People and the Planet

People and the Planet — page 3 — Through remote sensing Aura spacecraft instruments measure trace gases in the atmosphere Launched on July 15th 2004 it studies chemical interactions and climate change in the Earth’s atmosphere Earth-orbiting satellites and technological advances allow scientists to collect data about Earth and its systems Much of this data concludes that our planet’s climate is changing 6 Evidence of Climate Change Global sea levels are rising Global temperatures are rising Oceans are warming Ice sheets are thinning and shrinking Glaciers are retreating Precipitation is more intense Ocean water is more acidic Snow in the Northern Hemisphere is melting earlier

People and the Planet — page 4 — NASA has more than a dozen Earth science spacecraft instruments in orbit studying all aspects of Earth's systems oceans land atmosphere biosphere cryosphere State of the art research on climate science enables the international scientific community to advance science using space-based observations The average temperature in a year is the critical factor for permafrost existence Permafrost temperatures at 3 3 feet 1 meter below ground in central Alaska have warmed since the 1960s Soil and rock that is frozen all year round is called permafrost It’s found in Alaska Canada and other northern countries While most of the ground is frozen plants still grow in the soil at the surface 7

People and the Planet — page 5 — As temperatures rise so does the temperature of the ground which can cause permafrost to thaw or melt This action affects the land above it Land may change shape damaging buildings roads and sewer pipes Ecosystems are challenged by these changes too Thawing permafrost causes changes in lakes and wetlands that provide habitats for birds and water-dwelling animals hunt and fish for food Higher temperatures and less summer moisture increase the risks of drought wildfire and insect infestation Permafrost has carbon trapped inside of it as well Thawing causes the release of carbon in the form of a greenhouse gas called methane It also changes the supply of wildlife resources for natives who 8 Melting sea ice is a bad sign for animals like polar bears that make this their habitat It also means fewer reflective surfaces in the North to reflect sunlight back into space prompting the planet to absorb more heat

People and the Planet — page 6 — Weather monitoring instruments aboard special aircraft help us predict hurricanes Changing climates also bring about wild weather patterns Tropical storms and hurricanes get energy from warm ocean water making storms stronger Hurricanes in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean have gotten more powerful in the past few decades The United States has also experienced more intense storms with more rain or snow than in the past Though the future is uncertain change is inevitable People government communities and companies can use the scientific conclusions to implement changes to provide improvement and better outcomes for an evolving planet Fast Fact Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that Earth’s climate-warming trends over the past century are likely due to human activities 9

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