101663 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Sea Level Rise, Coral Bleaching, Australian Alps
3 Sep 2018
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Document Summary
Predicted: more extreme weather, changing rain-patterns- floods, cyclones and droughts. Problems of acceleration: melting permafrost will release greenhouse gasses and reduce amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by natural environment, oceans will absorb more heat as sea ice retreats. Sea level rise to continue: global temperature rise to continue, oceans around australia to warm further and acidification will continue, temps will increase with more hot days and fewer cool days. Lulucf (land use land use change and forrestry) Industrial processes: waste, agriculture, electricity, direct combustion, transport. "the significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. " (albert einstein) Forests provide critical support for environmental sustainability: climate regulation- carbon converters and sinks, water purification. Land stabilisation: habitat and biodiversity, pollination and seed dispersal. These crucial functions are under serious threat due to: clearing for pasture and agriculture, residential development.
