1. Physical Effects of Climate Change

2. Effects of Climate Change in the Atmosphere  Heat Waves  Drought  Wildfires  Storms  Floods http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/earths-atmosphere.jpg

3. Heat Waves http://thegoddessblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/heat-wave.png http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/images/JUN07southEuropeHeat.jpg http://thegoddessblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/heat-wave.png  Extreme Heat Alerts often involve hot humid smoggy air  These result in increased use of air conditioning and in wildfires, both actions that increase greenhouse gases  Warm air warms the surface of the planet, leading to thawing of ice and previously permanently frozen soil (permafrost)

4. Drought http://thecalloftheland.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/drought.jpg http://www.ethioguardian.com/e107_images/newspost_images/hunger_ethiopia.jpg http://thecalloftheland.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/drought.jpg  Most severe near deserts  Seasonal rains have stopped  People are unable to grow food – increased famine Ex. Ethiopia

5. Wildfires http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/wildfire-blm4.jpg  When weather is hot and dry for a long time trees become dry and lose their leaves  Probability of wildfires increase  Frequency of wildfires is increasing globally

6. Storms  The rapid increase in global temperature has caused changes in the frequency and severity of storms

7. Floods http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/images/image002-E.gif  When air temperatures rise rapidly in the spring,snow can melt too quickly for rivers and streams to handle  These seasonal floods are becoming more frequent

8. Effects of Climate Change in the Hydrosphere http://sos.noaa.gov/images/fullsize/Ocean/seacurrents.jpg  Melting Ice  Ocean Warming  Ocean Currents

9. Melting Ice 1 http://save-environment.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/melting-ice-polar-bear.jpg  As the average global temperature increases, the Earth’s ice (sea and glacier) is melting  The average level of the world’s oceans has increased by about 20 cm in the last 100 years

10. Melting Ice 2 http://climateprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/greenland_ice_melting.jpg Melting ice can affect the Earth by:  Flooding land that is currently just above sea level  Changing habitats of shoreline plants, animals and micro- organisms  Causing loss of property  Changing geographic coastlines and shapes of continental coasts  Reducing the amount of fresh water available to communities

11. Melting Ice 3

12. Ocean Warming 1  The impact of rising temperatures on oceans is less obvious than those on land  Water warms up more slowly  The average ocean temperature has increased by approx. 0.6 ºC in the last 100 years

13. Ocean Warming 2 http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Projected-sea-level-rise.gif  As the water warms it expands so warmer oceans mean higher sea levels  This leads to loss of coastal land

14. Ocean Warming 3 http://www.nature.com/climate/2007/0708/images/climate.2007.35-i3.jpg  Warmer water absorbs less carbon dioxide so is less effective as a carbon sink

15. Ocean Warming 4 http://i.livescience.com/images/ig29_phytoplankton_02.jpg http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/image/photos/phyto.jpg http://i.livescience.com/images/ig29_phytoplankton_02.jpg  Warmer water is not ideal for phytoplankton growth  Phytoplankton photosynthesize and are an important carbon sink  Warm oceans mean fewer phytoplankton

16. Ocean Warming 5 http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID23333/images/hurricane_fran_nasa.jpg http://www.companysj.com/v244/cuban-hurricane.jpg http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID23333/images/hurricane_fran_nasa.jpg  Warmer water produces more intense hurricanes

17. Ocean Currents 1

18. Ocean Currents 2  Melting ice and warming oceans can change the flow of ocean currents  As ice melts it adds fresh water to the oceans  Fresh water is less dense than salt water  The change of salinity affects the mechanisms that drive currents  The North Atlantic deep-water current could slow down to about half its present speed

19. Effects of Climate Change on Wildlife http://www.colorado-video.com/observerapps_files/wildlife.jpg  Range Shifts  Threatened Species  Benefits (?)

20. Range Shifts http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/uploadedImages/News/Chicago/Images/Urban/HUGHES_BIRDS_031809.jpg EX. In February, the Audubon Society released an analysis of data compiled over almost half a century that they say suggests that a slow, northbound shift of wintering grounds for almost every type of North American bird was directly linked to global warming.

21. Threatened Species http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/science/25frog.html?_r=1  The change in climate will force many organisms to adapt, migrate or become extinct  Between 40 – 70 % of all species are at risk of extinction if the global average temperature increases by only 3.3 ºC

22. Organisms that benefit from Climate Change http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0525-starfish.html http://imagess3.enature.com/seashore/seashore_l/sc0082_1l.jpg http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0525-starfish.html EX. A new study identifies starfish as one of the possible winners from rising ocean temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations. Increased temperature and acidity will significantly boost the echinoderm's (Pisaster ochraceus, a species of sea star) growth rate

23. The End http://www.solcomhouse.com/images/Global_Warming.gif