CO2 Emissions! • Clean Electricity / Alternative Energy • Smart Transportation and Land Use • Healthy Farms and Forests • Promote Conservation / Restoration • Make Greener Choices
So how do ecosystems respond to elevated CO2? • Study site: Cheyenne, WY • Treatments: • Elevated CO2 • Heating • Changing rainfall patterns • CO2 sink or source?