WMAN150-Global Climate Change

Conservation Corner

  • Title: Conservation Corner

  • Location: CFBC 2LR

Practice Question

  • Question: Which is a sign (not a symptom) of disease?

    • Nausea

    • Tumors in the lung

    • Fatigue

    • Muscle aches

    • None of the above

Global Climate Change

  • Title: Global Climate Change

  • Course: WMAN 150

What’s the Consensus?

  • The world’s climate has started to change already.

  • It will continue to change in coming decades.

Where’s the Debate?

  • Discussions focus on the exact details of what changes will happen.

The Carbon Cycle

Key Processes:

  • Photosynthesis: Plants absorb CO₂ and convert it into organic matter.

  • Decay: Organic material decomposes, releasing carbon back into the environment.

  • Animal Respiration: Animals release CO₂ during respiration.

  • Plant Respiration: Plants also respire, contributing to the carbon cycle.

  • Fossil Fuels: Emissions from auto and factory operations add CO₂.

Facts:

  • Daily carbon cycle results in about 70 million tons of CO₂.

  • Historical carbon levels:

    • Last 100 years: Climatic CO₂ levels rose from 290 ppm to 423 ppm.

Carbon Dioxide Levels

  • Visual data of carbon dioxide levels over time (in parts per million).

  • Current levels reached unprecedented heights, peaking over 400 ppm.

Greenhouse Effect

  • Definition: Greenhouse gases permit sunlight to enter but trap heat.

  • Key Gases: Carbon dioxide, methane.

    • CO₂: Remains in the atmosphere for about 100 years.

Methane

  • Sources:

    • Agriculture: rice fields, livestock emissions.

    • Natural gas: leaks from oil & gas operations.

    • Melting permafrost.

  • Methane's heat retention is 30 times more potent than CO₂.

Mitigation Strategies:

  • Addition of seaweed in livestock feed reduces methane emissions significantly (by >85% in sheep and 50% in cows).

Global Warming Trends

Carbon Dioxide and Temperature Correlation:

  • Data reflecting atmospheric CO₂ and Earth's surface temperature (1880-2019).

    • Notable temperature rise linked to increasing CO₂ levels.

Ocean Heat Content

  • Measured heat content of oceans (0-700m depth) showing trends from 1960 to present.

Urban Heat Effects

  • Heat Death: Urban areas experience heightened heat; impacts on electric grids noted.

  • Significant mortality events linked to heat waves:

    • Europe 2003: 35,000 deaths

    • Russia 2010: 55,000 deaths.

Wildfire Incidents

  • Notable wildfires linked to climate change:

    • Arctic fires (Greenland 2014, Sweden 2018) creating soot that accelerates ice melt.

Freshwater Challenges

  • Only ~2% of Earth's water is freshwater.

  • Half of the global population relies on snowmelt streams.

  • The Aral Sea, previously one of the largest lakes, has lost >90% of its volume.

Climate Change Impact on West Virginia

  • Observed changes:

    • Warmer temperatures.

    • Shorter winters.

    • Increased precipitation and humidity.

Species Responses to Climate Change

  • First recorded extinction due to climate change: Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola).

Adaptive Responses of Species:

  • Potential for rapid adaptation measured through:

    • Morphological Changes: Example - white-throated woodrat size reduction.

    • Phenological Shifts: Timing of biological events changed.

    • Community Interactions: Variations in species interactions documented.

    • Range Shifts: Speculated movement of species towards cooler areas.

Problems with Adaptation

  • Current stress on populations makes adaptation challenging.

  • Landscape fragmentation hampers movement; geographic bottlenecks identified.

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination

  • Example: Map turtles' sex determined by temperature thresholds.

Assisted Migration

  • Concept: Translocation of species to new habitats in anticipation of climate range shifts.

  • Criteria and deliberation needed when implementing assisted migration strategies.

Decision-Making Framework for Species Migration

  1. Assess extinction risk under climate change.

  2. Evaluate the technical feasibility of species translocation.

  3. Analyze benefits versus costs of translocation.

  4. Consider habitat creation options locally for new species migration.

  5. Explore waiting for natural arrivals.

  6. Proceed with assisted migration if the criteria support such action.