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What Effect Does Climate Change Have On The Environment – Although we often think of human-induced climate change as something that will happen in the future, it is an ongoing process. It is now impacting ecosystems and communities in the United States and around the world.
A collage of common climate and weather events: floods, heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and glacial ice loss. (Image source: )
What Effect Does Climate Change Have On The Environment
Global temperatures rose by about 1.1°C off-site between 1901 and 2020, but climate change is about more than just rising temperatures. This also includes sea level rise, changes in weather patterns such as drought and floods, and much more. The things we depend on and value – water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems and human health – are experiencing the effects of a changing climate.
How Climate Change Affects Health
The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interconnected. Drought can harm food production and human health. Floods can lead to the spread of disease and damage to ecosystems and infrastructure. Human health problems can increase mortality, affect food availability, and reduce worker productivity. The effects of climate change are visible in every aspect of the world we live in. However, the effects of climate change are uneven across the country and the world – even within one community, the effects of climate change can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood or from person to person. Long-standing socioeconomic inequalities can make underserved groups, who are often the most vulnerable and have the fewest resources to respond, more vulnerable.
Predictions of a future affected by climate change are not inevitable. Many of the problems and solutions associated with external links are already known to us, and ongoing research continues to provide new ones. Experts believe there is still time to avoid the most negative impacts by limiting off-site connections and reducing emissions to zero as quickly as possible. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require investment in new technologies and infrastructure, which will stimulate job growth. Additionally, reducing emissions will reduce harmful impacts on human health, saving countless lives and billions of dollars in health-related costs.
The two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued to rise inexorably in 2020 despite the economic slowdown caused by the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
We see how climate change is affecting our planet from pole to pole. monitors global climate data and here are some of the changes recorded. You can find out more on the Global Climate Dashboard.
Climate Change Effects On Marine Biodiversity & Local Communities
Floods are an increasing problem due to climate change. Compared to the early 20th century, most of the United States is experiencing both heavier and more frequent exceptionally heavy rainfall events.
Conversely, drought is also becoming more common, especially in the western United States. People are using more water, especially in agriculture. Just as we sweat more in hot weather, higher air temperatures cause plants to lose, or transpire, more water, which means farmers must supply them with more water. Both emphasize the need to provide more water in places where water resources are dwindling.
Snow cover is an important source of fresh water for many people. As the snow melts, fresh water becomes available, especially in regions such as the western United States where there is not much precipitation during the warmer months. However, as temperatures rise, there is less snow overall, and snow begins to melt earlier in the year, which means the snowpack may not be a reliable source of water throughout the warm and dry season.
The Redlands Mesa area near Hotchkiss, Colorado, is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, but thanks to funding from the Environmental Literacy Program, local high school students are taking action to reduce their community’s vulnerability to this threat.
Chart: How Climate Change Is Affecting World Regions
Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. While farmers and researchers may be able to adapt some agricultural techniques and technologies or develop new ones, some changes will be difficult to manage. Increased temperatures, drought and water scarcity, disease and extreme weather conditions create challenges for farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables.
Farm workers can suffer from heat-related health problems, such as exhaustion, heat stroke and heart attacks. Rising temperatures and heat stress can also harm farm animals.
Climate change is already affecting human health. Changes in weather and climate patterns can be life-threatening. Heat is one of the most deadly weather phenomena. As ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes become stronger and wetter, which can cause direct and indirect deaths. Dry conditions lead to more fires, which carry many health risks. More frequent flooding can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases, injuries and chemical hazards. As mosquitoes and ticks expand their geographic range, they can spread diseases to new locations.
The most vulnerable groups, including children, older people, people with pre-existing conditions, people working outdoors, people of color and people on low incomes, are even more at risk due to the overlapping factors resulting from climate change. However, public health groups can work with local communities to help people understand the health impacts of climate change and build resilience to it.
Climate Change And Its Impact On Biodiversity, Air Quality, And Soil And Water Degradation
Examples of populations at increased risk of exposure to adverse climate-related health risks are shown, along with adaptation measures that can help address disproportionate impacts. Given the full range of threats from climate change, as well as other environmental exposures, these groups are among the most exposed, most vulnerable, and have the least individual and societal resources to prepare for and respond to health threats. White text indicates the risks these communities face, while dark text indicates actions that can be taken to reduce these risks. (EPA (National Climate Assessment))
French fries depend on potatoes and like all crops, potatoes have a preferred climate. How long will America’s favorite appetizer have a safe place on our menus?
Climate change will continue to have significant impacts on ecosystems and organisms, although not to the same extent. The Arctic is one of the ecosystems most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as it is warming at least twice as fast as the global average, and melting ice sheets and glaciers are dramatically contributing to sea level rise around the world.
Some living things are able to respond to climate change; some plants flower earlier and some species may expand their geographical range. But these changes are happening too quickly for many other plants and animals as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns stress ecosystems. Some invasive or nuisance species, such as lionfish and ticks, may thrive in even more places due to climate change.
How Climate Change Will Impact National Security — Harvard Gazette
Changes are also taking place in the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels. As a result, the water becomes more acidic, affecting marine life. Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion and the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, putting coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surges.
The overlapping effects of climate change are leading to many changes in ecosystems. Coral reefs are vulnerable to many of the effects of climate change: warming waters can lead to coral bleaching, stronger hurricanes can destroy reefs, and rising sea levels can cause corals to be covered by sediment. Coral reef ecosystems are home to thousands of species that depend on healthy coral reefs for their survival.
As future leaders who will make decisions about the issues they face in their communities, the Museum of Science and Industry placed high school-age teenagers in the role of advocates for building the city’s resilience to the impacts and consequences of global climate change.
Physical infrastructure includes bridges, roads, ports, electricity grids, broadband internet and other components of our transport and communications systems. It is often designed to last for years or decades, and many communities have infrastructure that is designed without future climate in mind. However, even newer infrastructure may be vulnerable to climate change.
How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?
Extreme weather events that cause heavy rain, flooding, wind, snow or temperature changes can place stress on existing structures and facilities. Increased temperatures require more cooling indoors, which can put a strain on the power grid. Sudden, heavy rainfall can cause flooding, closing highways and major business areas.
Nearly 40% of the U.S. population lives in coastal counties, which means millions of people will be affected by sea level rise. Coastal infrastructure such as roads, bridges, waterworks and more are at risk. Sea level rise can also lead to coastal erosion and high tide flooding. By 2100, some communities are projected to likely be at or below sea level and face decisions about managed retreat and climate adaptation.
Many communities are not yet prepared to face climate-related threats. Even within communities, some groups are more vulnerable to these threats than others. Going forward, it is important that communities invest in resilient infrastructure that can withstand future climate threats. Scientists examine the current and future impacts of climate change on communities and can offer recommendations for best practices. Resilience education is critically important for urban planners, emergency managers, educators, communicators, and all other community members to prepare for climate change.
Sea Grant in North Carolina has partnered with state and local groups to evaluate strategies to address inland problems
