* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Climate Change Floods and Droughts
Climate change in the Arctic wikipedia , lookup
Myron Ebell wikipedia , lookup
Michael E. Mann wikipedia , lookup
Climatic Research Unit email controversy wikipedia , lookup
2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference wikipedia , lookup
Mitigation of global warming in Australia wikipedia , lookup
Soon and Baliunas controversy wikipedia , lookup
Climate resilience wikipedia , lookup
Heaven and Earth (book) wikipedia , lookup
ExxonMobil climate change controversy wikipedia , lookup
Climate engineering wikipedia , lookup
Citizens' Climate Lobby wikipedia , lookup
Climate sensitivity wikipedia , lookup
Economics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climate change denial wikipedia , lookup
Climatic Research Unit documents wikipedia , lookup
Fred Singer wikipedia , lookup
Global warming controversy wikipedia , lookup
Climate governance wikipedia , lookup
General circulation model wikipedia , lookup
Climate change adaptation wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Saskatchewan wikipedia , lookup
Future sea level wikipedia , lookup
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme wikipedia , lookup
Global warming hiatus wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on human health wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and agriculture wikipedia , lookup
Instrumental temperature record wikipedia , lookup
Politics of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Global warming wikipedia , lookup
Solar radiation management wikipedia , lookup
Media coverage of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in Tuvalu wikipedia , lookup
Attribution of recent climate change wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming wikipedia , lookup
Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment wikipedia , lookup
Scientific opinion on climate change wikipedia , lookup
Physical impacts of climate change wikipedia , lookup
Climate change in the United States wikipedia , lookup
Climate change and poverty wikipedia , lookup
Effects of global warming on humans wikipedia , lookup
Climate change feedback wikipedia , lookup
Surveys of scientists' views on climate change wikipedia , lookup
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report wikipedia , lookup
Climate Change Floods and Droughts Alyssa Corrigan Climate Change… Climate change is when the climate is altered over time for a long time as a result of human or natural influences. There are many examples of effects of climate change such as a rise in sea level during the past century from four to eight inches, an increase in precipitation by approximately one percent, changes in the ecosystem altering the amount of snow in the north, a rise from five to ten percent in rainfall, and summers becoming increasingly dry while ice in the Artic Ocean decreases. Climate change can bring positive changes, such as its effect on extending the growing season in areas with short seasons, but when change comes quickly, living systems don’t have time to adapt. Global Warming… Global warming is the increase of the Earth’s surface median temperature over time. Since late in the 19th century the average global surface temperature has gone up .5F and during the 20th century, surface temperatures grew by about 1F. Predictions for the next 100 years are for a 2.7-8 degree F increase, depending on how much fossil fuels are burned and forest systems are removed. An increase in greenhouse gasses is the cause of global warming. Some effects include: an increase in sea level, difficulties in agriculture, change in rainfall, and changes in the ecosystem which will cause animals and plants to have to adapt or perish. Global Temperatures Graph The Effect on Floods Higher surface temperatures and changes in precipitation cause floods in some places, and droughts in others. floods. A rise in sea level (explained on next slide) and severe rain are two causes of floods. Long term changes in the hydrological cycle (the flow of water throughout Earth) due to higher temperatures (more evaporation; melting of ice, more intense rain fall) contribute to more floods. More water vapor in the atmosphere, because the atmosphere is heating up, can cause floods to happen more regularly. Floods Continued Sea level rising will also contribute to more floods. The sea level is predicted to go up from four inches to three feet. Sea level rises when the water warms and increases in amount, or when glaciers and ice melt. As the glaciers and ice turn into water the sea level increases and floods could start to last for a longer amount of time and happen more frequently. The Hydrological Cycle Examples and Predictions of Flooding There are predictions that as a result of climate change there will be a large increase in famine by 2050 of 30 million people going hungry because of less crops caused by flooding. One country that suffers from flooding because of climate change is Bangladesh. They experienced major flooding in 1998 in which two thirds of the country was underwater. There are predictions for this to become worse with more constant flooding and more of the country underwater by 2100 if it continues the same way. Many coastal cities would be affected, including Manhattan, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Miami, and cities around the world including highly populated ones like Shanghai. The Effect on Droughts There will also be more droughts as a result of global warming and climate change. The period of time during which droughts last will also be increased. The changing in the hydrologic cycle cause changes in precipitation. Some places get wetter, other drier. When there is a build up of water vapor in the atmosphere because the atmosphere is heating up, or very sudden changes in climate, droughts happen more regularly. Precipitation Graph This graph shows that heavy times of precipitation have been rising steadily over time but not frequent precipitation. Examples and Predictions of Droughts Droughts, like floods, could also cause famine because they ruin crops. An example of droughts as a result of climate change are the droughts in Africa. For example at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro there is becoming a very limited water supply. Africa is also very sensitive to any temperature change, which causes droughts to come more easily. In February and March, 2005, there were droughts in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, and Namibia. The droughts lasted for about four to eight weeks. Map of Droughts Bibliography http://www.gcrio.org/gwcc/part1.html Part 1: What is Climate Change? http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/518.htm Climate Change 2001: Working Group 1: The Scientific Basis: Glossery Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change Last Modified: 12/15/05 Accessed: 1/3/06 http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/climate.html Global Warming-Climate U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency Last Modified: 1/7/00 Accessed: 1/3/06 http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/climate/cli_effects.html Windows to the Universe: Effects Of Climate Change Today Created: 6/23/04 Lisa Gardiner Accessed: 1/3/06 http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/global_warming.shtml Global Warming Copyright: 2004 Almanac of Policy Issues Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.world-science.net/othernews/050915_stormfrm.htm World Science: Did Global Warming Power Katrina? 12/19/05 Accessed: 1/8/06 Bibliography Continued http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ImpactsHealth.html Global Warming- Impacts: Health Last Modifed: 1/7/00 Accessed: 1/3/06 http://www.ecocentre.org.uk/global-warming.html Wales West ECO Centre: Global Warming Copyright: 2004 Accessed: 1/3/06 http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/Emissions.html U.S Enviromental Protection Agency: Emissions Last Modified: 4/27/05 Accessed: 1/3/06 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/01/0130_020130_greatfloods.html Climate Studies Point to More Floods In This Century 1/30/02 Accessed: 1/8/06 Hillary Mayell http://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_evd.htm EcoBridge: Evidence of Global Warming Bibliography Continued http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/dispatches/050901.html Calling Katrina 9/1/05 Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/arch/ Abrupt Climate Change Copyright: 2003 Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.peopleandplanet.org/climatechange/briefing.impact.php The Impact Of Climate Change Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asp Last Update: 12/29/05 Climate Change and Global Warming Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=46445&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa Copyright: 2006 Africa: Climate Change becomes a matter of life and death Accessed: 1/8/06 http://www.un.org/News/facts/climate.htm Last Modified: 8/19/02 Global Climate Change Accessed: 1/8/06 http://edcw2ks40.cr.usgs.gov/sa_floods/categories.asp?catid=11 Southern Africa Flood and Drought Network