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4 Changes Have Already Occurred Since 1880, the average temperature of the Earth’s surface has increased by 0.85ºC and sea levels have risen 20cm. Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and bushfires are becoming more frequent and intense. Many major glaciers are melting, including those in Greenland and West Antarctica. The Arctic ice cover is shrinking, particularly in summer. Permafrost in much of the northern hemisphere is melting. The Oceanic Conveyor Belt The oceans are becoming more acidic, affecting many planktonic, shelled and reef building organisms. Dead zones, due to lack of oxygen, are increasing in number and expanding. The Oceanic Conveyor Belt moves warm water from tropical oceans to the colder oceans of the northern hemisphere. In recent times, much of Australia has been subjected to extensive drought. Climate change may cause droughts to become more frequent and severe. Heat absorbed by the oceans is distributed by a series of ocean currents, known as the thermohaline circulation or the Oceanic Conveyor Belt. It is predicted that climate change will slow or, perhaps, even stop the Oceanic Conveyor Belt. Recent evidence indicates that slowing has already commenced and, should this continue, parts of the northern hemisphere will become much colder. How will the climate change? Over the next 80 years it is predicted that: • Earth’s temperature will increase by 2.6ºC to 4.8ºC. This would be the largest temperature rise the Earth has experienced in the last 100,000 years. The cooling of the average temperature of the Earth by 5ºC caused the last ice age. • Rainfall will decrease in much of Australia, central America and the Mediterranean regions and increase in tropical Africa and the north west region of Australia. (Rainfall levels in south east Asia will remain unchanged.) hic ap n An increase of 3ºC to 5ºC may not sound serious, however, consider the following: • Extreme weather events will increase in frequency and severity. Gr Climate Change in Perspective • Sea levels will rise between 26cm and 82cm. at io Sea level rise may cause some Pacific island nations to disappear Ed uc © Graphic Education 2015 AS/SECA04