Different Sector wise impact due to environmental changes

The Climate is Changing: Ecological Impacts of Climate Change Temperatures are rising Sea levels are rising The ocean is acidifying Climate change is reflected in water cycle changes and in extreme weather Water cycle changes: The seasonal rhythms of streams and rivers have changed as winter precipitation falls increasingly as rain instead of snow, and as earlier spring temperatures cause snow in the mountains to melt earlier and faster. Warmer temperatures also mean higher evaporation rates and thirstier plants and people, increasing demands for water. Projections indicate that on average dry areas will tend to get drier, and wet areas will tend to get wetter.

Temperatures are rising: Average global surface temperature has risen ~1.3°F since 1850. If emission rates for greenhouse gases continue on their current track, models indicate that the globe will be 4.3 to 11.5°F warmer by 2100 than it was in 1990.

Sea levels are rising: Warmer temperatures not only cause glaciers and land ice to melt (adding more volume to oceans) but also cause seawater to expand in volume as it warms. Under a “business-as-usual” greenhouse gas emissions scenario, models indicate that sea levels could rise 2 feet or more by 2100 compared to 1990 levels.

The ocean is acidifying: Much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity has already been taken up by the ocean, thus moderating the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, as carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, acidifying the ocean. Ocean acidification will likely cause serious harm to marine organisms such as corals, lobsters, and sea urchins.

Water cycle changes: The seasonal rhythms of streams and rivers have changed as winter precipitation falls increasingly as rain instead of snow, and as earlier spring temperatures cause snow in the mountains to melt earlier and faster. Warmer temperatures also mean higher evaporation rates and thirstier plants and people, increasing demands for water. Projections indicate that on average dry areas will tend to get drier, and wet areas will tend to get wetter.

Extreme weather: It is considered very likely that increasing global temperatures will lead to higher maximum temperatures, more heat waves, and fewer cold days over most land areas.

Ecological Impacts Living things are intimately connected to their physical surroundings. Ecosystems are affected by changes in: temperature rainfall/moisture pH salinity (saltiness) activities & distribution of other species …many other factors

Ecological Impacts As a result of climate change, species and ecosystems are experiencing changes in: ranges timing of biological activity growth rates relative abundance of species cycling of water and nutrients the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and invasive species

Ecological Impacts As a result of climate change, species and ecosystems are experiencing changes in: ranges timing of biological activity growth rates relative abundance of species cycling of water and nutrients the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and invasive species

Range Shifts Species are relocating to areas with more tolerable climate conditions. Range shifts particularly threaten species that: cannot move fast enough depend on conditions that are becoming more rare (like sea ice)

Ecological Impacts As a result of climate change, species and ecosystems are experiencing changes in: ranges timing of biological activity growth rates relative abundance of species cycling of water and nutrients the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and invasive species

Timing of Biological Activity Some seasonal biological activities are happening 15-20 days earlier than several decades ago: Trees blooming earlier Migrating birds arriving earlier Butterflies emerging earlier Changes in timing differ from species to species, so ecological interactions are disrupted.

For example, the European pied flycatcher has not changed the time it arrives on its breeding grounds even though the caterpillars it feeds its young are emerging earlier. Missing the peak of food availability means fewer chicks are surviving, in turn causing the flycatcher’s population to decline.

Global Changes, Local Impacts Although climate change is global, the ecological impacts are often local.

Effects on Ice-Dependent Animals Year-round sea ice shrinking: walruses and other animals challenged to find platforms for nursing and resting Polar bears facing difficult hunting conditions: seals now surfacing in open ocean instead of holes in ice

Wildfire, Drought, and Insects: Complex Interactions Climate change increases the risk of fire in areas where decades of total fire suppression have resulted in buildup of dead fuels. Wildfire increasing in frequency, size, season length: Longer, more intense summer droughts stressing trees Stressed trees are more susceptible to attacking beetles, which leave standing dead fuels in their wake

Agricultural Impacts Difficult to pinpoint climate impacts: climate change occurring along with improvements in farming techniques In general, plants may: Grow faster (increasing yields unless it becomes too warm or crops mature too early) Be affected by carbon dioxide levels (increased growth for some plants, not for others) Good information about changes and adaptive practices is essential for farmers

Effects of increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere: Increased carbon dioxide increases yields for some plants and has no effect on others. Unfortunately for those who enjoy hiking and exploring, some pest plants—for example, poison ivy—grow faster and produce more irritant when atmospheric carbon dioxide is higher! The balance between the effects of warming and the effects of increased carbon dioxide will likely mean increased yields for some crops and decreases for others. Climate change may also alter the dynamics of weeds and other pests and affect the frequency of severe weather events.

Sea-level Rise Fragments barrier islands, reconfigures shorelines May leave certain ecosystems struggling to adapt—in particular those adapted to the conditions between land and sea Landward movement of mangroves and marshes may be inhibited by human development

Fisheries Cod: affected by water temperature Habitat may become restricted to cooler pockets (<54˚F for adults, <46˚F for young) Lobsters: affected by oxygen levels Warmer water holds less oxygen: oxygen becomes insufficient for lobsters >79˚F In north, warming may improve lobster habitat Oysters: Deadly parasite Perkinsus marinus moving northward Range expanded from Chesapeake Bay to Maine: shift linked to above-average winter temperatures

THANKS Acknowledgments National Academy of Sciences based on its report, Ecological Impacts of Climate Change (2009). THANKS