Climate Change Impact

This lab uses a Google Earth dataset provided by the "Met Office", the British equivalent of our National Weather Service. This dataset describes temperature changes and impacts of climate change under the A1B scenario, which is modeled to produce a 4 °C rise in global temperature by the end of the century. Begin by downloading the google-earth-4degrees.kmz file from Canvas.

This KMZ file points to other resources on the web, including videos and a map of temperature change. Once the KMZ file is opened in Google Earth, read the introductory text and watch the video. Next, dismiss the introduction by clicking in the upper right corner of the description box (the "X" may not show up because of the black background), or by unchecking "Map Introduction" in the "Places" window on the left.

For now, let's turn off the icons and ovals that show climate change impacts, and just look at the map of temperature change under the A1B scenario. Turn off the radio button next to "More Information" in the Places window to show just the temperature change map.

Examine temperature changes around the globe. Answer the following questions:

1. Where on Earth does temperature change the most? What is the relative change in temperature (warmer or cooler)? (2 Points) 

2. Based on the map, state relatively how much of a change in temperature for northern Utah is expected (a lot, small change, etc.). (2 Points)

Next, turn on the radio button next to "Climate Change Impacts". Projected impacts of climate change for the A1B scenario with 4 °C warming are described in areas such as temperature, crops, forest fire, water availability, sea level rise, drought, and permafrost. Circles or ovals indicate the region of an impact, and an icon adjacent to the circle or oval indicates the type of impact. Navigate the globe and click on the icons for the following impacts: Extreme Temperature, Crops, Water Availability, and Forest Fire (only the impacts, not the background information!). Read the text in the popup windows and watch the videos describing the impacts (best viewed in YouTube, you may need to watch these on a lab computer), and then answer the following questions:

Note: For the following questions, some synthesis of the text and video is expected. Simply cutting and pasting text from the kml is not acceptable for full credit.

3. After reading about extreme temperatures for Eastern North America, Europe, and Eastern China, briefly describe the impacts of climate change on temperature in these regions.

4. Briefly describe the impacts of climate change on crops. Based on the information presented, where will these impacts be most severe?

5. Briefly describe the impacts of climate change on water availability. Based on the information presented, where will these impacts be most severe?

6. Briefly describe the impacts of climate change on forest fire. Based on the information presented, where will these impacts be most severe?

Attachment:- Intro and Impacts.rar