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Climate Change:

Assessing Ecological Risk by International Region

By: Katie Mohn, Sam Dykstra, Michael Hartman, Jingxue Hu, Kelsey Loy, Shiqi Miao, Ruijuan Sun, Xiaoxiao Wang

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Climate Change

A major alteration in any climate measure, including temperature, wind, and precipitation, that is prolonged.

Causes Green House Gases: human activity

Unknown: How quick it will arise If predicted temp. will affect other

systems

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What Causes Climate Change

As there are many questions scientist still have toward climate change one thing scientists have agreed on is that Green House Gases, such as CO2 occur naturally and are responsible for Climate Change

Green House Gases naturally warms the Earth However with human activity and the use of fossil

fuels the amount of Green House Gases in the planet has increased

Scientists have documented a warming trend between 1 and 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit over the 100-year period up to 2005

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Fossil Fuels:The Good and Bad

Formed Millions of Years Ago by Ancient Organisms Most Common Fossil Fuels: Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas Fossil Fuels Account for 87% of the World’s Energy

Consumption

Advantages Disadvantages

-Efficient and Powerful -Carbon Dioxide (CO2) released into the environment

-Easy to find and transport

-Non-renewable source of energy

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From the International Panel on Climate Change Report (IPPC) the following places have been analyzed for their expected reactions to Climate Change

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Climate Change in Africa

According to the IPPC Report Africa is considered to be the Continent most vulnerable to climate change

increased water stress (water availability,water accesibility, and water demand)

* Even in the absence, present population trends of water use indicate that more Aferican countries will exceed the limits of their "economy usable,land-based water resources before 2025"

• decreased agricultural yields * Sahara agricultural losses will be 2%-7% of GDP * Western and central Africa agricultural losses will be 2-4% of

GDP * Northern and south Africa agriclutural losses will be 0.4-1.3%• Rising sea levels * could induce overtopping * Indian Ocean island is threatened by potential changes in the

locaton, frequency and intensity of cyclones

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Climate Change In Australia and New Zealand A significant biodiversity loss by 2020 in

northeast areas of New Zealand and Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef

Also in the northeast region there is expected to be a decrease in agriculture and forestry due to increasing drought and fires

The western and southern parts of Australia and New Zeal are expected to receive some benefits from climate change such as a long growing season and increased rain fall

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Climate Change in Asia Crop yields are expected to differ depending on

location. Southeast and eastern areas are expected to have an

rising harvests, while declines in yields are expected in the central areas and the southern areas

Floods caused by rivers or rising sea levels pose as a threat

For example, the Maldives islands are very vulnerable to rising sea levels because the highest point is only 2.3 meters above sea level

This problem is intensified because most of the Maldives population population lives on the coast lines

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Climate Change in Europe Effects of climate change are expected to

vary depending on region In general, significant heat waves and

receding glaciers are expected Frequent coastal floods and erosion of land

due to storms and rising sea levels Some places are also expected to experience

longer growing seasons, but for the most part Europe is expecting negative effects from the changing climate

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extreme weather events

Temperature

Human precipitation

Variations in wealth and geography, however, lead to an uneven distribution of likely impacts, vulnerabilities and capacities to adapt.

North America

Direct Effects

Indirect Effects