Why study GLOBAL WARMING? stories/s412.htm

Photograph by Peter Essick

Species distributions are changing Some animals are moving toward the poles Some are moving up mountains Many are losing habitat, migration routes As Habitats Change

Plants and Disease Agricultural crops may be affected as local weather and seasons change Insect population explosions Invasive species Disease distributions: malaria, cholera, etc ninilchik-beetles.html

Increased severe weather: droughts, floods, hurricanes

“More than a hundred million people worldwide live within three feet of mean sea level.” ~National Geographic fact

Causes: Greenhouse gases Burning fossil fuels Forest fires Volcanoes Deforestation _41?s_name=&no_ads=

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Collapsing ground from melting permafrost eg Melting sea ice mages/polalbearsicemelt.jpg

REDUCE CO 2 Emissions! Clean Electricity / Alternative EnergyClean Electricity / Alternative Energy Smart Transportation and Land UseSmart Transportation and Land Use Healthy Farms and ForestsHealthy Farms and Forests Promote Conservation / RestorationPromote Conservation / Restoration Make Greener ChoicesMake Greener Choices

So how do ecosystems respond to elevated CO 2 ? Study site: Cheyenne, WY Treatments: –Elevated CO 2 –Heating –Changing rainfall patterns CO 2 sink or source?

What is happening belowground?

CO 2 fluxes…. Responses to rainfall