Climate Change ConceptsClimate Change Concepts

Climate change is a long-term alteration Climate change is a long-term alteration to characteristic weather conditions to characteristic weather conditions

The most recent warming period The most recent warming period occurred 5,000 to 9,000 years ago during the occurred 5,000 to 9,000 years ago during the Holocene Epoch as Pleistocene glaciations ended.Holocene Epoch as Pleistocene glaciations ended.

Greenhouse gases Greenhouse gases create a "greenhouse effect," create a "greenhouse effect," warming the planet much as a warming the planet much as a greenhouse traps heat from greenhouse traps heat from the sun the sun

Topics and resources related to the interaction Topics and resources related to the interaction between climate and biological systems between climate and biological systems Topics and resources related to the interaction Topics and resources related to the interaction between climate and biological systems between climate and biological systems

Climate Change ImpactsClimate Change ImpactsClimate Change ImpactsClimate Change Impacts

Changes in Plant and Animal Changes in Plant and Animal Distributions and Natural CyclesDistributions and Natural Cycles

Seasonal migrations and patterns Seasonal migrations and patterns are impacted by temperature changes are impacted by temperature changes

Invasive species expand their range Invasive species expand their range

as winters become milderas winters become milder

Rising temperatures Rising temperatures change species change species communities and diversitycommunities and diversity

Wetlands and habitat Wetlands and habitat for aquatic organisms decreases for aquatic organisms decreases during periods of prolonged droughtduring periods of prolonged drought

Changes in Pests and Pathogens Changes in Pests and Pathogens

More insect pests More insect pests survive shorter, milder winters survive shorter, milder winters

Warmer climates Warmer climates create favorable conditions for create favorable conditions for insects and human diseases carried by insectsinsects and human diseases carried by insects

Greater numbers of insects Greater numbers of insects damage crops and damage crops and spread disease spread disease

Changes in Particularly Changes in Particularly Sensitive Ecosystems Sensitive Ecosystems

Higher air temperaturesHigher air temperatures result in more ground- result in more ground-level ozone formation, damaging sensitive level ozone formation, damaging sensitive plant communitiesplant communities

High-altitude ecosystems High-altitude ecosystems become warmer, causing extinction of rare speciesbecome warmer, causing extinction of rare species

Trout habitat is lost Trout habitat is lost due to rising stream temperatures due to rising stream temperatures

Changes to Ecosystem Services Changes to Ecosystem Services

Prolonged drought Prolonged drought increases water quality increases water quality stresses stresses

Changes to the water cycle Changes to the water cycle brew intense stormsbrew intense storms

Wildfires are more frequentWildfires are more frequent during during prolonged periods of droughtprolonged periods of drought

Forest fires burn more intensely Forest fires burn more intensely as evaporation as evaporation increases and forests dryincreases and forests dry

Forage quality is altered Forage quality is altered as plant communities as plant communities change under elevated carbon dioxide levelschange under elevated carbon dioxide levels

Climate Change ImpactsClimate Change Impacts• The potential impacts of

climate change are diverse

• Some climate impacts are already apparent

• Other impacts are predicted to occur as Earth's climate continues to change