10.

1
We know that Earths climate is changing. Global
temperatures are increasing, sea levels are rising, severe
weather events are happening more often, and ecosystems
are changing. We also know that climate change today is
caused by human actions. How will climate change affect
the natural world around us now and in the future?

Impacts on Earths Ice Cover

Most of Earths ice is in two forms. It occurs as land ice in the form
of mountain glaciers, and ice sheets that cover much of Greenland
and Antarctica. It also occurs as sea ice, or frozen sea water.
permafrost: a thick layer
of soil that remains frozen
all year long

dig deeper

Career Link
Construction workers in
the Arctic are concerned
with building safely
on permafrost. These
workers also help preserve
buildings that have already
been built on permafrost.
To learn more about being
a construction worker in
the Arctic,

The Arctic is home to permafrost, or permanently frozen ground.

Most of the land in Canadas Far North is permanently frozen to a
depth of many metres. Only the upper surface thaws out during the
warmest summer months.
Global warming is reducing Earths ice cover. Some regions
are warming and melting faster than others. Arctic temperatures
are rising at double the rate of temperatures elsewhere. Both
Greenlands ice sheets and Arctic sea ice are melting faster
than scientists had predicted (Figure 1). Table 1 on the next
page describes some of the possible impacts of rising global
temperatures on Earths ice cover.

(a)

(b)

go to Nelson Science

Figure 1 These satellite images compare Arctic ice minimums in (a) September
1979 and (b) September 2007.

364 Chapter 10 Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

NEL

Table 1 Impacts of Rising Global Temperatures on Earths Ice Cover

NEL

Type of ice cover

Direct impacts

Consequences

mountain glaciers

- glaciers are melting and

becoming a lot smaller
all over the world

- melting glaciers will

contribute to sea level rise
and coastal flooding
- melting glaciers will
increase river flows and
flood risks
- as glaciers disappear,
rivers will dry up causing
water shortages

ice sheets (Antarctica and

Greenland)

-G
 reenlands surface
ice sheet is melting
much faster during the
summer
-A
 ntarctic snow is
melting much farther
inland and at higher
elevations than ever
before recorded
- s ome ice shelves are
collapsing

- melting ice sheets will

cause sea levels to rise
- low-lying coastal areas
will be at increased risk of
flooding

sea ice (Arctic)

- s ummer ice is, on

average, decreasing
dramatically
-T
 he Arctic Ocean is
predicted to be ice-free
in the summer in the
near future

- thinning ice will affect

polar bears and other
marine mammals as their
natural habitat shrinks
- travel will become
dangerous as sea ice
shrinks, affecting all Arctic
communities
- communities once
protected by sea ice will
be vulnerable to storms
off the oceans

permafrost (Arctic)

-p
 ermafrost is melting

- buildings, roads, and

pipelines will be damaged
as the soil thaws
- carbon dioxide and
methane will be released
into the air as decay rates
increase
- freshwater lakes will
disappear as water
escapes into the ground,
causing water shortages

10.1 Impacts of Climate Change on the Natural World 365

TRY This the Lost Lakes

Skills: Controlling Variables, Performing, Observing, Analyzing, Evaluating, Communicating

3.B.

Permafrost acts as a barrier to the movement of water.

In the Arctic, summer lake waters are surrounded by
permafrost. However, this water may be absorbed
and drain away if global warming continues to melt
the permafrost layer. In this activity, you will test how
permafrost affects the movement of water through soil
in model lakes.

3. Place both trays in plastic bags and put one in

a freezer overnight. The plastic bags will prevent
the soil from drying out before you start the
experiment.

Equipment and Materials: 2 deep trays; damp soil;

ice water; access to freezer; 2 plastic bags; timer

5. Observe the movement of the water through both

soil samples. Record the time it takes for the
water to completely drain from the lakes.

1. Fill both trays to a depth of about 8 cm with damp

soil. Gently pack down the soil to remove any large
air pockets.
2. Use a rounded object to create a large depression
in the soil 15 cm across and to a depth of about
3 cm in the centre of each tray. These depressions
will represent Arctic lakes. Both lakes should be
the same size.

4. The next day, remove the trays from the bags and
immediately add enough ice water to almost fill
both lakes.

A. Compare the rate at which water moved through

the frozen and room-temperature soil samples. T/ I
B. Is permafrost an effective barrier to the movement
of cold water? Explain. T/I C
C. Thousands of lakes in the Arctic are disappearing.
How might this be related to the melting of
permafrost? T/I

Rising Sea Levels

Earths oceans are rising due to climate change. Sea levels have
risen about 17 cm in the last 100 years and are continuing to rise.
Two key factors contribute to sea level rise:
the melting of land ice (glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice)
the thermal expansion of water associated with warming
oceans
Figure 2 Prince Edward
Island is particularly
sensitive to sea level
rise, as it is surrounded
by water.

Even small increases in sea level can result in damaging floods

and loss of low-lying lands. Low-lying coastal areas are home to
millions of people around the world, including many of the worlds
largest cities. Vancouver, Victoria, and Halifax are major Canadian
coastal cities. These areas will be at an increased risk of flooding
as sea levels rise. The entire province of Prince Edward Island is
low-lying and threatened by sea level rise (Figure 2). Islands like the
Maldives and Tuvalu could disappear entirely. Table 2 on the next
page describes the consequences of sea level rise.

