effects of climate change

• How are warmer temperatures affecting glaciers and ice sheets?

  Warmer temperatures are causing glaciers to shrink and ice sheets to melt, returning water stored on land to the oceans and causing sea levels to rise.
• What environmental impact does shrinking sea ice have?

  Shrinking sea ice leads to the loss of polar habitats.
• How does rising sea level affect coastal areas?

  Rising sea levels cause low-lying and coastal areas, like Miami, to flood more regularly. Coastal erosion will increase, submerging some coastal areas and causing habitat loss.
• How are coral reefs affected by rising temperatures?

  Rising sea temperatures cause coral bleaching, where corals expel algae, leading to starvation and death of coral reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef.
• How is climate change affecting precipitation patterns?

  Global warming is altering precipitation patterns, affecting how much rain different areas receive.
• What changes might occur to species distribution due to climate change?

  Some species may move to higher latitudes, and species adapted to damaged or destroyed habitats may face extinction.
• Give an example of a species affected by habitat changes due to climate change.

  The decline of giant pandas is partly due to limited bamboo growth, which is crucial for their diet.
• How is climate change affecting human deaths related to temperature?

  Deaths due to heat have increased, while deaths due to cold have decreased.
• What impact does climate change have on habitable areas?

  Some areas could become too hot and dry or frequently flood, making them difficult or impossible to inhabit, potentially causing migration and overcrowding.
• How is water availability being affected by climate change?

  Changing rainfall patterns are causing water supply issues, leading to political tensions, especially where rivers cross borders.
• How is climate change affecting farming globally?

  Some crops, like Argentina's wheat, have suffered from smaller yields due to warming, while crops in high-latitude countries benefit from warmer conditions.
• What could be the impact of lower crop yields due to climate change?

  Lower crop yields could increase malnutrition, ill health, and death from starvation, especially in lower latitudes.
• How is extreme weather linked to climate change affecting economies?

  More extreme weather means increased spending on predicting events, reducing their impacts, and rebuilding afterward.