climate change
DanyNth19@
ClimateChange.pptxClimage Change. Context and Current Situation
Dr. Antonio M Perez
Saint Thomas University
Miami Gardens
+1 786 486 5337
Introduction
What is the difference between climate and weather?
What is Gobal Warming and Climate Change?
What are the consequences of Climate Change, General, and Biodiversity-related
Climate
Weather occurs at a specific place/time
It is the combination of:
temperature
humidity
precipitation
wind
cloudiness
any other atmospheric conditions
Climate
Climate is the long-term average pattern of weather
Local, regional, global
Climates can be classified according to the average and the typical ranges of different variables, most commonly temperature and precipitation.
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The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere.
greenhouse gases
heat trapped
reflection of
low-energy
radiation (heat)
high-energy
sun rays
The Greenhouse Effect
Figure 36.19
Global Warming
The Earth’s atmospheric temperature is increasing through the phenomenon known as global warming.
Global Warming
Between 1906 and 2005, Earth’s surface temperature increased by 1.3°F
The planet may warm by more than this amount in the coming decades as a result of human activities:
Deforestation
Emission of carbon dioxide
Methane emissions
Growing Concentration of Atmospheric CO2
Figure 36.17
58.5
58.0
57.5
57.0
56.5
1880
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
Global temperature (oF)
Carbon dioxide concentration
(parts per million)
Year
Greenhouse Gases
Global Warming
All the long-term consequences of global warming cannot be predicted because such consequences will vary with the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the coming years
Certain consequences:
Rise in sea levels
Change in rainfall patterns
Alteration in the mix of species in different geographical regions.
Global Warming
Recent scientific calculations indicate that societies may have a short time frame in which to take action if the phenomenon of dangerous climate change is to be avoided.
Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy
Climate Change is here
A1A road, Fort Lauderdale
Changes in Climate Have Shifted the Geographic Distribution of Species
Study using large-scale forest inventory data examined the distributional changes for trees of 92 species in the eastern United States
compared changes in species distributions from 1999 to 2009 with patterns of temperature and precipitation change in the 20th century
Results suggest that 54 of the 92 species showed a pattern consistent with range contraction, rather than expansion, at both the northern and southern boundaries
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Changes in Climate Have Shifted the Geographic Distribution of Species
Numerous studies have shown shifts of plant elevational boundaries in mountain areas
Surveys of plant cover in 1977 for an elevation gradient in southern California compared with those done in 2006–2007
Over the 30-year period,
the climate warmed, with a 0.4C increase in mean temperature
precipitation variability increased
amount of snow decreased
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Changes in Climate Have Shifted the Geographic Distribution of Species
The average elevation of the dominant plant species increased by 65 m; all species except one showed a distribution shift up the mountain range
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
100
50
0
50
100
150
200
Aibes concolor
Pinus jeffreyi
Quercus chrysolepis
Rhus ovata
Ceanothus greggii
Quercus cornelius
Larrea tridentata
Ambrosia dumosa
Encelia farinosa
Agave deserti
Change in elevation (m)
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Predictions to future
Laderach et al. (2008) have projected that suitable areas for coffee production to 2050 will contract over space and they estimate a reduction of around 60% of the suitable area for coffee production in Nicaragua for that date.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
Predictions to future
Perez et al. (2009) conducted
An analysis using 30 species or
Birds, 30 of Trees, and 30 of
Landsnails, correlation current
Distributions with current and
Future temperature, and rainfall,
And concluded that distribution
Area for the future will reduce and
Contract.
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A Variety of Approaches Are Being Used to Predict the Response of Ecological Systems to Future Climate Change
Network of Ecosystem Warming Studies is another coordinated international effort to study the response of ecosystems to climate warming
Experiments focus on the response of soil respiration, net nitrogen mineralization, and aboveground NPP
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.
Minnesota
Peatlands
Howland
Forest
Ny Alesund
Flakaliden
CLIMEX
Buxton
Wytham
Woods
Harvard
Forest
Rio Mayo
Huntington
Forest
Oak Ridge
Rocky
Mountain
Niwot
Ridge
Shortgrass
Steppe
TERA
Toolik
Lake
Abisko
Treaties and Conventions Most important
United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change
Kyoto Protocol for the Reduction of Green House Gases
Paris Agreement
The US have recently came back to it.
Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation
According to EPA (Environmental Protection Act, 2017)
The adaptation strategies provided on this site are intended to inform and assist communities in identifying potential alternatives.
It means all states and regions must take their own measures to face this threat the best possible way.
Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation2
In the context of Climate Change, it is of paramount importance to be aware that trees capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and transform it to carbon stock during photosynthesis. The urban environment presents important considerations for global climate change.
Trees within a densely populated area, including those in parks, on street ways, and on private property, operate as “carbon sinks” that significantly contribute to the effort of reducing carbon in the atmosphere.
Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation3
Our Research Group is currently conducting a project in the Amelia Earhart Park, in the city of Hialeah, Florida, with the purpose of calculating the amount of Biomass and Carbon Stock produced by the trees in selected areas of the park.
Suggestion by The Nature Conservancy
Climate change is here today, reshaping our world in ways big and small—but that doesn’t mean our future is predetermined. We still have the ability to limit further warming—and to help communities around the world adapt to the changes that have already occurred. Every fraction of a degree counts.
Fortunately, nature created a powerful technology that does just that: photosynthesis. In fact, our green allies could provide nearly a third of the emission reductions we need to stay within the 1.5C threshold.
Suggestion by The Nature Conservancy2
The most urgent thing we can do to help nature fight climate change is protect the natural habitats around the world that store billions of tons of this “living carbon.” We can also help by restoring natural habitats on lands that have been cleared or degraded.
Finally, we have to mention the need to promote and foster the development of URBAN GREEN AREAS.
Thanks!
