How does climate change affect WV? Hotter temperatures are causing issues with ecosystems in WV. The red spruce is a native tree to WV during earlier times the tree thrived in full. Through climate change, logging, and expansion of infrastructure the red spruce as begun to decline. The red spruce created prefect cool moist habitats for animals like the cheat mountain salamander (which is now endangered) and the flying squirrel. It is the increased temperatures that are causing the ecosystems in WV to decline. (Mishkin 2019) 

Tides

Tides are rising in two ways:

Due to climate change, there are more greenhouse gasses causing increase in heat. 90% of this increased heat is absorbed by the oceans causing thermal expansion.

Due to this increased heat ice caps and glaciers are melting this is also causing tides to rise.

RUNNNN ITS A TSUNAMI!!!

5 ways climate change increases the threat of tsunamis. 

Rising tide makes tsunamis more dangerous allowing them to travel more inland. 

Hotter temperatures increase the likelihood of landslides.

Ice caps melting and crashing could start a tsunami.

Increased volcanic activity has been shown to go hand in hand with melting ice caps. 

Ice boundaries in faults melting increase the movement causing more earthquakes. 

Red Tide

Red Tide is a phenomenon that occurs when bloom algae run wild contaminating waters. 

This occurs when nutrient rich made by runoff allow for the algae to grow without restriction.

Hotter climate is also a factor as it seems to be making the re tides worse.  

Coral bleaching is destroying the coral reefs and ruining beautiful areas. 

Warmer oceans are aiding this phenomenon.

climate change is causing warm oceans which is causing coral bleaching. 

Ocean Dead Zones 

Areas where the ocean loses necessary oxygen are ocean dead zones. 

Warmer waters caused by climate change keep water from being able to hold as much oxygen as colder waters. 

Ocean life metabolism is also increased in warmer waters requiring more oxygen for ocean life. 

Ocean Pollution

Ocean pollution amplifies most issue that relate to the ocean. 

The main idea related to climate control is that greenhouse gasses caused by inland pollution is also absorbed by the ocean increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean. 

This increases issue like dead zones.

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification is caused when the pH in the water is lowered to dangerous levels. 

Ocean acidification is caused by pollution and increased carbon dioxide in the water. 

Climate change increases the amount of carbon dioxide that is put into the water. 

Oil Drilling

Oil spills have a dramatic effect on oceans. 

Oil is toxic to all creatures in the ocean and is extremely hard to clean up. 

Oil toxicity runs water and the nutrients within in. 

Oil itself harms creatures by covering them in a toxic sludge that makes it impossible for them to continue normal life. 

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are dangerous and they are getting even more dangerous. 

Scientist are beginning to make a connection between hurricanes and climate change. 

hurricanes are connected to warmer waters with the increase in temperatures these warmer waters are always present and feeding these storms.