Human activity altering balance

• Artic:

  • Warming twice as fast than global average (artic amplification)
• Artic:

  • Melting permafrost releases CO2 and CH4, leading to further via greenhouse effect
• Artic:

  • Not all scientists agree on artic warming - as carbons + nutrients released, more trees as nutrients encourage vegetation. Also, carbon remain in soil, not go to atmosphere
• Europe:

  • Land temps increasing at higher rate than global average
• Europe:

  • Annual rainfall increased in North Europe, decreased in South Europe. IIntensity and frequency also increased. Wildfires
• Australia:

  • Increased frequency of heatwaves - 2019 hottest and driest year on record
• Australia:

  • Ecosystem - great barrier reef bleached due to increased sea temps, reducing biodiversity
• Amazon Rainforest:

  • Dofrestation of 10,000km^2 / year - carbon storage and biodiversity reduce. CC increased
• Hurricanes in Carribean:

  • Hurricane Maria (2017)
  • Rising sea temps
• Tundra:

  • Trees and shrubs previously unable to grow now can. Animals migrating north
• Tundra:

  • Reduced permafrost and snow coverage
• Tundra:

  • Extentsive melting of sea ice in summer
• Humans disrupting balance:

  • Fossil fuels - combustion of coal, gas and oil for enegy - releases 35b tonnes of CO2 annually
• Humans disrupting balance:

  • Deforestation - 10m hectares of forest lost / year. Contributes to 20% of global carbon emissions (indirectly)
• Humans disrupting balance:

  • Land use changes - agriculture and urbanisation disturb soil carbon storage, releasing carbon into the atmosphere