Reflect Back On The Lessons From This Session In Un
Reflect Back On The Lessons From This Session In Un
Reflect back on the lessons from this session. In Unit 1, you looked at ecosystems and considered what would happen if even one key component were impacted by a disturbance. In Unit 2, you compared living conditions, the spread of disease, and the availability of food in developing and developed countries. In Unit 3, you looked at the contribution of burning fossil fuels to greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. Then in Unit 4, you considered the issues surrounding air pollution, among others. All of these topics relate to the disturbances and predicted impacts of global climate change. For this discussion, you will consider the effect of a changing climate on one of the topics listed below. Use this article as your starting point: Effects of Global Warming. Review materials such as the National Climate Assessment and The Consequences of Climate Change to enhance your understanding of ecosystems, disturbance, and recovery. Choose ONE aspect of the environment impacted by climate change (from A, B, or C), and answer the two questions associated with your chosen topic:
A. Species extinction and habitat loss
- Explain how climate change impacts vulnerable species or results in the spread of invasive species.
- Explain how these changes will affect food webs.
B. Human health, agriculture, and infrastructure
- Explain how changing weather patterns affect food production, the spread of disease, or damage to homes, transportation, or the electric grid.
- Discuss increases in pollution as a result of global warming.
C. Water, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels
- Explain how global warming is affecting ice caps and the impact to further warming.
- Discuss the rise of sea level and saltwater intrusion and how eroding coastlines affect human activities and ecosystems.
Deliverable Length: 200 words (minimum)
Paper For Above instruction
Global climate change has profound effects on water systems, particularly in relation to melting ice caps and rising sea levels, which significantly impact both ecosystems and human societies. The melting of ice caps, especially Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, is accelerating due to rising global temperatures (National Geographic, 2019). This process not only contributes to further warming because of the loss of reflective ice surfaces but also releases freshwater into the oceans, disrupting existing ocean currents and thermal balances (NASA, 2018). As ice melts, the thermal regulation of the planet diminishes, resulting in a feedback loop where warming accelerates. The evidence suggests that the continued melting will lead to substantial sea level rise, threatening low-lying coastal regions worldwide (GlobalChange.gov, n.d.). Rising sea levels cause saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems, leading to the contamination of drinking water supplies, agricultural lands, and natural habitats (Hutchinson, n.d.). Coastline erosion accelerates, resulting in loss of land, destruction of habitats, and displacement of human populations (Ocean Today, n.d.). Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and marshlands are particularly vulnerable, and their loss reduces biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Human communities face increased flooding, damage to infrastructure, and economic costs, emphasizing the urgent need for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
References
- GlobalChange.gov. (n.d.). Ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Retrieved from https://www.globalchange.gov
- Hutchinson, B. (n.d.). 7 ways to reduce ocean plastic pollution today. Retrieved from https://www.oceantoday.com
- NASA. (2018). The consequences of climate change. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov
- National Geographic. (2019). Effects of global warming. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com
- Ocean Today. (n.d.). Trash talk: What is the great Pacific garbage patch? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.oceantoday.com