Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast. Inundation of permafrost like this produced subsea permafrost
What are the long-term effects of climate change?
Scientists have predicted that long-term effects of climate change will include a decrease in sea ice and an increase in permafrost thawing, an increase in heat waves and heavy precipitation, and decreased water resources in semi-arid regions.
Below are some of the regional impacts of global change forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:
- North America: Decreasing snowpack in the western mountains; 5-20 percent increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture in some regions; increased frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves in cities that currently experience them.
- Latin America: Gradual replacement of tropical forest by savannah in eastern Amazonia; risk of significant biodiversity loss through species extinction in many tropical areas; significant changes in water availability for human consumption, agriculture and energy generation.
- Europe: Increased risk of inland flash floods; more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion from storms and sea level rise; glacial retreat in mountainous areas; reduced snow cover and winter tourism; extensive species losses; reductions of crop productivity in southern Europe.
- Africa: Between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress; yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 percent in some regions; agricultural production, including access to food, may be severely compromised.
- Asia: Freshwater availability projected to decrease in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia by the 2050s; coastal areas will be at risk due to increased flooding; death rate from disease associated with floods and droughts expected to rise in some regions.
Related
What is the difference between weather and climate change? What is the difference between weather and climate change?
Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate change refers to long-term changes.
How do we know glaciers are shrinking? How do we know glaciers are shrinking?
Repeat photography and aerial / satellite photo analysis provide evidence of glacier loss in terms of shape and area. The USGS Benchmark Glacier project has collected mass balance data on a network of glaciers in Alaska, Washington, and Montana for decades, quantifying trends of mass loss at all sites. Extensive field data collection at these sites includes twice yearly visits to measure seasonal...
How can climate change affect natural disasters? How can climate change affect natural disasters?
With increasing global surface temperatures the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations...
How do changes in climate and land use relate to one another? How do changes in climate and land use relate to one another?
The link between land use and the climate is complex. First, land cover--as shaped by land use practices--affects the global concentration of greenhouse gases. Second, while land use change is an important driver of climate change, a changing climate can lead to changes in land use and land cover. For example, farmers might shift from their customary crops to crops that will have higher economic...
How do we know the climate is changing? How do we know the climate is changing?
The scientific community is certain that the Earth's climate is changing because of the trends that we see in the instrumented climate record and the changes that have been observed in physical and biological systems. The instrumental record of climate change is derived from thousands of temperature and precipitation recording stations around the world. We have very high confidence in these...
What are some of the signs of climate change? What are some of the signs of climate change?
• Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gases trapping more heat in the atmosphere. • Droughts are becoming longer and more extreme around the world. • Tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water temperatures. • As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and polar areas and the snow melts faster. • Overall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate...
Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast
Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast. Inundation of permafrost like this produced subsea permafrost
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.A Record of Change—Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo Nation is a 25-minute documentary about collaborative studies using conventional physical sciences, combined with tribal elder observations to show that local knowledge and conventional science partnerships can effectively document ecosystem change and determine the resulting challenges to livelihoods.&
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.A Record of Change—Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo Nation is a 25-minute documentary about collaborative studies using conventional physical sciences, combined with tribal elder observations to show that local knowledge and conventional science partnerships can effectively document ecosystem change and determine the resulting challenges to livelihoods.&
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.
Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra Nevada
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra NevadaSurprises relevant to future fire regime forecasts
by Jon E. Keeley, USGS Research Scientist
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra Nevada
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra NevadaSurprises relevant to future fire regime forecasts
by Jon E. Keeley, USGS Research Scientist
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change--Climatologists Look Back and Peer Forward
Dan Cayan, USGS Climate Change Researcher
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change--Climatologists Look Back and Peer Forward
Dan Cayan, USGS Climate Change Researcher
Polar Bear Research, B-Roll 1
Spring 2014. USGS scientists conduct a health evaluation of a young male polar bear in the Arctic as part of the annual southern Beaufort Sea population survey. The bear is sedated for approximately an hour while the team records a variety of measurements and collects key biological samples.
Spring 2014. USGS scientists conduct a health evaluation of a young male polar bear in the Arctic as part of the annual southern Beaufort Sea population survey. The bear is sedated for approximately an hour while the team records a variety of measurements and collects key biological samples.
USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses
Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.
Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of KaktovikNeal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of KaktovikNeal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships-- are American pikas harbingers of changing conditions?
by USGS Research Ecologist Erik Beever
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships-- are American pikas harbingers of changing conditions?
by USGS Research Ecologist Erik Beever
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea IceSummer ice retreat in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia is a significant climate change impact affecting Pacific Walruses, which are being considered for listing as a threatened species. This twelve minute video follows walruses in their summer sea ice habitat and shows how USGS biologists use satellite radio tags to track their movements and behavior.
