GLOBAL WARMING- 9 GLOBAL WARMING- 9 PICTURESPICTURES

David Biello David Biello

Scientific American, Nov.2007Scientific American, Nov.2007

(Adapted by Prof. T. K. G. (Adapted by Prof. T. K. G. Namboodhiri)Namboodhiri)

ANTARCTIC ICE MELTANTARCTIC ICE MELT

Some of the massive Some of the massive glaciers in Antarctica, glaciers in Antarctica, such as Marr Ice such as Marr Ice Piedmont pictured here, Piedmont pictured here, are thinning and racing are thinning and racing to the sea at a faster to the sea at a faster rate. Some ice shelves, rate. Some ice shelves, such as Larsen B, have such as Larsen B, have disintegrated altogether. disintegrated altogether. © 2007 BY GARY © 2007 BY GARY BRAASCHBRAASCH

Portage GlacierPortage Glacier The effects of global warming can The effects of global warming can

be seen in retreating glaciers.be seen in retreating glaciers. These images, captured largely by These images, captured largely by

photographer Gary Braasch and photographer Gary Braasch and published in his book published in his book Earth Under Fire: How Global WEarth Under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the Worldarming Is Changing the World (University of California Press, (University of California Press, 2007) show that the Portage 2007) show that the Portage glacier in Anchorage, Alaska has glacier in Anchorage, Alaska has retreated over 5 kilometers during retreated over 5 kilometers during 1914-2005.1914-2005.

1914

2005

RISING SEA LEVELSRISING SEA LEVELS

A one-meter (3.2-foot) A one-meter (3.2-foot) rise in sea level, which rise in sea level, which could result from the could result from the melting of a fraction of melting of a fraction of Greenland's glaciers or Greenland's glaciers or Antarctica's ice sheets, Antarctica's ice sheets, would flood 10 percent would flood 10 percent of Bangladesh, like the of Bangladesh, like the Bhola Island pictured Bhola Island pictured here .here .

RISING SEA LEVELSRISING SEA LEVELS

The children of Tuvalu, an The children of Tuvalu, an island nation in the South island nation in the South Pacific just 16.5 feet (five Pacific just 16.5 feet (five meters) above sea level at meters) above sea level at its highest point, wait out an its highest point, wait out an inundating high tide, more inundating high tide, more common with each passing common with each passing year, on their "kaupapa," an year, on their "kaupapa," an outdoor sleeping platform.outdoor sleeping platform.

HEAT WAVESHEAT WAVES

Extreme weather events, Extreme weather events, such as the heat wave in such as the heat wave in Chicago in 1995 that Chicago in 1995 that killed 700 people or the killed 700 people or the hot spell in Europe that hot spell in Europe that killed 20,000 in 2003, killed 20,000 in 2003, will become more will become more common as the globe common as the globe warms.warms.

RETREATING MOUNTAIN RETREATING MOUNTAIN ICEICE

Melting ice from Melting ice from mountains like Mount mountains like Mount Schrankogel in Austria Schrankogel in Austria causes plants and causes plants and animals to inhabit animals to inhabit higher ranges of the higher ranges of the mountain.mountain.

INCREASING DRAUGHTSINCREASING DRAUGHTS

The picture shows a The picture shows a drought affected drought affected Chinese pond (2005).Chinese pond (2005).

Droughts will also Droughts will also become more common become more common in some areas in some areas

PERIL FOR PENGUINSPERIL FOR PENGUINS

Islets off of Antarctica's Islets off of Antarctica's Anvers Island have lost Anvers Island have lost half of their nesting half of their nesting pairs of Adélie penguins pairs of Adélie penguins ((Pygoscelis adeliaePygoscelis adeliae) ) since the 1970s. This since the 1970s. This rookery that has existed rookery that has existed for at least 600 years for at least 600 years must move because of must move because of rising temperatures and rising temperatures and changing ice cover.changing ice cover.

WINDS OF CHANGEWINDS OF CHANGE

Renewable sources of Renewable sources of energy, such as the wind energy, such as the wind farm pictured here in farm pictured here in Rockville, Ill., offer Rockville, Ill., offer hope of alternatives to hope of alternatives to the fossil fuels, such as the fossil fuels, such as coal, that emit the coal, that emit the greenhouse gases, greenhouse gases, which cause climate which cause climate change when burned.change when burned.