Feedback Mechanisms & Consequences of Global Warming

1. Feedback Mechanisms & Consequences of Global Warming Lecture 10.8 Chapter 19 (pp.534-540)

2. VIDEO: What About Carbon in Soils & Permafrost?

4. CO2 and Forest Growth-The Duke University Study

6. GW Consequences • Wild Organisms/Plants • Missed Circadian Rythms • Increased range • Decreased Range • Increased Pests • Humans • Emerging Diseases • Economics • Timber • Tourism • Cultural • S. Pacific • Inuit • Melting • Polar Ice Caps • Glaciers • Permafrost • Rising Sea levels • Increased Heat Waves • Decreased Cold Spells • Altered Precipitation Patterns • Increased Storm Intensity • Changes to Ocean Currents

7. Melting Polar Ice (1979-v-2000)

8. Positive Feedback • Melting Polar Ice has positive feedback • Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo leading to further warming LIKEWISE • Seawater is dark so absorbs more heat and melts more ice

9. Melting Glaciers 1957 1998 Meltwater?

10. 1976 2000

11. Permafrost Releasing CH4

12. Rising Sea Levels • Sea level rise caused in 2 ways • Thermal Expansion-Water expands as it warms • Melting of Land ice Adds Volume to World’s Oceans

14. Global Flooding: 100 million people within 1 meter of Sea level

15. Increased Heat Waves • French heat toll almost 15,000

16. Decreased Cold Spells • Cite two reasons why this is a benefit to humans • Cite two ways this could be a negative for humans

17. Altered Precipitation Patterns • Some areas will get more water, some areas will have greater drought • Net Effect: EXTREMES wetter-dryer-hotter-colder

20. Increased Storm Intensity • Katrina 2005

21. Changes to Ocean Currents • Glacial meltwater (freshwater) could disrupt the thermohaline circulation

22. GW Consequences • Wild Organisms/Plants • Missed Circadian Rythms • Increased range • Decreased Range • Increased Pests • Humans • Emerging Diseases • Economics • Timber • Tourism • Cultural • S. Pacific • Inuit • Melting • Polar Ice Caps • Glaciers • Permafrost • Rising Sea levels • Increased Heat Waves • Decreased Cold Spells • Altered Precipitation Patterns • Increased Storm Intensity • Changes to Ocean Currents

23. Migrating birds are returning to summer homes earlier • Food is not available at this time

25. Pack Ice Is Habitat • Zooplankton in parts of California Current have decreased by 80% since 1951 • Effecting entire food chain • Decline in krill around Antarctica • Caused decrease in penguin populations

26. Ranges Change • Species have shifted their geographic range

27. Beech Tree Range

28. Ocean as CO2 sink - excess CO2 is starting to harm ocean life (acidification)

29. Effects on Organisms - Coral Reefs • Coral reefs can be bleached (right) due to increase in water temperature • Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be immune

31. Effects on Human Health • Increased number of heat-related illnesses and deaths

32. Diseases on the Rise • Malaria • West Nile • EEE • Dengue Fever

33. Economic Effects Where will Skiing Tourism go?

34. Cultural Impacts • Eskimo Inuit live traditional life dictated by freezing climate • Climate change is altering their existence • Wildlife are smaller or displaced • Reduced snow cover and shorter river ice seasons

35. The Climate Change Controversy • Is it real (in relation to geologic time) • Is it necessarily bad? • Known: GG concentrations are increasing • 2007 IPCC Report on Expectations to Come