Effects On Weather/Climate
How have temperatures changed in Las Vegas due to climate change?
Temperatures have increased
How are plants threatened by climate change?
Longer periods of drought reduce water availability and increase wildfire danger; flooding washes away smaller plants.
How do we decrease CO2?
1. Reduce fossil fuel emissions
2. Plant trees
3. Carbon capture
What is the impact on precipitation?
More extreme rain and snow events. More drought for longer periods of time; more intense rainfall causing flash floods; more snow causing flooding/damage when it melts.
How does climate change affect animal survivability?
Habitat loss from deforestation and increasing heat causes population loss and even extinction, in some cases.
How do we increase albedo?
1. Lighter paints and surfaces
2. More permeable roads
3. Green roofs
How has climate change influenced storms?
More intense and unpredictable storms.
How does climate change contribute to habitat loss?
1. Coral reef die off due to increased ocean acidity as more CO2 is absorbed by the oceans.
2. Forest fires burn hotter and more intense and new plants/seeds cannot survive.
3. Drought and heat in the Amazon prevents reforestation.
How do we eliminate plastics?
1. Reuse, recycle; making plastic bricks
2. Don't make more of them, alternative wrapping
3. Create bio organisms to eat the plastic
How has climate change influenced heat waves?
How does the spread of disease change due to climate change?
Ticks and mosquitoes are able to survive in areas that once were too cold, so they are able to spread more diseases to more people in larger areas for more months of the year.
How do we counteract habitat loss?
1. National parks and preserves
2. Reduce deforestation
3. Plant native plants and flowers for pollinators
4. Reduce emissions of CO2
What are some of the consequences of earlier spring and summer?
Longer and earlier allergy seasons as vegetation blooms and dries out earlier. Temperatures increase and soils dry out so that by late summer, the stage is set for forest fires to grow even larger.
How does changing climate affect the food chain?
Domino effect in the food chain. Plants die. Small animals that eat the plants die. Larger animals that eat the smaller animals die.
What are three alternatives to fossil fuels?
1. Nuclear energy
2. Wind energy
3. Hydroelectricity (dams)
4. Solar energy
5. Hydrogen energy
6. Bioenergy