The PHYSICAL EFFECTS of CLIMATE CHANGE
EFFECTS on the ATMOSPHERE Heat Waves – Temperatures increase dramatically and stay at high levels for days on end. The ill and the elderly suffer most. Drought – Long periods of warmer temperatures without rainfall. This dries up the land and may lead to the formation of deserts. Crops and livestock die and this leads to food shortages. Wildfires – Trees dry out in warmer air and when they receive little rain. This makes them easy kindling for fires that can start from human error or lightning. Storms – Ice storms, hurricanes and tornados have become more common, have increased in severity, and have struck places they have normally haven’t in the past. Floods – The air warms too rapidly in spring and all the ice and snow turns into water and bombards nearby areas.
ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS
EFFECTS on the HYDROSPHERE Melting Ice – As large amounts of ice melt, the water flows into low- lying areas and floods lands that are at, or below, sea level. This results in: Property loss Loss of freshwater Changing coastlines Ocean Warming – The oceans absorb heat and warm up. This warming could lead to: Loss of species More intense hurricanes/storms Less oxygen and carbon dioxide in the water Ocean Currents – The movement of the water is slowing as more freshwater enter the ocean. The last time the oceans currents stopped – the Earth went into a prolonged ice age!
HYDROPSPHERIC EFFECTS
EFFECTS on WILDLIFE Animals and plants also feel the pinch of climate change. Range Shifts – The area in which you can live because it has all of the resources you need is called your range. Many living things are being moved from their habitats and are having to find other places to live. Threatened Species – The increase in temperature may occur so quickly that animals can’t adapt fast enough so they may possibly become extinct. Acidic Oceans – The oceans hold about 25% of the CO 2 that is released into the air. It mixes with the water and makes it acidic – this harms marine life
EFFECTS of WILDLIFE
THE END