Land species- species adapted to arctic climate at risk. Marine species- species dependent on sea ice, including polar bears, walruses etc. will decline. Carbon cycle changes- replacement of arctic vegetation with more forests will lead to higher productivity and increased carbon dioxide uptake, but methane emissions from warming wetlands and thawing permafrost could counterbalance this positive impact. 4.
Also, since new species of plants have invaded the arctic some animals can’t adapt to them, like the Caribou which numbers have decreased. 4. If climate change continues then half of the arctic tundra could be gone replaced by trees and lush vegetation by 2050. This would cause most plant
This means that a species will likely not die out due to climate change, although major changes to the current ecosystem may occur. The climate in the Great Lakes region is affected by two major sources, natural ones (like the lakes themselves) and human ones. Over the past few decades, the temperature in this region has shown an increasing trend. For example, the temperature range over the past thirty years have been “near average to somewhat warmer than average.” This increased temperature is in spite of the fact that the Great Lakes are large bodies of water, meaning they naturally resist increasing and decreasing temperatures. Also, the “hottest months in recorded history” have occurred in the past twenty years, while cold waves have seen a decrease (with the exception of a few extreme colds in the 1990s).
So CO2 emissions must be reduced. But we used to have periods of higher average temperatures. Besides, these emissions don’t stimulate crop growth. What is more, it is reported that the Arctic is warming 2 or 3 times faster than other ecosystems. The ice in Greenland is disappearing.
Unit 1.3 Global Hazards Using the graphs from Unit 1.3, I am able to outline the trends in global disasters. The number of natural disasters reported has increased over the last 30 years. In 1930, about 25 natural disasters were reported. In 1970, there was a sharp increase and this carried on until 1995. Overall, numbers have increased over the last 50 years, however, by 2000, the trend line started to become level.
ABSTRACT Global warming causes many changes in weather patterns including greater temperature variability and more extreme temperatures. In this study we examined the damage and recovery in Aesculus glabra (Ohio buckeye) in Trelease Woods after a late frost in the spring of 2007, potentially caused by global warming. 1) If temperature and wind gradients directly affect the pattern of damage and recovery of Ohio buckeye, then as the distance of Ohio buckeye from the forest edge increases the percent leaf damage done by frost will decrease. 2) If the total leaf area available for photosynthesis in an Ohio buckeye directly affects its recovery from frost damage, then as percent leaf damage increases, recovery (based on percent canopy fullness,
Ringed, bearded, and harp seals comprise the main food of polar bears and the blubber layer is preferentially eaten by the bears and subsequently, the intake of pollutant is high. The most polluted polar bears live in NE Greenland, the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea. The reasons for this are related to global transport and deposition patterns of pollutants. Based on studies, it is reasonable to believe that the pollutants load of polar bears in some areas are negatively affecting the immune system. Recent studies have suggested that the immune system is weaker in polar bears with higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB).
This would cause the firn line along with the glacier to retreat. However, retreat may also occur in the long run, such as in a post-glacial period where global temperature increases are occurring. b) Examine the impact of retreating glaciers on the formation and modification of landscapes (20) When discussing the impacts of retreating glaciers, one must understand that glaciers are large and dynamic features that have a plethora of significant impacts on the surrounding landscape, which are clear in areas such as Iceland, and in much of the UK. Glacial retreat occurs when there is a negative mass balance brought on by accumulation being surmounted by ablation. The effects of this are more pronounced when the retreat takes place over a longer-term due to deglaciation, rather than just shirt-term seasonal changes.
There are many threats to global supplies. Explain the problem, identify possible solutions, and assess the implications of implementing these solutions. Recent decades have witnessed an obvious trend that the number of people in the world inched up. Black (2010) state that world population is forecast to stabilize at 9 billion by 2050. Because of global warming, the earth's climate is also undergoing profound changes.
We have experienced in the past couple years milder and warmer winters, with receiving less and less snow but more and more rain. This is called the El Nino effect. El Nino is a temporary change in climate around the Pacific Ocean; it affects both the ocean and the atmosphere. We have seen as years go by our winters are becoming warmer and wetter. Recently Vancouver experienced its strongest El Nino effect since 1997-1998.