366 Chapter 10 Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

NEL

Table 2 Impacts of Sea Level Rise

Impact

Consequences

shoreline erosion

Erosion will destroy natural habitats

and damage coastal fisheries.

flooding of low-lying areas,

including agricultural land

Salt water will seep inland, mixing

with and threatening freshwater
supplies used for irrigation and
drinking.

damage to coastal cities

Flood damage will result in higher

economic costs to protect city
buildings, roadways, water supply,
and other services.

possible loss of entire islands

Displaced people will face an

uncertain future and political
challenges.

Ocean Acidification
Another very serious problem is ocean acidification. The oceans
absorb carbon dioxide. As more carbon dioxide is added to the
atmosphere, more of it is absorbed by the oceans. Carbon dioxide
forms a weak acid when it dissolves in water. As a result, the
oceans are gradually becoming more acidic.
Corals, shellfish, and other marine dwellers use calcium
carbonate and similar compounds to build their shells and
skeletons. These materials can dissolve if the water is too acidic.
These organisms may not be able to produce the hard body parts
essential for their survival if the acidity of ocean waters continues to
increase. Many marine species may suffer, and ocean food chains
may begin to collapse.

NEL

10.1 Impacts of Climate Change on the Natural World 367

dig deeper

Impacts on Ecosystems

Career Link

Changes in temperature and precipitation due to climate change will

also affect ecosystems. Some plants and animals are likely to move
toward the poles as their present-day habitats become unsuitable.
As a result, ecosystems around the world will change. Biodiversity
may be lost and it is very likely that some species will become
extinct.

There are many non-profit

organizations committed
to protecting and
conserving ecosystems
across Canada. To learn
more about working or
volunteering for these
organizations,

Even the largest of all land carnivores is at risk. Polar bears rely
on summer sea ice to hunt their most important foodringed seals.
Polar bears hunt seals on the ice by finding their breathing holes
and catching them when they surface for air. Polar bears have
difficulty reaching these critically important feeding areas as the
summer sea ice shrinks.

go to Nelson Science

Scientists study how ecosystems across Canada are affected as

climate change occurs. Figure 3 describes some of the impacts of
climate change on ecosystems across Canada.

Now: trees are replacing

tundra as growing zones
move north

Future: less phytoplankton

may survive in warmer waters

Now: decreasing summer sea ice

is reducing polar bear habitat

Future: Ontarios boreal forest

may shrink dramatically as it
shifts northward

YUKON
NORTHWEST
TERRITORIES

NUNAVUT
NEWFOUNDLAND
AND
LABRADOR

WA
KAT
CHE

ALBERTA

MANITOBA

SAS

Now: more mountain

pine beetles are surviving
in warmer winters and
destroying forests

BRITISH
COLUMBIA

ONTARIO

PRINCE
EDWARD
ISLAND

QUBEC

NOVA
SCOTIA

Now: some plants are flowering

before their pollinators arrive

NEW BRUNSWICK

Now: warmer water has less

oxygen, so some fish, such as
trout, are disappearing
Figure 3 Present and future impacts of
climate change on Canadian ecosystems

368 Chapter 10 Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change

Science Connections 10

300 600 km

Now: spring thaw is earlier

Future: habitat for migratory
shorebirds may decrease as tidal flats
disappear with rising sea levels

NEL

CITIZEN ACTION
Become a Citizen Scientist
Monitoring how ecosystems change is an important
tool for understanding the impacts of climate change.
Scientists can better understand the impact of
climate change on the world around us by collecting
and analyzing this data.
However, scientists face a major difficulty in
obtaining reliable statistical data from many different
locations across the country and around the world.
One way to overcome this challenge is to call on
the public for help in gathering data. Members
of the public are now volunteering their time as
citizen scientists. They gather and submit data
to professional scientists in a growing number of
scientific studies (Figure 4).

What is the role of a citizen scientist?

Research volunteer monitoring programs that
are available in your community. What types of
information are being collected, and how? Report
your findings back to the class. Pick one program,
and participate in monitoring ecological change.

Figure 4 Students can help by observing nature

in their neighbourhoods, parks, and backyards.
go to Nelson Science

10.1 Wrap Up
Rising global temperatures affect ice cover by melting glaciers, ice sheets,
and Arctic sea ice, and by thawing permafrost.
Sea level rise destroys habitats and fisheries, erodes coastlines, reduces
freshwater supplies, floods coastal areas, and displaces people.
Rising carbon dioxide levels cause oceans to become more acidic, which
threatens corals and other marine creatures.
Climate change affects ecosystems by threatening large mammals, thawing
lakes earlier, shrinking habitats, bringing longer growing seasons, and
warming oceans.

Check Your Learning

1. Explain how each of the following may be affected
by climate change. K /U C
(a) shellfish
(b) polar bears
(c) migratory birds
2. What are some of the problems associated with
melting glaciers? K /U

NEL

3. (a) What issues does permafrost thawing create

for northern communities? K/U A
(b) How might the thawing of permafrost actually
contribute to further climate change? K/ U
4. Explain the two factors that contribute to sea
level rise. K/U C
5. Describe the ways in which climate change can
influence freshwater ecosystems. K/U C

10.1 Impacts of Climate Change on the Natural World 369