Global Change Unit 10 Global Change Global change

Global Change Unit 10

Global Change • Global change- any chemical, biological or physical property change of the planet. Examples include cold temperatures causing ice ages. • Global climate change- changes in the climate of the Earth. • Global warming- one aspect of climate change, the warming of the oceans, land masses and atmosphere of the Earth.

The Greenhouse Effect • When radiation from the sun hits the atmosphere, 1/3 is reflected back. • Some of the UV radiation is absorbed by the ozone layer and strikes the Earth where it is converted into low-energy infrared radiation. • The infrared radiation then goes back toward the atmosphere where it is absorbed by greenhouse gasses that radiate most of it back to the Earth.

Greenhouse Gases • • • Water vapor Carbon dioxide Methane Nitrous oxide Ozone

greenhouse gases (the big 5)

Natural Greenhouse Gases • • Volcanic eruptions- mainly carbon dioxide Methane – from decomposition Nitrous oxide- from denitrification Water vapor

Greenhouse Effect greenhouse effect

Anthropogenic Sources GHGs deforestation (CO 2) fossil fuel combustion (CO 2) cattle digestive gas emissions (methane

Anthropogenic Sources GHGs

Average surface temperature (°C) Average temperature over past 900, 000 years 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 Thousands of years ago 900, 000 years 200 100 Present

Temperature change over past 22, 000 years Temperature change (°C) 2 1 Agriculture established 0 -1 -2 -3 End of last ice age Average temperature over past 10, 000 years = 15°C (59°F) -4 -5 20, 000 10, 000 2, 000 1, 000 Years ago 22, 000 200 100 Now

Temperature change over past 1, 000 years Temperature change (°C) 1. 0 0. 5 0. 0 -0. 5 -1. 0 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2101 Year 1000

Average surface temperature (°C) Average temperature over past 130 years 15. 0 14. 8 14. 6 14. 4 14. 2 14. 0 13. 8 13. 6 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 Year 1960 130 years 1980 2000 2020

Natural Climate Variation Natural factors affecting temp? volcanic eruptions “wobble” on axis (Milankovitch cycle variations in cloud cover ocean currents Evidence? ice core data fossil record of species (plant & ani

Greenland Antarctica Ocean currents distribute energy

Grab white boards Take a deep breath…. What gases did you just breathe in? ? ? What % of each?

Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% All rest < 1% CO 2 H 2 O CO etc…

CO 2 & temp 360 340 320 300 280 Carbon dioxide 260 240 220 +2. 5 200 0 180 – 2. 5 – 5. 0 Temperature change End of last ice age 160 120 80 40 0 Thousands of years before present – 7. 5 – 10. 0 Variation of temperature (˚C) from current level Concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (ppm) 380

Global Warming

Clouds 50– 55% Snow 80– 90% City 10– 15% Grass 15– 25% Bare sand 30– 60% Oceans 5% albedo Forest 5%

simplified climate model Troposphere Warming from decrease Aerosols Cooling from increase CO 2 removal by plants and soil organisms CO 2 emissions from land cleaning, fires, and decay Heat and CO 2 removal Heat and CO 2 emissions Greenhouse gases Ice and snow cover Shallow ocean Land soil biotoa Natural and human emissions Long-term storage Deep ocean

permafrost melting

Ice & sea level (glaciers, pack ice, ice caps, fresh water)

Pack ice predictions

Northwest Passage

KMT & thermal expansion

Results of warming Ocean acidification Coral bleaching

Results of warming Storm Intensity

Results of warming Increased incidence of El Nino (change in drought, flood pattern Dust storms Forest Fires

Results of warming hange in infectious disease patterns

Major irrigation well Well contaminated with saltwater Water table Sea Level Salt water Fresh groundwater aquifer Interface Saltwater Intrusion Interface Normal Interface Saltwater intrusion

What can we do? Reduce deforestation Plant trees Reduce fossil fuel combustion Conserve energy Switch to renewable fuel sources Eat lower on food chain!

Global Biodiversity

Species Extinction Locally: Gone where once found, still in other places. Ecologically: Too few left to play ecological role Globally (biologically): Gone.

Designations: Endangered species: So few, could soon become extinct. Threatened species: Still abundant but is likely to become endangered soon. Generally K-selected species

Endangered Species Giant panda Black-footed Whooping crane ferret Mountain gorilla Florida panther California condor Northern spotted owl Hawksbill sea turtle Blue whale Black rhinoceros

% of species involved in “ 6 th Mass Extinction”

IMPORTANCE OF WILD SPECIES • ecological services (aka instrumental value) • economic worth (ecotourism) • inherent right to exist (intrinsic value)

HIPPO causes of premature extinction –H –I –P –P –O

HIPPO • causes of premature extinction –H abitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation –I –P –P –O

HIPPO • causes of premature extinction –H abitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation –I nvasive species –P –P –O

INVASIVE SPECIES Non-native r-selected Kudzu vine was introduced in the southeastern U. S. to control erosion. It has taken over native species habitats.

INVASIVE SPECIES • introduced intentionally. Figure 11 -11

INVASIVE SPECIES • introduced unintentionally. Figure 11 -11

HIPPO • causes of premature extinction –H abitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation –I nvasive species –P opulation growth of humans –P –O

HIPPO • causes of premature extinction –H abitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation –I nvasive species –P opulation growth of humans –P ollution –O

HIPPO • causes of premature extinction –H abitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation –I nvasive species –P opulation growth of humans –P ollution –O verharvest,

CITES Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species 1975 169 countries lists 900 species that cannot be commercially traded.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) ESA forbids federal agencies (besides defense department) to carry out / fund projects that would jeopardize an endangered species. ESA : illegal to hunt / kill / collect endangered or threatened

Maintaining species • Gene banks, botanical gardens (raise & store species, often lack funding & storage space) • Zoos & aquariums preserve individuals for reintroduction lack of: space, funding, genetic diversity

AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY Greatest biodiversity coral reefs estuaries abyssal zone Provide ecological and economic services.

Cobia Hogfish Kelp Carrageen Pacific sailfish Moray Yellow jack Red snapper Red algae Batfish Striped drum Sea lettuce Angelfish Orange roughy Chinook salmon Porcupine Devilfish Great barracuda Laminaria Sockeye salmon Dulse Bladder kelp Grouper Chilean sea bass Marine Examples

Brook trout Bluegill White waterlily White bass Bulrush Muskellunge Rainbow trout Rainbow darter Water lettuce Bowfish Water hyacinth Bladderwort Largemouth black bass Black crappie White sturgeon Yellow perch American smelt Walleyed pike Velvet cichlid Eelgrass Duckweed Longnose gar Common piranha Carp Channel catfish Egyptian white lotus African lungfish Freshwater Examples

HUMAN IMPACTS –approx 20% coral reefs gone –past 100 years sea levels risen 10 -25 cm. – 33% mangrove forests destroyed for shipping lanes.

HIPPO in the ocean Bio-invaders caused 66% of recent fish extinctions in the U. S. 50% world populations lives near a coast 80% of ocean pollution is from land-based human activities.

Overfishing 75% fish species overfished -Big fish are becoming scarce -Smaller fish are next - 30% of all fish catch is bycatch

Fish farming in cage Trawl flap Trawler fishing Spotter airplane Sonar Purse-seine fishing Trawl lines Fish school Trawl bag Long line fishing Drift-net fishing Float Buoy Lines with hooks Deep sea aquaculture cage Fish caught by gills