1. Signs and impact of Global Climate Change

2. Impact 1. More Droughts Loss of food crops
Frequent wild fires
Dry reservoirs & lakes
Extended period of dry weather
Increasing severity & duration

3. 2. Changing rain & snow patterns
Impact
Food crop damage
Hydropower
Recreation
Dry reservoirs & lakes
Frequent flooding
Increasing at higher latitudes up to 20% per year
Decreasing near tropical equatorial regions

4. 3. Melting Glaciers Impact
Large sheets of snow and ice on land are shrinking
Impact
Rising sea level

5. Impact 4. Thawing Permafrost Land sinks as permafrost thaws
Carbon trapped in permafrost is released to atmosphere
Layer of soil or rock below the surface that is frozen all year long

6. 5. Warmer Oceans
Impact
Ocean absorb and release heat to/from atmosphere
Both surface layer and deeper bottom layers are warming
More powerful tropical storms
Water expands as it warms causing a rise in sea level
Coral bleaching

7. Impact 6. Rising Sea Level Coastal flooding
Salt water intrusion
Reduced beach land
½ foot rise since 1914 & predicted to rise 6 feet by 2100
Why?
Expanding ocean as it warms
Melting glaciers
Melting icebergs

8. 7. Higher Temperature Impact
4°F per year increase in temp. in some places
Warmest decade on record:
2000 – 2009
Food crops
Spread of weeds & pests
Increased energy use for air conditioning
Heat related illnesses

9. Impact of Wilder Weather
Tropical storms and hurricanes more severe and frequent
Impact of Wilder Weather
Flooding
Heavy snow falls damage roads & buildings

10. Impact of Less Snowpack
Total amount of snow and ice on ground
Snowpack: decreasing & melting earlier
Impact of Less Snowpack
Less freshwater added to streams, rivers & lakes
Unfilled or dry reservoirs
Winter recreation

11. Impact of Shrinking Sea Ice
Arctic Ocean once covered in ice
Extent of Arctic sea ice is decreasing
Impact of Shrinking Sea Ice
Many animals depend on ice to hunt (polar bears)
Sea ice reflects suns rays – without sea ice Earth absorbs rays and warms

12. 11. Increased Ocean Acidity
Ocean absorbs Carbon Dioxide
CO2 plus water (H2O) = carbonic ACID
Carbonic acid harms coral reefs; destroys shells of shellfish
Impact