Global Warming and Healthcare Infrastructure
Global Warming is a matter of public health. Will we be ready? Will you help?
A Brewing Storm
Co2 Levels in the atmosphere:
Before Present time:
Year || Co2 Parts per million (ppm)
400,000 280
375,000 200
350,000 180
(330,000= peak of 290)
325,000 265
300,000 240
275,000 210
250,000 190
(then immediately afterwards peaks at 270 within 10,000 years)
225,000 240
200,000 210
175,000 200
150,000 200
125,000 270
100,000 220
75,000 185
50,000 185
25,000 185
20,000 180
10,000 265
Modern Day:
1980 338.80
1981 340.00
1982 340.76
1983 342.44
1984 343.98
1985 345.46
1986 346.89
1987 348.64
1988 351.18
1989 352.78
1990 353.98
1991 355.30
1992 356.01
1993 356.73
1994 358.21
1995 360.04
1996 361.81
1997 362.92
1998 365.56
1999 367.64
2000 368.85
2001 370.40
2002 372.42
2003 374.97
2004 376.78
2005 378.81
2006 380.93
2007 382.70
2008 384.77
2009 386.28
2010 388.57
2011 390.49
2012 392.52
2013 395.31
April 2014 401.33 [2] <--First month above 400 parts per million in human history
550 ppm <--present day biosphere will be damaged[3]
Average Temperature by year (Fahrenheit):[6]
1980 57.60 Extreme Weather: In 2003, extreme heat claimed the lives of 70,000 in Europe[10] Infectious Disease, food and waterborne illness Dengue fever viruses previously limited to 3,300 ft elevation. Acidified Oceans Kill off some plankton, rippling through the ecosystem Low productivity/ The production of food will be turned on its head.[15] Increase in C02 Estimated Global Sea Level Rise by 2100 (inches):[11] Relative sea rise depends on the geography of the region, however. A two foot global sea rise equals:[12] 300,000 people die yearly from climate change.[13] And the number is accelerating. By 2050 an estimated 200 million will be refugees.[13] Global Warming is a matter of public health. Citations:
1981 57.70
1982 57.36
1983 57.69
1984 57.40
1985 57.33
1986 57.45
1987 57.70
1988 57.81
1989 57.61
1990 57.90
1991 57.87
1992 57.52
1993 57.54
1994 57.70
1995 57.96
1996 57.78
1997 58.01
1998 58.30 / one of ten warmest years on record[7]
1999 57.90
2000 57.92
2001 58.14 / one of ten warmest years on record
Hot/dry– [9]
Hot and dry weather led to a record 2006 wildfire season.
125% above the decades average
100,000 fires burning nearly 10 million acres
Droughts and Deluges disrupt ecosystems
spreading: malaria, dengue fever, tick borne encephalitis, and diarrheal illness
With warming temperatures access up to 7,200 ft.
Putting high altitude areas in Colombia, Indonesia, and Africa at risk
Inability of Calcium Carbonate shells and skeletons to be formed
By 2050 there will be 1-3 billion more mouths to feed.
–While…
Rain-fed agriculture yields in Africa could decline by 50% by 2020.
= Increase in rice, soybean and wheat production
But greater risk of flooding, droughts, and changes in growing seasons.
Unchecked, climate change risks the very food we eat. Are you willing to risk it?
Sea Level Rise
2012=49% lower Arctic Sea ice extent[11]
Compared to 1979-2000 average
Estimate 1: 13.32
Estimate 2: 15.12
Estimate 3: 16.92
Estimate 4: 15.84
Estimate 5: 20.88
2.3 feet at New York City
2.9 feet at Hampton Roads, Virginia
3.5 feet at Galveston, Texas
1 foot at Neah Bay in Washington state