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Global Climate

Change Affecting
Ecosystems
Molly Levy
Danny Brill
Lauren McCarty
Zachary Gerskowitz

Topics
What

is Global Climate Change?


How can we measure it?
What is causing it?
What are the effects of Global Climate
Change?
What can we do to help?

What is Global Climate


Change?
A

significant and lasting change of


weather patterns over a period of
decades to millions of years (Wikipedia).
This can refer to the cooling or warming
of weather patterns.
The current trend of climate change is
toward global warming.

Tracking Ocean Temperature


One way to track
climate change can be
through ocean
temperatures
The high heat capacity
of water can make it a
good index for
changing
temperatures.

Causes of Global Climate


Change
Changes

in the Greenhouse Effect


Increased human activities:

Burning fossil fuels


Habitual use of aerosols

blanket around the earth

Effects of Global Warming


Rising sea levels
Degradation of biodiversity in
environments
Rise in ocean temperatures, while being
an index had negative effects
Melting of polar ice caps
Extreme weather, including more frequent
heat waves, more powerful tsunamis,
hurricanes and typhoons

Polar Ice Caps


Polar ice caps provide
multiple services
Ice caps provide a habitat
for polar bears, including
breeding grounds, as well
as solid ice for hunting
and hibernating.
The snow also reflects
light away from earth,
indirectly protecting earth
from extreme
temperatures.

Before and After Ice


Caps in Greenland

Effects of Melting Polar Ice


Caps
Melting

of solid ice, causing rising sea


levels. Homes and other properties
closer to the oceans are prone to being
destroyed.
This can cause trillions of dollars of
damage.
The destruction of these homes can
cause pollution from the materials from
the housing material.

North America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Australia

South America

Ecosystems in
the Arctic and
Antarctic Regions

Loss of breeding and hunting


grounds for polar bears
Declining in sustainability of
algaes, destroying food
chains

Ecosystems in
the
Tropical

Shifting in species
composition and plant
Regions
growth conditions

Decline in fauna
populations
Reduction in breeding and
hunting grounds for
arboreal animals
Cold-blooded animals, such
as iguanas, cannot adapt
changing climates
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=3EFUxzGqQE0

Effects on Ocean
Ecosystems

Ocean acidification
Water pH change, destroying
aquatic food chains
Coral bleaching
Growth of harmful algae
blooms

Ecosystem
Ocean currents like the
Effects on a
Gulf Stream current,
Global
Scale
could change
, greatly

affecting global climates


More damaging extreme
weather, including
typhoons, tsunamis, and
hurricanes
Animals cannot adapt
quickly enough to
changing climates,
potentially increasing
the rate of extinctions

How does Global


Warming Affect
Us?

Increased droughts leading


to more frequent fires
Higher food costs
Fresh water becomes more
scarce

Large-scale Solutions
Reduction

in emissions
Stop deforestation
Fight misinformation

What can you do to help?


Drive

a more efficient car or use public


transportation
Use LED lighting
Get energy-efficient appliances
Turn off lights and appliances when not
in use
EAT LESS MEAT
Get in touch with policymakers

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