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea IceSummer ice retreat in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia is a significant climate change impact affecting Pacific Walruses, which are being considered for listing as a threatened species. This twelve minute video follows walruses in their summer sea ice habitat and shows how USGS biologists use satellite radio tags to track their movements and behavior.
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!Using phenology to take the pulse of our planet
By Jake F. Weltzin, Executive Director, USA National Phenology Network
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!Using phenology to take the pulse of our planet
By Jake F. Weltzin, Executive Director, USA National Phenology Network
USGS Public Lecture Series: Climate Change 101
Climate change is an issue of increasing public concern because of its potential effects on land, water, and biological resources.
Climate change is an issue of increasing public concern because of its potential effects on land, water, and biological resources.
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate Change
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate ChangeA new USGS program, the USA National Phenology Network, is recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers to team up with scientists to help track the effects of climate on seasonal patterns of plant and animal behavior.
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate Change
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate ChangeA new USGS program, the USA National Phenology Network, is recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers to team up with scientists to help track the effects of climate on seasonal patterns of plant and animal behavior.
Southern California Wildfires, USA - 2006
These images show the nearly 11,000 acres affected by the Sierra fire in Orange County, California, in February 2006.
These images show the nearly 11,000 acres affected by the Sierra fire in Orange County, California, in February 2006.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska. 1967, Unknown USGS photographer. 2016, L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska. 1967, Unknown USGS photographer. 2016, L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska. 1966 image by unknown USGS photographer; 2015 image by L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska. 1966 image by unknown USGS photographer; 2015 image by L. Sass, USGS.
Related
What is the difference between weather and climate change? What is the difference between weather and climate change?
Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while climate is the weather of a specific region averaged over a long period of time. Climate change refers to long-term changes.
How do we know glaciers are shrinking? How do we know glaciers are shrinking?
Repeat photography and aerial / satellite photo analysis provide evidence of glacier loss in terms of shape and area. The USGS Benchmark Glacier project has collected mass balance data on a network of glaciers in Alaska, Washington, and Montana for decades, quantifying trends of mass loss at all sites. Extensive field data collection at these sites includes twice yearly visits to measure seasonal...
How can climate change affect natural disasters? How can climate change affect natural disasters?
With increasing global surface temperatures the possibility of more droughts and increased intensity of storms will likely occur. As more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop. More heat in the atmosphere and warmer ocean surface temperatures can lead to increased wind speeds in tropical storms. Rising sea levels expose higher locations...
How do changes in climate and land use relate to one another? How do changes in climate and land use relate to one another?
The link between land use and the climate is complex. First, land cover--as shaped by land use practices--affects the global concentration of greenhouse gases. Second, while land use change is an important driver of climate change, a changing climate can lead to changes in land use and land cover. For example, farmers might shift from their customary crops to crops that will have higher economic...
How do we know the climate is changing? How do we know the climate is changing?
The scientific community is certain that the Earth's climate is changing because of the trends that we see in the instrumented climate record and the changes that have been observed in physical and biological systems. The instrumental record of climate change is derived from thousands of temperature and precipitation recording stations around the world. We have very high confidence in these...
What are some of the signs of climate change? What are some of the signs of climate change?
• Temperatures are rising world-wide due to greenhouse gases trapping more heat in the atmosphere. • Droughts are becoming longer and more extreme around the world. • Tropical storms becoming more severe due to warmer ocean water temperatures. • As temperatures rise there is less snowpack in mountain ranges and polar areas and the snow melts faster. • Overall, glaciers are melting at a faster rate...
Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast
Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast. Inundation of permafrost like this produced subsea permafrost
Eroding permafrost on Alaska’s Arctic Coast. Inundation of permafrost like this produced subsea permafrost
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.A Record of Change—Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo Nation is a 25-minute documentary about collaborative studies using conventional physical sciences, combined with tribal elder observations to show that local knowledge and conventional science partnerships can effectively document ecosystem change and determine the resulting challenges to livelihoods.&
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.
A Record of Change: Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo N.A Record of Change—Science and Elder Observations on the Navajo Nation is a 25-minute documentary about collaborative studies using conventional physical sciences, combined with tribal elder observations to show that local knowledge and conventional science partnerships can effectively document ecosystem change and determine the resulting challenges to livelihoods.&
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers
USGS Public Lecture: Warm Ice—Dynamics of Rapidly Changing Glaciers- Glacier Numerology – The how big, how long, how thick, how much, how often, of glacier science.
