Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 1.2 List of Observed Impacts Attributed to Global Warming by IPCC AR4 WG2 with
Results from Two Studies Using Formal D&A Methodology
Driving Change in Physical
Climate
Impacts
Reference
Changing snow/ice/frozen ground
Increase in number and extension of glacial lakes, increase
in avalanches and instability of permafrost, and changes in
polar ecosystems
IPCC AR4 WG2
(IPCC, 2007b)
Warmer temperatures
Increase in runoff and anticipated snow melt in spring;
increase in temperatures in lakes and rivers
IPCC AR4 WG2
(IPCC, 2007b)
Warmer temperatures
Earlier timing of spring event (foliage, migrations, and
egg-laying) and range shifts (poleward and upward) of
terrestrial biological systems
IPCC AR4 WG2
(IPCC, 2007b)
Rising ocean water temperatures/
changes in ice cover, salinity,
oxygen levels, and circulation
Shifts in the ranges of algae/plankton/fish abundance in
high-latitude oceans and high-latitude/high-elevation lakes
IPCC AR4 WG2
(IPCC, 2007b)
Increase in atmospheric
concentration of CO 2
Ocean acidification (no effect on ocean life documented
yet
IPCC AR4 WG2
(IPCC, 2007b)
Summer temperature warming in
Canada
Increase in area burned by forest fires in Canada
Gillett et al.,
2004
Increase in temperature
Increase in growing season length
Christidis
et al., 2007
NOTE: Confidence levels are not available because the IPCC AR4 WG2 did not supply them.
positive spatial correlation between said impacts and regionally differenti-
ated warming.
This reasoning is at the basis of the list of impacts attributed to global
warming by IPCC AR4 WG2 in its Summary for Policy Makers, which we
list, together with results from two studies that applied formal D&A meth-
odology, 2 in Table 1.2.
2 Of these two studies, the first is reviewed by WG,2 but its results are not explicitly listed
in its Summary for Policy Makers, SPM; the second appeared later than the release of the
report.
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