Week 13: Local Climate Change

 Week 13: Local Climate Change 

1. What did you do in the lab today? 

Today in lab, we worked in groups to create presentations about temperature, precipitation, and ag/plants. We worked to find what is happening with these globally, regionally, and locally with each category and how it is impacting Earth using data and evidence. We then presented our findings as a group. 

2. What was the big question?

How will climate change continue to impact Iowa’s people, environment, and communities. 

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion? 

  • Other evidence of climate change
    • Glacier retreat
      • From 1875 to 2004 the glacier pretty much disappeared. It is now a lake. 
      • Its happening everywhere. All of the glaciers are turning into water. 
    • Sea level changes
      • Equivalent to melting 80% of glacial ice in Arctic and Antarctic 
  • What is the Paris agreement?
    • An international treaty on climate change that was create to limit global warming to a change of 2 degrees celsius. We have already warmed 1 degree celsius since pre-industrial times 
    • Includes 195 nations that meet together every 5 years to discuss progress towards goals. 
    • More action is required to meet Paris goal. 
    • The US said that its not a good deal, because they were going to have to pay more than other countries, so they said that they aren't going to do it anymore. 
    • Even the big oil companies wrote a big article saying that they don't want the US to pull out of this. 

4. Read the online textbook chapter 13: 

  • What did you learn?
    • The main topics for climate change in Iowa are: 
      • Hotter temperatures 
        • Dangerously high temperatures affect the health and safety of humans and animals that live in Iowa. 
        • 2019 Iowa statement says that dangerous heat events will be more frequent and severe. 
      • More precipitation and drought 
        • U of Iowa is still rebuilding damages from the flood in 2008. 
        • Some buildings had to be completely rebuilt and moved to safer locations. 
      • Impact on agriculture 
        • Unpredictable weather patterns like temperature and precipitation affect when, and if, farmers are able to harvest their crops.
        • Increased precipitation and flooding leads to increased soil erosion and poor soil health.
      • Habitat changes
        • When the plants and trees in Iowa change, it affects all living things–humans, animals, and insects–which must adapt to survive.
        • Iowa's landscape will change in rapid and unpredictable ways. 
    • What can you do about climate change?
      • Calculate your carbon footprint to reduce your personal environmental impacts. 
  • What was most helpful? 
    • Learning about specific examples of how climate changes is already affecting Iowa, like the 2008 flood and how it changed our campus. Learning about this information makes climate change feel more real. 
  • What do you need more information on?
    • I would like to learn more about what specific actions individuals and communities in Iowa can take to prepare for future climate impacts.
 5. What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have? 
 I don't have any questions or concerns. 



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