Effects of Ocean Warming

The Keeling Curve

Effects of Climate Change thus far…

• Average global temperature increase of about 1°F (0.6°C) over the past century

• Average ocean temperature increase in that time of 0.18°F (0.1°C). – Warming has occurred from the surface to a

depth of 2,300 ft (700 meters)– Majority of most marine life lives here

http://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20060925/

What Could Happen…

• Sea Level Rise– Loss of coastline

• Loss of Species– Tourism implications

• Changes to weather patterns– Stronger and more frequent storms

What will cause sea level rise?

Land ice

Floating Ice

Thermal Expansion

Loss of Ice

Changes in Sea Level Thus Far…

• Sea level has been rising about 1-2mm per year since the last Ice Age– Result of a reduction in volume of ice caps, ice fields,

mountain glaciers, and thermal expansion

• If greenhouse gas emissions continue:– Iceland’s glaciers will decrease by 40% by 2100 and

virtually disappear by 2200

• Complete melting of these ice sheets could lead to a sea-level rise of about 80 m

• Melting of all other glaciers could lead to a sea-level rise of only 0.5m

What Does This Mean?

• Melting of the current Greenland ice sheet would result in a sea-level rise of about 6.5 meters

• Melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet would result in a sea-level rise of about 8 meters

• A sea-level rise of 10 meters would flood about 25 percent of the U.S. population,– Most major impact to the people and infrastructures in

the Gulf and East Coast States

Loss of Species - Corals• “Rainforest of the seas”• Protect shores of wave impacts• Food and medicine for humans• Economic benefits in tourism• Home to 25% of fish species• Tolerate narrow temperature range and bleach themselves when too warm• 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been effectively destroyed and show no immediate prospects of recovery

Loss of Species – Polar Bear

• Use sea ice for hunting• Forced to swim greater distances

– Leads to drowning– Starvation

• Forced into towns on land to make dens and find food

• Currently listed as threatened• By 2050, population expected

to drop by two-thirds

Loss of Species – Sea Turtles

• 6 species already endangered

• Females lay eggs on beach– Loss of beaches due to rising sea level

• Temperatures too hot for eggs– Lower numbers of hatchlings

• More female turtles being born– Upsets the sex ratio

Changes in Weather Patterns - Hurricanes

• Stronger and more frequent tropical storms and cyclones– More water vapor formed from warmer temps

allows small storms to escalate quickly– Number of category 4 and 5 storms has

increased over past 35 years– Katrina (2005) was costliest

hurricane in US history

($125 billion)

Changes in Weather Patterns – Droughts and Wildfires

• Greater evaporation from warmer water temperatures could escalate drought conditions– National drought of 1999-2002 was one of the

most extensive droughts in 40 years– 2006 wildfire season set records:

• 100,000 fires reported• 10 mil acres burned

– Firefighting expenditures of $1 billion/year

And much more…

• Changes of species migration

• Invasive species

• Increased disease outbreaks

• Loss of biodiversity