Warm Up 1.What are 5 factors (give some natural and some anthropogenic) than can influence climate? Time’s Up!

Impact of Climate Change

Brainstorm!! Based on what you know, what you have heard, and what you can infer… develop a list of 5 ways that human society could be impacted by climate change. Make a list of 5 ways the Earth’s ecosystems could be impacted by climate change.

Melting Ice Melting sea ice (ice caps) = no sea level rise – Why? Melting continental ice (ice sheets) = sea level rise – Why? Disruption of thermohaline current

Ocean Life Ocean acidification and coral bleaching Shifting habitats

Ecosystems Shifting habitats Polar bears, American Pica, South American reptiles, waterfowl (migration patterns)American Pica

Ecosystems Harmful species Mountain Pine Beetle: used to be killed off during cold mountain winters Mountain Pine Beetle – Fewer consecutive sub-zero days = beetles survive winter

Agriculture Droughts and floods could reduce yields More CO 2 and warmer temps could cause some crops to grow faster Livestock: Heat and drought could reduce cattle populations (less food)  higher meat prices

Human Health Heat Waves: Heat related deaths Animal-borne diseases: Warmer temps, more disease carrying insects  wide spread disease (Lime disease, west nile virus, malaria)

Human Health Cardiovascular disease: poor air quality – Ozone, increased allergens, fine partuculates