Climate Change Earth’s Global Warning

Available at http://planet.uwc.ac.za/nisl/Eco_people/Presentations/

Climate Change Earth’s Climate Change Earth’s Global WarningGlobal Warning

Rosemary Eager9512477

Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University

of the Western Cape

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IndexIndex

Introduction Global Warming versus Global Warning Evidence for climate change Causes of climate change Effects of climatic changes impacting biodiversity Predictions for the Future Ecosystems most affected by climatic change Coral reef bleaching Regions most affected by climatic change Other regions affected by climatic change Species most vulnerable to extinction Prevention of climate change Conclusion References

Defining biodiversity and climate change will facilitate understanding of the effects of climate change on biodiversity

Looking at the past will give a clearer picture of future climatic changes

Biodiversity is the variety of our planet measured in abundance, variety and variability of living organisms at all levels [1]

These levels include species diversity, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity [1]

Climate change is a shift in expected weather patterns This shift is often very inhospitable Global climate system links the atmosphere, ice sheets, oceans,

sediments, rocks and living organisms in the soil [2]

Global warming is often linked to climate change although other factors also influence climate change

IntroductionIntroduction

Global Warming versus Global WarningGlobal Warming versus Global Warning Global warming is probably the most publicized

phenomenon It initiates other major events such as:

• Thawing of the permafrost• Melting of glaciers• Thinning and break-up of ice sheets [3]

These events are catastrophic for biodiversity All regions on the planet are affected, some more than others [3]

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Evidence for climate change (1)Evidence for climate change (1)

Melting of glaciers Thinning and breaking up of ice sheets at the North and South

Poles Thawing of the permafrost Rising of sea levels Increase in sea temperatures Increase in global air temperature [4]

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Average global temperature has risen by about 0.6ºC over the last century

These changes are mainly due to human activities It results in fragmentation of plant and animal habitats [3]

The increase might seem insignificant but the effects are major For example, increase droughts in Southern Africa and increase

flooding in Asia [4]

Evidence for climate change (2)Evidence for climate change (2)

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Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas variations Human activity and greenhouse gas Reducing other greenhouse gases Ocean circulation Volcanic eruptions Solar variations Orbital variations Land use change [3]

Causes of Climate Change (1)Causes of Climate Change (1)

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The main cause is probably the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere

This results in an increase in temperature [5]

Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning wood and fossil fuels. Generating electricity as 30% of all anthropogenic CO2 is

produced by power stations The atmosphere is gradually warmed up by CO2, water vapour

and other greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere [3]

CO2 is absorbed by carbon sinks such as plankton Carbon sinks are unable to keep up with the increase in CO2

emissions [3]

Carbon sinks will start releasing greenhouse gases by the end of the 21st century due to a decline in abundance [4]

Causes of Climate Change (2)Causes of Climate Change (2)

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Effects of climatic changes impacting Effects of climatic changes impacting biodiversity (1)biodiversity (1)

Global Extinctions Shifts in species ranges Increase flooding and other natural disasters Increase in size and number of glacial lakes Increase in landslides Changes in water quality and thermal stratification of rivers and

lakes Increase in river currents during spring Local extinctions e.g. change in sex ratio of turtle embryos [4]

Food shortages Increase in predation Changes in phenology Changes in geographic range for birds, mammals and butterflies

Effects of climatic changes impacting Effects of climatic changes impacting biodiversity (2) biodiversity (2)

Changes in phenology in birds, butterflies, aphids, amphibians and spring wildflowers are evident [4]

Breeding in birds has started earlier in the spring due to changes in precipitation

Bird migratory patterns are changing [4]

Plants are blooming earlier These changes have serious repercussions as life history patterns are

not only dependant on temperature For example, plant-animal interactions are synchronized Species respond differently to climate changes causing the synchrony

to be unbalanced [4]

Predictions for the FuturePredictions for the Future

A global temperature change up to 10ºC is expected by 2100 [4]

Mean global temperature is a mere 4-6ºC warmer than the last ice age Increase in sea level up to 2 m is expected by 2100 [4]

A minimum increase of 1 m could flood vast areas of Asia and many vulnerable coastal areas

Global warming affects sea surface temperatures which affects regional patterns in rainfall

Thawing of the permafrost in Alaska resulting in erosion, landslides, shifting ground and land subsidence [6]

This will negatively affect buildings, roads and military facilities Climate change will increase the rate of natural disasters The Midwest will experience more tornadoes and floods The Gulf coast will face more hurricanes Higher incidence of wild fires in the West [6]

Ecosystems most affected by climatic changeEcosystems most affected by climatic change

Coral reefs [7]

Salt marshes Mangrove forests Tropical rainforests [4]

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Coral Reef EcosystemsCoral Reef Ecosystems Bleaching of coral reefs has increased worldwide in the last 20 years Coral reefs portray high productivity and biodiversity They are referred to as “the Tropical Rainforests of the Ocean” [7]

Out of 105 mass coral mortalities, 60 coral reef bleaching events have been recorded between 1979-1990

Three bleaching events out of 63 mass coral mortalities were recorded during the preceding 103 years [7]

Coral dysfunction and death is caused by large increases in sea temperature (3-4C) over a short period

It is also caused by small increases (0.5-1.5C) over several weeks Bleaching in the Caribbean from 1986-1988 indicates a definite link

between bleaching and global warming [7]

We can expect an increase in coral bleaching Coral mortality can exceed 95% regionally resulting in mass extinctions An increase in sea level also causes death of corals by drowning [7]

