| Climate is defined as the average temperature in | | | | home to some of Canada's most rare and |
| an area over a long period of time. Climate | | | | endangered species. Climate change is projected |
| change refers to when a climate is getting | | | | to lower water levels and increase temperatures, |
| warmer or colder. In this case of climate change | | | | factors that could jeopardize the survival of plants |
| or "global warming" the temperature is changing | | | | and animals who thrive in these areas. |
| for the worse. The conflict is that if the climate | | | | Fresh water fish and aquatic life could also be lost |
| keeps getting warmer, we may be thrust into an | | | | in parts of Canada. High temperatures can cause |
| ice age, or have other serious damage done to | | | | water levels to lower in inland lakes and streams |
| our planet. "Global Warming", by the year 2100, | | | | causing fish to shift northward 150 kilometer for |
| could cause devastation such as; drought, floods | | | | every degree increase in temperature. Cold water |
| and typhoons, and increase the incidence of; | | | | species, such as brook trout, may be replaced by |
| malaria, dengue fever and cholera. The | | | | warm water species. In the arctic, reduced sea |
| temperature has been getting steadily warmer, | | | | ice thickness and rise in sea levels may benefit |
| why? | | | | some species which may be able to expand into |
| The main cause of global warming that we know | | | | new areas. Others such as seals may decline due |
| of is called The Green house effect. The suns | | | | to less sea ice for breeding and feeding. The polar |
| rays come into the earth's atmosphere and heat | | | | bear is especially at risk. They could become |
| the earth's surface. Some of this heat goes into | | | | extinct through starvation if the ocean becomes |
| the ground but most of it is reflected by ice and | | | | seasonally ice free for long periods of time. Global |
| water back into space. A natural balance of green | | | | warming is melting the polar ice caps robbing polar |
| house gases are in the air. These gases absorb | | | | bears of the ice flows they need to hunt prey. As |
| heat, trapping it in the atmosphere, which in turn | | | | the sea ice melts polar bears are forced ashore |
| keeps our planet warm. Green house gases are | | | | to spend their summers fasting. The arctic sea is |
| necessary for life on this planet, but in the last | | | | shrinking by up to 5% each year. The sea ice has |
| 200 years more and more green house gases | | | | a cooling effect by reflecting light away from the |
| have been added disrupting the balance of gases | | | | earth's surface. As it melts, global warming |
| in the air. The earth is like a green house. If the | | | | advances even more quickly. |
| balance is disturbed the planet becomes to hot or | | | | The melting of ice due to Global warming effects |
| to cold. Too much gas in the air causes too much | | | | more then just animal life. It affects ocean |
| heat being trapped. In this case it is the added | | | | currents, The Gulf stream in particular. The Gulf |
| carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the | | | | Stream is one of the worlds most intensely |
| air that is creating the "Green house effect". | | | | studied currents. Running from the Caribbean all |
| Where do these gases come from? Humans. | | | | the way to Northern Atlantic, the Gulf Stream |
| When we burn fossil fuels for electricity we are | | | | plays an important part of transferring heat and |
| creating a carbon dioxide build up in the | | | | salt to the North. The Gulf Stream is a current of |
| atmosphere. We are releasing more carbon | | | | warm water flowing from the Gulf of Mexico. It is |
| dioxide than our planet can handle. About 33% of | | | | also part of the North Atlantic current. It flows |
| carbon dioxide admissions are from the burning of | | | | along the eastern coast line of North America and |
| gasoline in cars and light trucks. The cars with the | | | | then circles around to the western cost of Europe |
| worst gas mileage are the ones that effect global | | | | and Africa. This current is what keeps our climate |
| warming the most. For example the Dodge | | | | warm. This stream allows us to have a summer |
| Durango will emit one pound of carbon dioxide for | | | | with temperatures above 0 degrees. The last ice |
| every kilometer traveled. Or for each gallon of | | | | age was caused by the Gulf Stream shutting |
| gasoline 19.6 pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted | | | | down. Due to global warming, the polar ice caps |
| into the air. If car manufacturer were to increase | | | | and glaciers in the north Atlantic will melt. This |
| the gasoline mileage by approximately 5 | | | | adds a lot of fresh water to the current, changing |
| kilometers we could save one million barrels of oil | | | | the salinity of the water. Salt water is heavier |
| each day and $25 billion in fuel costs annually. It is | | | | then fresh water. In this way, the current sinks |
| not only cars that are causing the carbon | | | | and flows back along the bottom of the ocean |
| emissions, it is also air planes, buildings, power | | | | toward the tropics. If enough fresh water is |
| plants and of course factories. | | | | added it may stop the flow because the water is |
| We do things that cause Global Warming every | | | | not dense enough to sink. This has happened |
| day, with out even thinking about it. The truth is | | | | before and when it did, Europe was thrust into an |
| we are making more of an impact then we | | | | ice age. |
| realize on Canada's environment. Global warming | | | | In order not to see any of these things happen |
| not only has a huge impact on us but on our | | | | we must make drastic changes in the way we as |
| forests, animal population and our arctic. The | | | | a population live our life. Here are some tips on |
| location and characteristics of animals and plants in | | | | how you can help stop global warming by |
| the natural environment depends a lot on the | | | | changing some of you daily routines; |
| climate. Some are very sensitive to even very | | | | 1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and |
| small changes in that climate. Consequently they | | | | use fluorescent bulbs |
| would be impacted by the intensity of climate | | | | 2. Turn off all electronics when they are not in |
| change and the rate that it occurs. Because the | | | | use, along with cell phone or battery chargers |
| temperature is going to rise in Canada, the range | | | | 3. Choose energy efficient appliances when |
| of existing plants and animals is expected to shift | | | | making new purchases |
| North Animals and plants from the United States | | | | 4. Wait until you have a lot of clothes to wash |
| as well will extend their range Northward into | | | | before using the laundry machine, don't use the |
| Canada. This means a shift in Canadian | | | | washer for one item because it is your favourite |
| ecosystems and their size and composition. During | | | | shirt |
| this shift habitat loss, lack of available food, | | | | 5. Take shorter showers, heating water uses |
| competition from invading species, and change in | | | | energy |
| predator and diseases will occur. For example: The | | | | 6. Close the blinds on a hot day if the sun is |
| tundra area may shrink by a third and be confined | | | | shining. Dress lightly instead of using the air |
| to the Arctic Islands. Some of the spices such as | | | | conditioning, or use a fan |
| the high arctic Perry Caribou may not be able to | | | | 7. Dress warmly inside your house when it is cold |
| extend their range and become extinct as a | | | | instead of turning up the heat |
| result. | | | | 8. Keep air filters on your air conditioning and |
| While warmer temperatures will increase plant | | | | furnace clean |
| growth where current climate is limiting growth, in | | | | 9. Walk short distances instead of using the car |
| dry places warmer climates will increase the | | | | 10. Plant a tree in your back yard |
| amount of wild fires and areas burned in Canada. | | | | By doing all of these things you will help conserve |
| This would in turn challenge plants and animals to | | | | electricity, which in turn conserves carbon dioxide |
| adapt and survive in these areas. Canada's wet | | | | emissions, helping to reduce green house gases |
| lands will also be affected. The wet lands are | | | | and keep our planet global warming free. |