Land Use: Its impact on Land Use: Its impact on Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Global Warming: Its impact Global Warming: Its impact on Land Useon Land Use

Amanda M. BarrAmanda M. Barr

Fall 2006Fall 2006

IntroductionIntroduction

Distinct interconnectivity between Distinct interconnectivity between changing land use, global warming, changing land use, global warming, and future land use and future land use

Changing earth: shifts use of land Changing earth: shifts use of land and resourcesand resources

Different environments will be Different environments will be influenced in distinct and influenced in distinct and characterized ways characterized ways

IntroductionIntroduction

ForestsForests DesertsDeserts AgriculturalAgricultural UrbanUrban

ForestsForests

31% increase in the 31% increase in the concentration of concentration of carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution Industrial Revolution

45% of the carbon 45% of the carbon dioxide increase in dioxide increase in the atmosphere has the atmosphere has been attributed to been attributed to the loss of forest the loss of forest cover cover

Contribution of CO2 from Contribution of CO2 from depletion of forest coverdepletion of forest cover

Fossil fuel compared to land Fossil fuel compared to land use contributions to CO2use contributions to CO2

How to prevent impacts of How to prevent impacts of poor land use of forests?poor land use of forests?

Prevent deforestationPrevent deforestation Encourage reforestationEncourage reforestation Reduce carbon loss by changing Reduce carbon loss by changing

harvesting methods that require less harvesting methods that require less logging logging

EducationEducation

Desert EcosystemsDesert Ecosystems

The potential to provide The potential to provide major carbon sinks in major carbon sinks in both their soils and both their soils and vegetation vegetation

Normally relatively low Normally relatively low organic carbon storage organic carbon storage per unit areaper unit area

Deserts and semi-desert Deserts and semi-desert regions may be one of regions may be one of the most responsive to the most responsive to elevated levels of carbon elevated levels of carbon dioxide and the resultant dioxide and the resultant changes due to the changes due to the greenhouse effect greenhouse effect

Changes in surface Changes in surface albedoalbedo

Desert EcosystemsDesert Ecosystems

37% of the proportion of the global land 37% of the proportion of the global land surfacesurface

Some studies predict that, with a 50% Some studies predict that, with a 50% increase in carbon dioxide, plant production increase in carbon dioxide, plant production could be enhanced as much as 70% in desert could be enhanced as much as 70% in desert systemssystems

Decrease the influence of salinity on plant Decrease the influence of salinity on plant growthgrowth

Potential agricultural uses of land near desert Potential agricultural uses of land near desert areas could produce more productive crops areas could produce more productive crops and further enhance soil organic matter.and further enhance soil organic matter.

Indirect Effects on Desert Indirect Effects on Desert EcosystemsEcosystems

Changing patterns of precipitationChanging patterns of precipitation Distribution of temperatures could change current Distribution of temperatures could change current

land use practices of the desert area land use practices of the desert area Some desert areas will receive enhanced Some desert areas will receive enhanced

precipitation, while others will become even drierprecipitation, while others will become even drier Evapotranspiration will also increase with Evapotranspiration will also increase with

increased temperatures, and thus offset any increased temperatures, and thus offset any enhanced precipitationenhanced precipitation

Some desert regions have anthropogenic origins Some desert regions have anthropogenic origins such as soil erosion, relatively permanent loss in such as soil erosion, relatively permanent loss in vegetation, and deterioration of soils. Not only vegetation, and deterioration of soils. Not only are there changes in biomass, but also surface are there changes in biomass, but also surface albedoalbedo

UV-BUV-B

Based on models that predict UV level Based on models that predict UV level increased relative to 1979-1992 levels, increased relative to 1979-1992 levels, 2010-2020 may receive UV doses 2010-2020 may receive UV doses increased by 14% in the Northern increased by 14% in the Northern hemisphere and up to 40% in the Southern hemisphere and up to 40% in the Southern hemispherehemisphere

A 30% increase in UV-B radiation levels is A 30% increase in UV-B radiation levels is expected to have significant impact on expected to have significant impact on crop productivity crop productivity

Land Use in Desert RegionsLand Use in Desert Regions

UV-B Radiation and Land UV-B Radiation and Land UseUse

ozone also has a significant impact on land use ozone also has a significant impact on land use thinning of the ozone layer leads to increased UV thinning of the ozone layer leads to increased UV

radiation radiation UV radiation : UV-A and UV-BUV radiation : UV-A and UV-B UV-A radiation : 320-400nm, involved in the UV-A radiation : 320-400nm, involved in the

formation of vitamin D by humans, as well as formation of vitamin D by humans, as well as causing sun damage to skin and eyes causing sun damage to skin and eyes

UV-B, on the other hand, has wavelengths UV-B, on the other hand, has wavelengths between 290-320nm, and causes damage at the between 290-320nm, and causes damage at the molecular level to DNA. molecular level to DNA.

In Plants – interferes with photosynthetic abilityIn Plants – interferes with photosynthetic ability

Influences of UV-B on plantsInfluences of UV-B on plants

photosynthetic abilitiesphotosynthetic abilities decreases size, decreases size,

productivity and quality productivity and quality in many crop plant in many crop plant species such as rice, species such as rice, soybeans, winter wheat, soybeans, winter wheat, cotton and corncotton and corn

increased susceptibility increased susceptibility to diseaseto disease

Source: EPASource: EPA

Urban Land UseUrban Land Use

governed by political parties and agendasgoverned by political parties and agendas Possible implications for urban areas: sea level rise, Possible implications for urban areas: sea level rise,

drought, urban heat island effects, changing drought, urban heat island effects, changing groundwater resources, enhanced/decreased groundwater resources, enhanced/decreased potential for rain, increased temperatures, and potential for rain, increased temperatures, and potentially greater probabilities of hurricanes potentially greater probabilities of hurricanes

According to the IPCC (2001), sea level rise According to the IPCC (2001), sea level rise increase current global average sea level by .3-2.9 increase current global average sea level by .3-2.9 feet over the next 100 yearsfeet over the next 100 years

Impact urban areas: eroding beaches, intensifying Impact urban areas: eroding beaches, intensifying flooding, and influences salinity and groundwater flooding, and influences salinity and groundwater stores. stores.

North Carolina- laws that prohibit residents from North Carolina- laws that prohibit residents from building new houses in areas that are likely to be building new houses in areas that are likely to be eroded in the next 30-60 years eroded in the next 30-60 years

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