- Glacier Photography – While a picture may be worth a thousand words, a collection of images may tell a complete forensic story.
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.
Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra Nevada
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra NevadaSurprises relevant to future fire regime forecasts
by Jon E. Keeley, USGS Research Scientist
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra Nevada
PubTalk 10/2015 — Fire-climate Relationships in the Sierra NevadaSurprises relevant to future fire regime forecasts
by Jon E. Keeley, USGS Research Scientist
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change--Climatologists Look Back and Peer Forward
Dan Cayan, USGS Climate Change Researcher
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change
PubTalk 3/2014 — Preparing for California Climate Change--Climatologists Look Back and Peer Forward
Dan Cayan, USGS Climate Change Researcher
Polar Bear Research, B-Roll 1
Spring 2014. USGS scientists conduct a health evaluation of a young male polar bear in the Arctic as part of the annual southern Beaufort Sea population survey. The bear is sedated for approximately an hour while the team records a variety of measurements and collects key biological samples.
Spring 2014. USGS scientists conduct a health evaluation of a young male polar bear in the Arctic as part of the annual southern Beaufort Sea population survey. The bear is sedated for approximately an hour while the team records a variety of measurements and collects key biological samples.
USGS wildlife biologist working with walruses
Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.
Walruses gathered by the tens of thousands in September 2013 to rest on the shores of the Chukchi Sea near the coastal village of Point Lay, Alaska.
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of KaktovikNeal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik
Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of KaktovikNeal Pastick – lead author of the study – investigating erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coastline near the village of Kaktovik. Permafrost-dominated coasts of Alaska have drastically changed as the result of coastal transgression and storm-surge flooding which can result in the loss of cultural sites and damage to infrastructure. Photo by M.
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships-- are American pikas harbingers of changing conditions?
by USGS Research Ecologist Erik Beever
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships
PubTalk 11/2012 — Understanding Climate-Wildlife Relationships-- are American pikas harbingers of changing conditions?
by USGS Research Ecologist Erik Beever
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea IceSummer ice retreat in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia is a significant climate change impact affecting Pacific Walruses, which are being considered for listing as a threatened species. This twelve minute video follows walruses in their summer sea ice habitat and shows how USGS biologists use satellite radio tags to track their movements and behavior.
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea Ice
Tracking Pacific Walrus: Expedition to the Shrinking Chukchi Sea IceSummer ice retreat in the Chukchi Sea between Alaska and Russia is a significant climate change impact affecting Pacific Walruses, which are being considered for listing as a threatened species. This twelve minute video follows walruses in their summer sea ice habitat and shows how USGS biologists use satellite radio tags to track their movements and behavior.
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!Using phenology to take the pulse of our planet
By Jake F. Weltzin, Executive Director, USA National Phenology Network
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!
PubTalk 3/2010 — Changing Times-- A Changing Planet!Using phenology to take the pulse of our planet
By Jake F. Weltzin, Executive Director, USA National Phenology Network
USGS Public Lecture Series: Climate Change 101
Climate change is an issue of increasing public concern because of its potential effects on land, water, and biological resources.
Climate change is an issue of increasing public concern because of its potential effects on land, water, and biological resources.
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate Change
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate ChangeA new USGS program, the USA National Phenology Network, is recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers to team up with scientists to help track the effects of climate on seasonal patterns of plant and animal behavior.
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate Change
USGS Public Lecture Series: Watching Nature's Clock: A Citizen-Scientist Effort to Track Seasonal Signs of Climate ChangeA new USGS program, the USA National Phenology Network, is recruiting tens of thousands of volunteers to team up with scientists to help track the effects of climate on seasonal patterns of plant and animal behavior.
Southern California Wildfires, USA - 2006
These images show the nearly 11,000 acres affected by the Sierra fire in Orange County, California, in February 2006.
These images show the nearly 11,000 acres affected by the Sierra fire in Orange County, California, in February 2006.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska. 1967, Unknown USGS photographer. 2016, L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Gulkana glaciers in Alaska. 1967, Unknown USGS photographer. 2016, L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska. 1966 image by unknown USGS photographer; 2015 image by L. Sass, USGS.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.
Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska.Repeat oblique photographs of Wolverine glacier in Alaska. 1966 image by unknown USGS photographer; 2015 image by L. Sass, USGS.
Updated Date: January 21, 2026