EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE
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1. Does it matter if the earth gets a little hotter?
1.1. Changes in the atmosphere affect living things and their habitats.
1.2. Steps to forecast the effect:
1.2.1. 1. Forecast changes in climate and physical conditions of the oceans and land surface
1.2.2. 2. Forecast of responses to species and ecosystems
1.3. Computer models are the main scientific tools at an early stage.
1.3.1. Model result: global warming will increase Earth's surface temperature by 1.5 to 4.5° C from 1990 to 2100.
2. Global Warming Affects Earth's Climate
2.1. Icebergs melt as the center of the Antarctic ice cap grows.
2.2. Changes in the frequency and intensity of storms.
2.3. Other climate changes:
2.3.1. Wetter winters.
2.3.2. Warmer summers.
2.3.3. Increased drought.
3. Decrease in Water Tables and Reservoirs
3.1. Can lead to a serious reduction in water supply.
3.2. Water use in some regions is not sustainable.
4. Species Migration Spreads Disease
4.1. West Nile virus is an example of the spread of disease due to global warming.
4.1.1. Warmer winters store more mosquitoes in calm water locations.
4.1.2. Dry springs increase surface water for mosquitoes and bird concentrations.
4.1.3. Mosquitoes with virus bite uninfected birds.
4.1.3.1. An infected bird is bitten by an uninfected mosquito, and spreads the virus.
4.1.3.1.1. Hot and wet summers lead to maturity and rapid growth of mosquito populations.
5. Mitigation of Global Warming
5.1. Toronto 1988: recommendation by scientists for a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2005.
5.2. Earth Summit 1992: Blueprint to reduce global emissions.
5.3. Kyoto 1997: Collecting emission limits legally.
6. The effect of rising sea levels
6.1. Increased naturally since the last ice age.
6.2. Increased damage from major storms.
7. Agriculture
7.1. May seriously affect world food supplies.
7.2. The best agricultural areas are no longer in North America.
7.3. Snow accumulation in winter will have less water.
8. Biological and Ecological Change
8.1. The biosphere changes due to ecosystem damage.
8.2. Spring comes two weeks early.
8.3. Early spring disturbs some species.
8.4. Some species change over geographic ranges such as:
8.4.1. Many species move northward.