Ground ZeroGround Zero

The AlaskansThe Alaskans

The RussiansThe Russians

What is Climate Change?What is Climate Change?

Climate change is an Climate change is an increase in increase in temperatures world temperatures world wide.wide.

It affects plants and It affects plants and all animals, even all animals, even humans.humans. N

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What is Climate Change?What is Climate Change?

It is like having an extra-thick blanket on in the It is like having an extra-thick blanket on in the summer instead of a light one. summer instead of a light one.

What are Greenhouse Gases?What are Greenhouse Gases?

Greenhouse gases trap Greenhouse gases trap heat and make earth heat and make earth warmer.warmer.

In the past 100 years In the past 100 years there has been a there has been a significant increase in the significant increase in the amount of greenhouse amount of greenhouse gases. gases.

Greenhouse gases come Greenhouse gases come from many places, from many places, especially cars, factories, especially cars, factories, and farmsand farms

Who Feels the Effects?Who Feels the Effects? Animals can lose their Animals can lose their

homes and their food homes and their food sources.sources.

Plants can no longer live Plants can no longer live in their original habitats. in their original habitats.

Native people lose the Native people lose the ability to do traditional ability to do traditional activities. activities.

Coastal villages must Coastal villages must move further inland.move further inland.

People who live in People who live in northern climates must northern climates must adapt to a new way of adapt to a new way of life. life.

How are Polar Bears Affected?How are Polar Bears Affected?

The sea-ice that polar The sea-ice that polar bears live on in the artic bears live on in the artic is melting and will be is melting and will be completely gone by 2050.completely gone by 2050.

Already, polar bears must Already, polar bears must swim long distances to swim long distances to find food and shelter. find food and shelter.

In years past 66% of In years past 66% of baby polar bears survived baby polar bears survived to adulthood, now only to adulthood, now only 24% of baby polar bears 24% of baby polar bears survive to adulthood. survive to adulthood.

How are Caribou Affected? How are Caribou Affected?

Because we now Because we now have freezing rain have freezing rain instead of snow, instead of snow, Caribou can no longer Caribou can no longer reach the plants they reach the plants they normally eat.normally eat.

Instead of the normal Instead of the normal lichen, there have lichen, there have been reports of been reports of Caribou in Russia Caribou in Russia eating mushrooms.eating mushrooms.

What are Invasive Species?What are Invasive Species?

As temperatures As temperatures increase fish, plants and increase fish, plants and insects that normally live insects that normally live in cold climates move in cold climates move north. north.

Recently, tropical fish Recently, tropical fish have been seen in have been seen in Alaskan waters. Alaskan waters.

Some invasive species Some invasive species have negative effects on have negative effects on Alaskan forests.Alaskan forests.

© Ralph Berry OSU

How are Plants Affected by How are Plants Affected by Climate Change?Climate Change?

Invasive insects destroy Invasive insects destroy trees and plants.trees and plants.

Spruce trees that have Spruce trees that have been eaten by the Spruce been eaten by the Spruce Bark Beetle are more Bark Beetle are more likely to catch on fire. likely to catch on fire.

An invasive species An invasive species called Purple Loosestrife called Purple Loosestrife have taken the place of have taken the place of local plants and currently local plants and currently have no natural predators have no natural predators in our area.in our area.

How are Native Groups in Alaska How are Native Groups in Alaska and Russia Affected?and Russia Affected?

Because of erosion, Because of erosion, coastal villages are coastal villages are being forced to move being forced to move or create man-made or create man-made barriers.barriers.

Animals that natives Animals that natives depend on for survival depend on for survival are leaving the area, are leaving the area, forcing natives to find forcing natives to find other ways to live.other ways to live.

What can we do to help?What can we do to help?

Every little bit helps!Every little bit helps! Ride your bikeRide your bike Carpool with your friends.Carpool with your friends. Talk to your parents Talk to your parents

about climate changeabout climate change Turn the water off when Turn the water off when

you are brushing your you are brushing your teeth.teeth.

Turn off the lights when Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and you leave a room, and the TV when you are the TV when you are done watching it. done watching it.

It’s Easy Being Green!It’s Easy Being Green!