EFFECTS Main Page  Science Standards Teacher Resources and Lab Inquiries: Biodiversity Plants: Seeds Algae Growth Sea Levels Human Health Further Information: Other Effects

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING     Authors:  Barbara Adams      Des Moines, IA  John Fabela            Fresno, CA  Christine Maritato   Bay Shore, NY  Frances Navarette   Fresno, CA  Bernard Schreiner   Milwaukee, WI   Introduction Many people are concerned about the possible ecological effects that are associated with global climate change. There is uncertainty among the scientific community about how and when the atmospheric system will respond to an increase in temperature. However, a UN appointed board of 2400 scientists from around the world has concluded that: 1) there have been global temperature increases over the past 100 years; 2) these increases can be attributed to anthropogenic sources (human industrial activities); 3) temperature increases over the next century are predicted to be up to 3.5oC.  Some of the possible effects are illustrated as follows:    [http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/reports/slides/cc&i/f2.JPG] This chart is taken from the Environmental Protection Agency site on Global Warming:   (You may want to bookmark this page before linking)  Questions For Inquiry What happens to various kinds of organisms as temperatures in their habitat rise?  What effect could temperature change due to global warming have on the germination rate of important food crops? What effects will global warming have on human health? What effect could temperature have on disease carrying insects such as the mosquito as measured by pupation success? What effect would melting of the Arctic Ocean have on sea levels compared to melting of Antarctic ice caps?

 

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