1. Global Warming is Hot Stuff!
Elaine Friebele
Jug Bay Wetlands Sancutary

2. You’ve probably heard about
Global Warming
And also that our
Climate
is Changing
Is it Real?

3. What is Climate Change?

4. What’s the Difference Between Climate and Weather ?
Weather refers to the current atmospheric
conditions—the activity of precipitation,
wind, and temperature in a region over a
short period of time, such as hours or days.
Climate includes average weather—or the average precipitation, wind and temperature in a region—
over relatively long periods of time (decades through centuries).

5. Annual Mean Daily Maximum Temperature

6. Weather varies over the short term
Variation in Temperatures, Jan – Mar, 2005
compared to 45-year Average Temperature
Is this map evidence
for global warming?

7. Climate Change
Your grandparents may talk of deep snows decades ago.

8. Our Climate is Changing
Data shows that global surface air temperatures rose 0.75o Celsius (1.5o F) in the last century. :
11 of the 12 warmest years
since recordkeeping began in 1850.

9. Our climate has changed over the past 150 years.
What happened after 1860?

10. In 1765, the steam engine, invented by James Watt, came into use
In 1765, the steam engine, invented by James Watt, came into use. By 1830, people were burning coal to produce steam in factories, locomotives, and ships. The burning coal released carbon dioxide.
In the early 1900s, gas-powered automobiles came along. Burning gasoline added more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

11. The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has increased
By the year 2100, CO2 levels could be double
what they are today if we don’t reduce the burning of fossil fuels!

12. The Greenhouse Effect

13. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

14. There is more CO2 in the air now than there has been for the 800,000 years
of the ice core record.

15. Will it keep getting warmer?
Scientists predict that by the year 2100, the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere could be 4o C (7.5o F) warmer.
Could we expect snow and freezing temperatures in the winter?
How that would feel
in the summer?

16. Global Warming affects the oceans
Greenland’s Ilulissat glacier
Warmer air is melting most of the world’s glaciers. Water from the glaciers is flowing into the sea.
Ocean

17. Arctic Sea Ice

18. Global Warming affects the oceans
Water from melting glaciers raises sea level.
Water also expands as it gets warmer.
Global average sea level has risen
10 – 20 cm (4 to 8 in) in the last century

19. California, Louisiana, and Maryland
are the states predicted to lose the most land to sea level rise in the future.

20. Sea level is likely to rise 18 – 59 cm (8 in. to 2 feet)
by the year 2100.

21. Sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay will be twice
the global average because the Bay itself is sinking

25. People living on islands will be forced to find new places to live
Many people’s homes and workplaces in Manhattan would be
flooded by rising seas in the next century.

26. Humans won’t be the only ones affected by climate change
Polar bears live on sea ice, where they hunt seals and sea lions. They are unable to hunt from the water.
Arctic ice is melting much earlier in the spring.
Polar bears cannot hunt enough food to build up body fat to survive and feed their cubs after they come ashore in the spring to breed

27. Sea Level Rise
Wetlands will be destroyed by flooding and by salt water flowing in from the oceans.

28. Wetlands will be destroyed
Wetland habitat for young fish, crabs, frogs, and turtles
will decrease.
Wetland waterbirds will
have less food (SAV, or submerged aquatic vegetation) to eat

29. Fewer wetlands to soak up water
To control floods
To store our drinking water

30. Fewer wetlands to filter our water

31. Sea Level Rise
Dermo, the disease that kills oysters, spreads as the water becomes more salty (saline)

32. Global Warming
Eelgrass, a crucial habitat for young blue crabs and fish, cannot grow in water warmer than 27o C (80o F)

33. Higher temperatures raise the metabolism of cold-blooded animals,
causing them to need more oxygen
BUT…As water becomes warmer,
it holds less oxygen.

34. Temperature Limit: 24o (76o F)
Striped Bass
Temperature Limit: 24o (76o F)
Low oxygen levels in the hot months (July – Sept)
cause this species to stop growing

35. Baby Red-bellied Turtles (top view)
Female Red-bellied Turtle
The gender of turtles and other
reptiles incubating inside eggs
in the ground is determined
by the temperature of the
surrounding soil.
With global warming, the ratio of male: female reptiles
may become skewed (mostly females, for example).

36. The Baltimore Oriole is living farther north
than before. In the future it may migrate
to the north and no longer be found
in Maryland.

37. Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms are blossoming
a week earlier than they did in the 1970s.

39. How can you help stop Global Warming?

40. Replace light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescents
and cut energy use by 75%.

41. Wear a sweater
to keep warm
And turn down the thermostat

42. Turn off
electronic devices

43. Drive less
Bike or walk
when you can

44. Plant a tree!

45. Activities and Lessons
Citizen Science
Calculate Carbon Footprint
Home and School Energy Surveys
Alternative Energy
Websites
Books
Games

46. Global Warming is Hot Stuff (That we can do something about)