The observed impacts said to be caused by climate change
falls into three categories: physical systems, biological systems, human and
managed systems. The major observed impacts with a confidence rating of very
high on biological systems are wildfire, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. For
physical systems impacts are on glaciers, snow, ice, and/or permafrost (IPCC, 2013).
Human and managed systems include food production, livelihoods, health and/or
economics but only with a lower confidence rating of medium. For the IPCC New Zealand
is thrown under a region called Australasia for climate change analysis. In the
report, one key risk described for new Zealand is an increase in rates and
magnitudes of damages to cities and infrastructures due to flooding. The other
risk affecting New Zealand damage to coastal infrastructure and ecosystems that
is lower in elevation (IPCC, 2013).
On a seasonal scale New Zealand’s precipitation is affected
by the Southern Annual mode (SAM) which is region of westerly winds near Antarctica
that when said to be positive when it move towards Antarctica and negative when
it moves towards equator. Rain fall is typically increased in western new Zealand
when SAM is negative and/or during el Niño events. When SAM is positive and/or
during la Nina events rainfall is increased in the north and east. In the last century New Zealand temperature
has just shy of 1C. A subtropical high-pressure belt is expected to move pole
ward causing dry conditions in part of the country. With this combo of drying
in some part and increased precipitation in others, it is suspected that
flooding and droughts will increase twofold (IPCC, 2013).
One thing is for sure, the
regional climate is changing. Warming will not stop, it is expected to keep
increasing even into the 21st century when currently were all dead
(hopefully). There are issues in predicting changes in rainfall for Australia and
new Zealand which presents a large challenge in preparation. Recent extreme
climatic events such as bleaching of coral reefs in northeastern and western Australia,
flooding, and heat waves mercing people show that ecosystems are vulnerable
like a man admitting that enjoys the show “Friends”. If something isn’t done to
adapt to these changes GHG’s and ocean acidity will have wreak havoc on water
resources, coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, agriculture and human health. Though
things look shivvy, some locations may reap benefits of fewer deaths in the
winter and heating bills. When it comes to adaptation everything’s fine a dandy
but action is taken more in a conceptual sense then one of implementation. The indigenous
people of Australia and new Zealand feel strongly connected to the land and
highly rely on industries that sensitive to climate change leaving them more vulnerable
to climate change (IPCC, 2013). Studies have much limitation leaving out important socioeconomic
dimensions such as getting old, current or changing societal values, richness
of richy rich people, and labor stuffs. Bottoms line is that we don’t know
enough, were not doing enough, and we may be screwed.
Australia’s gets 2.6 to 4% of its GDP
from tourism with the great barrier reef to have an estimated worth of about
$51.4 billion over the next century. Tourism for Australia will be quite
challenged by climate change as the reason to visit Australia is mostly is environmental (IPCC, 2013).
No one goes to Australia to visit McDonalds or watch movie. Extreme events such
as floods and tropical cyclone Yasi in 2011 caused a loss of AU $590 million! Just
due to cancellations and damage to the Great Barrier Reef. See, told ya environmental
ish. While shit is hitting the fan in Australia, people are starting to consider
visiting New Zealand instead (IPCC, 2013). While Australia and new Zealand are losing snow
cover, new Zealand is losing at a slower rate than Australia. In new Zealand snow
making days will be reduced but amount of snow making needing to meet minimum
ski conditions are said to be feasible into the 21st century. Why I chose
tourism as an interesting issue is that I kind of hate tourism. Even though I’ve
played tourist before I associate tourism with people who don’t give two shits
about the environmental. Rich dicks that just come to trash everything I love
and hold dear. Living in Hawaii I’ve seen how the ocean is a brothel and the
islands are prostituted with Uncle Sam as the mamasan. Tourism is so important
to place like Hawaii yet they are slowly destroying that which attracts people
with development. Argh…
Drought in March 2013
1) evaluate efficiency of water washing and acid base
extractions on deashing biochars; 2) determine the effect of deashed biochars
on soil properties and plant growth, and 3) compare biochars with varying ash
content on soil properties and plant growth. For objective 1 we hypothesize
that 1) increasing treatment time of biochars in the hot water bath will increase
ash removal, and 2) that acid base extraction will results in higher ash
removal than water washing. Addressing
objective 2 we hypothesize that deashed biochars produces no benefits to plant
growth. For objective 3, our hypothesis is that biochars with ash contentment
will increase plant growth more than those with low ash.
