Signs and impact of Global Climate Change

Impact 1. More Droughts Loss of food crops Frequent wild fires Dry reservoirs & lakes Extended period of dry weather Increasing severity & duration

2. Changing rain & snow patterns Impact Food crop damage Hydropower Recreation Dry reservoirs & lakes Frequent flooding Increasing at higher latitudes up to 20% per year Decreasing near tropical equatorial regions

3. Melting Glaciers Impact Large sheets of snow and ice on land are shrinking Impact Rising sea level

Impact 4. Thawing Permafrost Land sinks as permafrost thaws Carbon trapped in permafrost is released to atmosphere Layer of soil or rock below the surface that is frozen all year long

5. Warmer Oceans Impact Ocean absorb and release heat to/from atmosphere Both surface layer and deeper bottom layers are warming More powerful tropical storms Water expands as it warms causing a rise in sea level Coral bleaching

Impact 6. Rising Sea Level Coastal flooding Salt water intrusion Reduced beach land ½ foot rise since 1914 & predicted to rise 6 feet by 2100 Why? Expanding ocean as it warms Melting glaciers Melting icebergs

7. Higher Temperature Impact 4°F per year increase in temp. in some places Warmest decade on record: 2000 – 2009 Food crops Spread of weeds & pests Increased energy use for air conditioning Heat related illnesses

Impact of Wilder Weather Tropical storms and hurricanes more severe and frequent Impact of Wilder Weather Flooding Heavy snow falls damage roads & buildings

Impact of Less Snowpack Total amount of snow and ice on ground Snowpack: decreasing & melting earlier Impact of Less Snowpack Less freshwater added to streams, rivers & lakes Unfilled or dry reservoirs Winter recreation

Impact of Shrinking Sea Ice Arctic Ocean once covered in ice Extent of Arctic sea ice is decreasing Impact of Shrinking Sea Ice Many animals depend on ice to hunt (polar bears) Sea ice reflects suns rays – without sea ice Earth absorbs rays and warms

11. Increased Ocean Acidity Ocean absorbs Carbon Dioxide CO2 plus water (H2O) = carbonic ACID Carbonic acid harms coral reefs; destroys shells of shellfish Impact