GLOBAL WARMING
More Greenhouse Gases Mean a Warmer Earth 2014 had the warmest average temperature world wide on record.
Effects of Global Climate Change Ocean as CO2 sink - excess CO2 is starting to harm ocean life
Effects of Global Climate Change- Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels Sea level rise caused in 2 ways Thermal Expansion Water expands as it warms Melting of land ice Retreat of glacier and thinning of ice at the poles Melting has positive feedback Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo leading to further warming
Case-In-Point Impacts in Fragile Areas Eskimo Inuit live traditional life dictated by freezing climate Climate change is altering their existence Wildlife are smaller or displaced Reduced snow cover and shorter river ice seasons Thawing of permafrost (right)
Effects of Global Climate Change- Changing Precipitation Patterns Some areas will get more water, some areas will have greater droughts Ex: Hurricanes will likely get stronger
Effects of Global Climate Change- Effects on Organisms Zooplankton in parts of California Current have decreased by 80% since 1951 Effecting entire food chain Decline in krill around Antarctica Caused decrease in penguin populations
Effects on Organisms - Coral Reefs Coral reefs can be bleached (right) due to increase in water temperature Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be immune
Effects on Human Health Increased number of heat-related illnesses and deaths
Alternative Energy sources
Changes in Energy Production Solar Advantages: Does not emit CO2 during energy production. Energy source, the sun, is free. Can be purchased and used by anyone who wants. Once installed, solar systems can last for years and require little maintenance. Disadvantages: Large capital investment at installation. Produces toxic waste during production. Requires large surface areas to produce significant amounts of energy. The sun goes down.
Changes in Energy Production Wind Advantages: Wind is free energy and large amounts of energy produced. Can be put on land that has other uses. Easily used on large scales. Can be installed in Oceans. Disadvantages: Expensive to produce and install. Kills birds. Can only produce energy when wind is blowing at the right speeds.
Changes in Energy Production Wave Advantages: Wave energy source is free. Large amounts of energy available. Doesn’t require large amounts of land. Disadvantages: Can cause problems with aquatic life. Can cause problems with shipping and water sports Transferring energy produced to the shore. Intermittent source.
Changes in Energy Production Geothermal Advantages: Uses known technology to produce energy. Once installed the energy source is free. Can produce energy 24/7. Disadvantages: Can cause earthquakes. If used to heavily production can drop. Uses water to cool the generator, thermal pollution.