Regions most affected by climatic changes (1)Regions most affected by climatic changes (1)

Climate change will affect the entire globe hitting poor people the hardest

Poor people are more vulnerable to natural disasters Developing countries subjected to high rainfall variation [8]

They experience much warmer temperatures than developed countries Their economies are driven by climate sensitive industries such as

agriculture and fishing Spain is thought to be affected most by climate change [8]

It has more than 8000 km of coastline Highest record for greenhouse gas emissions in Europe Temperatures increased by 1.5C in the last 100 years with a drop in

rainfall [8]

These factors are detrimental to ecosystems, flora, fauna and fishing Storms, floods and droughts will increase in frequency

Regions most affected by climatic changes (2)Regions most affected by climatic changes (2)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) expects climate change to affect four regions the most

The Arctic will experience the greatest warming An increase in sea level will affect small island states in the

Pacific Africa south of Sahel zone affected by drought Densely populated river deltas in Asia affected by flooding [3]

Other regions strongly affected are Kenya, Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Africa and South Africa

Regions most affected by climatic changes (3)Regions most affected by climatic changes (3)

Coping with drought and food shortages is common in Kenya Droughts are longer and occur more frequently They are less predictable leaving less time for inhabitants to recover [9]

When rain comes, it is sudden, violent and less predictable [9]

Asia may experience a high risk of hunger Warming may cause more rock avalanches due to shrinking of the

Himalayan glaciers [10]

It may lose up to 30% of its corals and 1.2 billion people may face water shortages [10]

A steep decline in crop fields is possible Europeans challenged with water shortages and coastal flooding European flora threatened by extinction Alpine glaciers will either disappear or reduced in size [10]

Regions most affected by climatic changes (4)Regions most affected by climatic changes (4)

Australian and New Zealand ecosystem alteration expected by 2020 Great Barrier Reef, Kakudu wetlands, south-western Australia,

mountain and rainforest areas most vulnerable [10]

Water shortages inevitable Rise in sea level catastrophic for coastal property Farming at risk High incidence of heat waves expected [10]

Bangladesh notorious for its frequent occurrences of natural disasters Approximately 30-70% of the country is flooded annually Frequency of natural disasters will increase [10]

Regions most affected by climatic changes (5)Regions most affected by climatic changes (5)

Africa is warmer than it was 100 years ago [11]

Experienced six of its warmest years since 1987 Africa will face water shortages Reductions in agriculture will increase risk of hunger Ecosystems forced to adapt and many species will face extinction [10]

Two rarest biomes to decrease by 81%(semideserts) and 69%(broadleaved evergreen forests) due to CO2 being doubled [12]

South Africa very vulnerable due to large urban population dependant on steady agricultural inputs from the countryside

Very dry country receiving less than 500 mm rain annually [11]

Climate models predict a 10-20% drop in rainfall with CO2 doubled Western side hardest hit Water shortages and negative effects in crop production [11]

Species most vulnerable to extinctionSpecies most vulnerable to extinction The last 100 years show increased rates of extinction for birds and mammals About half of all plant and animal species are expected to become extinct over

the next 50 years [12] Species being forced to relocate to cooler areas [14] Species unable to relocate Species unable to move as a whole community [14] Large organisms e.g. elephants Organisms with small population sizes and distributions Those dependant on threatened habitats and ecosystems e.g. tropical

rainforests Those feeding highest on the food chain Organisms evolved in isolation e.g. island species Migratory species Those with colonial nesting habits Those having high dependence on unreliable resources Those with little evolutionary experience of disturbances [15]

Prevention of climate changePrevention of climate change

Reducing CO2 emissions Reduction of energy used Planting of trees to reduce high levels of CO2

Conservation of water Using alternative energy sources e.g. solar panels Recycling, reducing and reusing household waste preventing methane

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ConclusionConclusion

Our planet is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction Humans are selfish and inconsiderate only concerned with their

own interests and not a global one [5]

Humans thing that their individual impacts are insignificant [5]

Humans shift blame onto someone else to avoid changing Humans bad attitude is the reason why we are where we are

today Increase in human population from 1.6 billion to 6.0 billion in

the 20th century is increasing global warming People joke about global warming and do not see it as a global

warning A reformation is needed to save our planet and the human race

Is global warming a hoax?Is global warming a hoax?

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  Here Are The REAL Global Warming Culprits

References1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change

3. http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,469608,00.html

4. McCarty J (2001) Effects of Recent Climate Change. Conservation Biology 15:320-331

5. Miller GT (2002) Living in the environment, twelfth edition. Thomson Learning, Australia

6. http://www.pacinst.org/reports/environment_and_security/env_security_and_climate_change.pdf

7. Buchheim J (1998) Coral Reef Bleaching. Odyssey Expeditions- Tropical Marine Biology Voyages,

Marine Biology Center Publications

8. http://www.iberianature.com/material/iberiaclimatechange.html

9. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/climate_change/story_turkana.htm

10. http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/en/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=7436

11. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/climate_change/stories.htm

12. Walker B Steffen W Canadell J Ingram J (1999) The terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change,

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 439pp

13. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/climate_change/story_facingheat.htm

14. http://www.leeds.ac.uk/media/current/extinction.htm

15. Barbault R, Sastrapradja S (eds) (1995) Generation, maintenance and loss of biodiversity. In: Global

biodiversity assessment, V.H. Heywood (ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge