Global Climate Change Environmental Impacts: A Review and Reflection

What should we worry about the most?

What should we tell our students? Most important? Most personally relevant? Most dramatic?

We’ve seen the data:

Modern CO 2 Measurements

We’ve seen the data:

is the increased greenhouse effect; I'd bet the mortgage it Mark Serreze, NSIDC ARCTIC SEA ICE EXTENT - SEPTEMBER TREND, The area covered by sea ice

We have relevant stories for our students: MSNBC.com It’s official: January was warmest on record U.S. forecasters say it was 8.5 degrees warmer than normal The Associated Press Updated: 4:38 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2006 WASHINGTON - January was a fair-weather friend. Recording the warmest January on record allowed Americans to save on their heating bills. But like all good things, last month’s mildness seems to have been too good to last. The country’s average temperature for the month was 39.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 8.5 degrees above average for January, the National Climatic Data Center said Tuesday. The old record for January warmth was 37.3 degrees set in 1953.

We have relevant stories for our students: Global Warming Lending Strength to Hurricanes Warmer waters fueling more powerful storms WASHINGTON, September 2, 2005 — Because rising global temperatures have warmed the oceans, and warm oceans fuel hurricanes, many people have asked whether hurricane Katrina is connected to global warming. UCS

We have “Early Warning Signs”

Changes in Flowering Date

Mismatch of Bird Nesting & Food Availability

Let’s think outside our immediate realm of human experience:

What about the oceans?

Evolutionary Perspective The living history of our planet spans 3.5 billion years. Life arose in our oceans about 3.5 bya For the first 3 billion years, life was solely aquatic

Evolutionary Perspective Photosynthesis was invented in the oceans (by cyanobacteria) Photosynthesis produces oxygen gas (by splitting water molecules)  O 2 makes complex life possible  O 3 makes terrestrial life possible

Even Today… Ocean life accounts for over 90% of planet’s photosynthetic activity.

Oceans Represent the “cradle of life” What are the consequences of “messing with your mother”?

Oceans are warming: Effect on coast-line? (Aside: DDN articles)

How many gallons of water in the ocean? Area of Pacific ocean (sq mi) 63,800,00064,186,000 Ave. depth of Pacific ocean (ft) 14,05014,049 % of Earth’ surface covered by water 71% Gallons of H20 in oceans 361 quintillion (3.61 x ) Source: Facts & Figures Source:US Navy

Reference for volume of ocean e/trivia/earth.htm

Lethal Effects of Climate Change- Coral Bleaching

Global Warning / Coral Reefs Color Blindness By Susan McGrath The brilliant beauty of coral reefs has begun to disappear before our eyes, along with the incredible variety of marine life that surrounds them. It has taken only a slight increase* in sea-surface temperatures to unravel one of the earth’s most ancient ecosystems. * SSTs rise just two degrees Fahrenheit above normal summer high temperatures for a period of just two weeks

Temperature increase in Ocean Not discrete isolated event Coastline Weather/climate patterns effects Marine, ultimately terrestrial ecosystems effects

Peak Oil Economic crisis? Ecologic Opportunity?