Climate Possible Impacts

Miami Group

Background information on climate change

Links to external websites are provided for your convenience. The views expressed on these websites do not necessarily reflect those of the Miami Group, Florida Chapter or Sierra Club.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website; however, it is always better to verify information using multiple sources.

Greenhouse effect, global warming, climate, climate change, cause of climate change, impacts of climate change

Florida Next Generation Standards

SC.8.N.1.6 , SC.8.N.4.1, SC.7.E.6.6, SC.8.L.18.3

Climate change - possible effects

What are the potential impacts of climate change?

Items of particular interest to South Florida are in red

Climate change impacts

- check your understanding

Climate Change - Resources

Agriculture and Food - more here

Impacts on Crops

Moderate warming and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may help plants to grow faster.

However, more severe warming, floods, and drought may reduce yields.

Impacts on Livestock

Livestock may be at risk, both directly from heat stress and indirectly from reduced quality of their food supply.

Impacts on Fisheries

Fisheries will be affected by changes in water temperature that shift species ranges, make waters more hospitable to invasive species, and change lifecycle timing.

Types of fish may disappear from local waters as they more farther north

Invasive species, such as the red lionfish, may feel "more at home" with warmer waters

Coastal Areas - more here

Climate change could put additional stress on coastal areas, which are already stressed by human activity, pollution,invasive species, and storms.

Coastal development reduces the ability of natural systems to respond to climate changes.

Sea level rise could erode and inundate coastal ecosystems and eliminate wetlands (Everglades)

Much of Miami-Dade and Broward counties are less that 2 m above sea level and face inundation

Lower areas will be more susceptible to storm surge during tropical storms.

Warmer and more acidic oceans are likely to disrupt coastal and marine ecosystems

Warmer waters stress corals and make them more susceptible to diseases

Ocean acidification may interfere with coral skeleton formationcorals are a vital part of marine ecosystems (impact on fish populations)

Ecosystems - more here

Climate change can alter where species live and how they interact, which could fundamentally transform current ecosystems.

Species ranges may change as they migrate north toward cooler temperatures

Impacts on one species can ripple through the food web and affect many organisms in an ecosystem.

Mountain and arctic ecosystems and species are particularly sensitive to climate change.

Projected warming could greatly increase the rate of species extinctions, especially in sensitive regions.

Climate change is impacting ecosystems in Everglades National Park

Energy - more here

Climate change is likely to both increase electricity demand for cooling in the summer and decrease electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and wood demand for heating in the winter.

New infrastructure investments (new power plants, transmission lines) may be necessary to meet increased energy demand, especially peak demand during heat waves.

Climate change could affect the amount of water available to produce electricity or extract fuel.

In areas where water is already scarce, competition for water between energy production and other uses could increase.

Sea level rise and more frequent intense storms could disrupt energy production and delivery by damaging electricity infrastructure, fuel delivery infrastructure and equipment, power plants, or storage facilities.

Florida Power and Light's two nuclear units at Turkey Point are on the shore and susceptible to storm surge and sea level rise.

Forests - more here

Climate change will likely alter the frequency and intensity of forest disturbances, including wildfires, storms, insect outbreaks, and the occurrence of invasive species.

The productivity of forests could be affected by changes in temperature, precipitation and the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

Climate change will likely worsen the problems already faced by forests from land development and air pollution.

Human Health - more here

A warmer climate is expected to both increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and death and worsen conditions for air quality.

As urban populations increase (urban areas are already warmer due to the heat island effect), heat waves will impact more people

Due to a higher heat index, people will have to shorten time spent working outside, leading to productivity loss

Climate change will likely increase the frequency and strength of extreme events (such as floods, droughts, and storms) that threaten human safety and health.

Climate changes may allow some diseases to spread more easily.

Dengue fever, which can be spread by a mosquito present in the Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida, is increasing its geographic range

The geographic range of ticks that carry Lyme disease is limited by temperature. As air temperatures rise, the range of these ticks is likely to continue to expand northward.

Heavy rainfall or flooding can increase water-borne parasites sometimes found in drinking water that can cause gastrointestinal distress and in severe cases, death.

Higher air temperatures can increase cases of bacteria-related food poisoning because bacteria grow more rapidly in warm environments.

Flooding and heavy rainfall can cause overflows from sewage treatment plants into fresh water sources.

The maps show the number of days per year with peak temperatures above 90°F from 1961 to 1979 and projected for 2080 to 2099. By 2100, north Florida is projected to experience more than 165 days per year (over six months) over 90°F.

International - more here

Countries around the world will likely face climate change impacts that affect a wide variety of sectors, from water resources to human health to ecosystems.

Impacts will vary by region and by population.

Many people in developing countries are more vulnerable to climate change impacts than people in developed countries.

People living in low lying areas on some islands and in some countries will face relocation due to sea level rise

Impacts across the globe can have national security implications for the United States and other nations.

Food shortages could increase the risk of humanitarian crises and trigger population migration across national borders, ultimately sparking political instability.

Society - more at here

Climate change will affect certain groups more than others, particularly groups located in vulnerable areas and the poor, young, old, or sick.

Over the past four decades, population has grown rapidly in coastal areas and in the southern and western regions of the United States.

These areas are most sensitive to coastal storms, drought, air pollution, and heat waves.

Cities are sensitive to many impacts, especially extreme weather impacts.

Climate change may threaten people's jobs and livelihoods.

Transportation - more here

Climate change is likely to damage transportation infrastructure through higher temperatures, more severe storms, and higher storm surges.

Coastal roads, railways and airports are vulnerable to sea level rise, which could lead to delays as well as temporary and permanent closures.

Warmer winters can alleviate the costs of clearing ice and snow, especially in northern areas.

Road infrastructure in coastal areas is particularly sensitive to more frequent and permanent flooding from sea level rise and storm surges.

We are already seeing road flooding due to spring tides in conjunction with sea level rise (Miami Beach)

Water Resources - more here

Warming temperatures, changes in precipitation, and sea level rise have affected and will likely continue to affect water supply and quality.

Changes will vary in different regions of the United States; potential effects include increased flooding and drought, water quality impairment, and salt water intrusion to coastal water supplies (already happening in Miami-Dade County).