{"id":733,"date":"2021-09-16T19:30:37","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T19:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/physicalgeology\/chapter\/19-3-implications-of-climate-change-physical-geology-2nd-edition\/"},"modified":"2021-09-16T19:43:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T19:43:19","slug":"19-3-implications-of-climate-change-physical-geology-2nd-edition","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/physicalgeology\/chapter\/19-3-implications-of-climate-change-physical-geology-2nd-edition\/","title":{"raw":"19.3 Implications of Climate Change -- Physical Geology – 2nd Edition","rendered":"19.3 Implications of Climate Change — Physical Geology – 2nd Edition"},"content":{"raw":"\n\n
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Figure 19.3.6 Monthly precipitation in Pentiction and ENSO index from 1950 to 2005.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Figure 19.3.6 shows the monthly precipitation data for Penticton, BC from 1950 to 2005 (solid line) along with the ENSO (El Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation) index values (dotted line). High ENSO index values correspond to strong El Ni\u00f1o events, such as 1983 and 1998. Describe the relationship between ENSO and precipitation in B.C.\u2019s southern interior.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not necessarily a consistent relationship.<\/p>\n

See Appendix 3 for Exercise 19.4 answers.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Figure 19.3.7 Mountain pine beetle damage in Manning Park, British Columbia.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

The geographical ranges of diseases and pests, especially those caused or transmitted by insects, have been shown to extend toward temperate regions because of climate change. West Nile virus and Lyme disease are two examples that already directly affect Canadians, while dengue fever could be an issue in the future. Canadians are also indirectly affected by the increase in populations of pests such as the mountain pine beetle (Figure 19.3.7).<\/a><\/p>\n

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Figure 19.3.8 Numbers of various types of disasters between 1971 and 2010. [Image Description]<\/a><\/div>\n <\/div>\n

A summary of the impacts of climate change on natural disasters is given in Figure 19.3.8. The major types of disasters related to climate are floods and storms, but the health implications of extreme temperatures are also becoming a great concern. In the decade 1971 to 1980, extreme temperatures were the fifth most common natural disasters; by 2001 to 2010, they were the third most common.<\/p>\n

For several days in both June and July of 2019, many parts of Europe experienced massive heat waves with all-time national record temperatures set in several countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and United Kingdom) (Figure 19.3.9). At the time of writing (August 2019) the death toll from these events is not known. A similar event in Russia in 2010 is estimated to have resulted in over 55,000 deaths.<\/p>\n

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Figure 19.3.9 Maximum temperatures across Europe on July 25th 2019<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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If you look back to Figure 19.2.3 and the related text, you can easily see what aspects of our way of life are the most responsible for climate change. Think about how you could make changes to your own lifestyle to reduce your impact on the climate. It may depend on where you live, and the degree to which fossil fuels are used to generate the electricity that you use, but it\u2019s most likely to include how, how far, how fast, and how frequently you move around.<\/p>\n

If you hold the opinion that there isn\u2019t much point in making changes to your lifestyle because others won\u2019t or because your contribution is only a tiny fraction of the problem, bear in mind that all of us have the opportunity to set an example that others can follow. And remember the words of the American anthropologist Margaret Mead:<\/p>\n

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\n Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.<\/em>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Image Descriptions<\/h3>\n
Figure 19.3.5 image description: The percent change in precipitation by city in British Columbia from 1945 to 2005<\/a><\/caption>
Negative 12% to 0%<\/th> 0% to 12%<\/th> 12% to 24%<\/th> 24% to 36%<\/th> 26% to 48%<\/th> Greater than 48%<\/th> <\/tr> <\/thead>
  • Barkerville<\/li>
  • Chilliwack<\/li>
  • Comox<\/li>
  • Fort Nelson<\/li>
  • Golden<\/li>
  • Prince George<\/li>
  • Qustsino<\/li>
  • Smithers<\/li>
  • Terrace<\/li>
  • Victoria Gonzales<\/li><\/ul> <\/td>
  • Abbotsform<\/li>
  • Agassiz<\/li>
  • Estevan Point<\/li>
  • Kaslo<\/li>
  • Steveston<\/li><\/ul> <\/td>
  • Fort St. James<\/li>
  • Fort St. John<\/li>
  • Bella Coola<\/li><\/ul> <\/td>
  • Fernie<\/li>
  • Penticton<\/li>
  • Vavenby<\/li><\/ul> <\/td>
  • Dease Lake<\/li>
  • Kamloops<\/li>
  • Masset<\/li>
  • Williams Lake<\/li><\/ul> <\/td>