Plan B 3.0 Plan B 3.0 By Lester BrownBy Lester Brown

Chapter 4: Rising Temperatures and Chapter 4: Rising Temperatures and Rising SeasRising Seas

Alex Levensalor, Jimmy Nguyen, Josh HarrisAlex Levensalor, Jimmy Nguyen, Josh Harris

Effects of Increased Carbon Effects of Increased Carbon DioxideDioxide

Sir David King has linked carbon dioxide levels Sir David King has linked carbon dioxide levels and temperature over 740,000 yearsand temperature over 740,000 years

The amount of CO2 has always remained The amount of CO2 has always remained between 200 ppm and 270 ppm until the between 200 ppm and 270 ppm until the industrial revolution when it had a sever jump industrial revolution when it had a sever jump (2004 – 377 ppm)(2004 – 377 ppm)

Rising temperature is directly related to harvest Rising temperature is directly related to harvest (food supply)(food supply)

700 residents died in a 1995 Chicago heat wave 700 residents died in a 1995 Chicago heat wave & over 1,00 during an Indian heat wave& over 1,00 during an Indian heat wave

A major effect of rising temperatures has been A major effect of rising temperatures has been ice melting causing sea levels to rise.ice melting causing sea levels to rise.

Temperature IncreaseTemperature Increase

Places like Tuvalu, Maldives, London, Places like Tuvalu, Maldives, London, & New York feel consequences of & New York feel consequences of rising sea levelsrising sea levels

Insurance rates of costal locations Insurance rates of costal locations dramatically risingdramatically rising

The 22 warmest years ever have The 22 warmest years ever have occurred since 1980occurred since 1980

Avg. temp has increased by 1.4 Avg. temp has increased by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1970degrees Fahrenheit since 1970

If this continues, the average If this continues, the average temperature could rise by more than temperature could rise by more than

10°F10°F

Effects on the Food SupplyEffects on the Food Supply The increase in temperatures will be more extreme over The increase in temperatures will be more extreme over

land than waterland than water This causes a diminishing crop yields and melting of snow & This causes a diminishing crop yields and melting of snow &

ice on mountainsice on mountains Land experiencing very dry conditions has increased from Land experiencing very dry conditions has increased from

15% to 30%15% to 30% Huge effects on # of wildfires and river fishHuge effects on # of wildfires and river fish Minor changes in temperature will have large effects on Minor changes in temperature will have large effects on

crops historical to certain areascrops historical to certain areas Massive effects on pollination period and dehydration of Massive effects on pollination period and dehydration of

cropscrops In India, a 2-degree celcius rise would lead to a decline in In India, a 2-degree celcius rise would lead to a decline in

irrigated wheat yields from 37-58%irrigated wheat yields from 37-58% India is going to add 500 million people by mid-centuryIndia is going to add 500 million people by mid-century

Snow/Ice MassesSnow/Ice Masses

Most of nature’s fresh water comes from snow/ice Most of nature’s fresh water comes from snow/ice masses in mountains (glaciers, etc.)masses in mountains (glaciers, etc.)

These masses are the leading source for irrigation These masses are the leading source for irrigation and drinking water in some areasand drinking water in some areas

Global climate models project 70% reduction in Global climate models project 70% reduction in snow pack for western United States by mid snow pack for western United States by mid century (that’s the Rocky Mountains)century (that’s the Rocky Mountains)

With reduces irrigation flows, farm income in the With reduces irrigation flows, farm income in the western valleys would lost $163 million with a rise western valleys would lost $163 million with a rise of 4-degrees Celciusof 4-degrees Celcius

Snow/Ice MassesSnow/Ice Masses

Every major river in all of Asia originates Every major river in all of Asia originates from the Himalayasfrom the Himalayas

The shrinking of Himalayan glaciers could The shrinking of Himalayan glaciers could affect water supply for hundreds of affect water supply for hundreds of millions of peoplemillions of people

Two-thirds of China’s glaciers could be Two-thirds of China’s glaciers could be gone by 2060gone by 2060

Himalayas contain the largest ice fields Himalayas contain the largest ice fields outside of the poles, and melting could outside of the poles, and melting could dramatically affect sea levelsdramatically affect sea levels

Melting GlaciersMelting Glaciers European Alps melting can affect tourism to the European Alps melting can affect tourism to the

glacial valleys, a crucial part of the Swiss glacial valleys, a crucial part of the Swiss economyeconomy

Kilamanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, lost 33% of Kilamanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain, lost 33% of ice fields from 1989-2000ice fields from 1989-2000

Kilamanjaro’s famous snowcap is now gone, 15 Kilamanjaro’s famous snowcap is now gone, 15 years before expectedyears before expected

Other mountain ranges are also affected: Andes, Other mountain ranges are also affected: Andes, Swiss Alps, French/Spanish PyraneesSwiss Alps, French/Spanish Pyranees

Bernard Francou, research director for French Bernard Francou, research director for French Institute of Research and Development, thinks Institute of Research and Development, thinks 80% of South American glaciers will be gone 80% of South American glaciers will be gone within 15 yearswithin 15 years

Rising Sea LevelsRising Sea Levels

The Artic is warming twice as fast as The Artic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planetthe rest of the planet

Not just polar bears, but ice-living Not just polar bears, but ice-living seals are threatened, a major food seals are threatened, a major food source for Inuitssource for Inuits

As the tundra thaws, buildings, As the tundra thaws, buildings, pipelines, roads, and other pipelines, roads, and other infrastructure are damaged. infrastructure are damaged.

Rising Sea LevelsRising Sea Levels

If Greenland Ice Sheet would melt, sea If Greenland Ice Sheet would melt, sea level would rise 7 meters (23 feet)level would rise 7 meters (23 feet)

Not only would this affect sea level, but it Not only would this affect sea level, but it might disrupt ocean circulation.might disrupt ocean circulation.

Dumping fresh water from Greenland Dumping fresh water from Greenland would disrupt the Conveyor Belt, would disrupt the Conveyor Belt, especially the Gulf Stream flowespecially the Gulf Stream flow

Northeastern US and Canada would get Northeastern US and Canada would get colder, but Europe would see a sharp colder, but Europe would see a sharp temperature drop. temperature drop.

Ocean Conveyor BeltOcean Conveyor Belt

Rising Sea LevelsRising Sea Levels

• A 2 kilometer thick ice shelf covers a A 2 kilometer thick ice shelf covers a continent about the size of Australia contains continent about the size of Australia contains about 70% of the worlds fresh water about 70% of the worlds fresh water

• A rise in temperature causes the ice sheet to A rise in temperature causes the ice sheet to melt making the standing water on top of the melt making the standing water on top of the ice break and crack the iceice break and crack the ice

Accelerating ice temperate has been rising Accelerating ice temperate has been rising since 1980since 1980

• A simple 1 meter rise in sea level would wipe A simple 1 meter rise in sea level would wipe out more than a third of shanghai, the city out more than a third of shanghai, the city would be completely under waterwould be completely under water

Destructive StormsDestructive Storms

In 2000, the World Bank published a map showing In 2000, the World Bank published a map showing a 1 meter rise in sea level would wipe out half of a 1 meter rise in sea level would wipe out half of Bangladesh rice fieldsBangladesh rice fields

• A rise in water would cause 36,000 square A rise in water would cause 36,000 square kilometers of land in the mid Atlantic and kilometers of land in the mid Atlantic and Mississippi gulf states to be underwaterMississippi gulf states to be underwater

• Fall of 1998, hurricane Mitch occurred which is Fall of 1998, hurricane Mitch occurred which is one of the most powerful storms out of the one of the most powerful storms out of the AtlanticAtlantic

• This storm left over 11,000 people deadThis storm left over 11,000 people dead• The biggest perk of subsidizing fuel would be the The biggest perk of subsidizing fuel would be the

tax deductionstax deductions

More destructive StormsMore destructive Storms

• In 2004, Japan experienced a record 10 typhoons In 2004, Japan experienced a record 10 typhoons that racked up over 10 billion dollars worth of that racked up over 10 billion dollars worth of losseslosses

• In 1983 Hurricane Alicia struck the US causing 1.5 In 1983 Hurricane Alicia struck the US causing 1.5 billion dollars worth of lossesbillion dollars worth of losses

• In 1992 Hurricane Andrew caused 30 billon In 1992 Hurricane Andrew caused 30 billon dollars worth of damages, while destroying 60 dollars worth of damages, while destroying 60 thousands homesthousands homes

• A 2 kilometer thick ice shelf covers a continent A 2 kilometer thick ice shelf covers a continent about the size of Australia contains about 70% of about the size of Australia contains about 70% of the worlds fresh water the worlds fresh water

• One scientist says that by 2065 storm damage One scientist says that by 2065 storm damage will surpass the gross world productwill surpass the gross world product