Indications: Events that foreshadow the types of impacts that are likely to become more frequent and widespread with our continued warming pattern.

(These details, by no means, is in order of importance or entirety)

1 Coral reef bleaching: Water that is warmer than normal by only 1- 3°F has been linked to bleaching; The colorful reef fish, turtles, sharks, lobsters, shrimp, sea urchins, sea stars, anemones and sponges which depend on them suffer as a result.

Some other factors: Nutrient and sediment runoff, pollution, coastal development, dynamiting of reefs, and natural storm damage.

As stated by Environmental Defense marine ecologist Rod Fujita in a report from the Environmental Defense, "the number of corals that can adapt to or withstand such dramatic, rapid changes may be just a tiny fraction — coral reefs may likely prove to be the first ecological victims of unchecked global warming."

2 Plant and animal range shifts and population changes: Many populations and species may become more vulnerable to a decline in numbers or extinction if warming occurs faster than they can respond or if human development presents a barrier to their migration. With this scenario, it is estimated that 15-37% of Earth's plant and animal species could be wiped out by 2050 due to global warming.

3 Downpours, heavy snowfalls, and flooding: An increase in precipitation worldwide, especially during winter and in mid to high latitude regions. 100% increase in the intensity and duration of hurricanes and tropical storms. The Estimate of damage caused by hurricanes hitting the U.S. coast in 2005 alone was $100,000,000. 

4 Earlier Spring: Possibly disrupting animal migrations, altering competitive balances among species, and causing other unforeseen problems.

5 Droughts and fires: Sustained drought makes wildfires more likely, and crops and trees more vulnerable to pest infestations and disease.

6 Spread of disease: With warmer temperatures, mosquitoes that transmit diseases extend their ranges and increase both their biting rate and their ability to infect humans with diseases such as Malaria.

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INDICATIONS

MANIFESTATIONS

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