Global Warming Images
 
11962 Media in 33 Categories     
 



animals (520)
Evolution has caused all living things to become adapted to their particular environment. Most species will inhabit a particular geographical, temperature, height, or habitat range, with an immense amount of inter-connectivity and inter-dependence between them. Many species were already at risk pre global warming due to hunting, habitat degradation or destruction and introduction of alien species that out compete with indigenous ones. As the planet warms many species have to adapt, some will cope, and inevitably many will not and will become extinct. Modelling shows that with a two degree rise in the earth’s average temperature around a third of all species on the planet would become extinct. We could reach an average two degrees warmer by as early as 2050. Already we are seeing the affects of these changes as animals try to adapt to a warming world. Many bird species are laying their eggs earlier than ever recorded, frogs are laying their spawn earlier, butterflies are emerging from hibernation earlier and trees are coming in to leaf earlier in the spring.
 


carbon offset (66)
Though carbon offset is seen by some as controversial and no replacement for reducing carbon emissions, by others it is seen as playing a part in helping individuals, companies and institutions reduce their carbon footprint. Many companies have sprung up that offer carbon offset. They place a price on the carbon released, then invest that money in ways that take carbon out of equation. This may be planting trees that absorb carbon as they grow, or investing in renewable energy in third world countries that replace fossil fuel technologies.
 


China (643)
In 2008 China officially became the worlds single largest emitter of greenhouse gases. A booming economy and strong economic growth over many years has lead to a huge increase in living standards for many and a huge increase in demands for energy. Most of China's electricity is generated in coal fired power stations. China has massive coal reserves, many of which are low grade and highly polluting. China is currently constructing a new coal fired power station every week. the environmental protection standards are woefully inadequate with huge air pollution problems and contaminated rivers. China is currently in the middle of the worst drought in 50 years. Though water shortage is partly driven by over extraction from rivers it is also due to decreasing rainfall totals as a result of climate change. Many northern provinces are suffering with once productive agricultural land turning to desert. Food shortages are predicted to be a real problem in future years for China. Having said all of this, China is investing in renewable energy. Every where I went, the modern apartment blocks all had solar water heaters on the roof.
 


coastal erosion (74)
Coastal Erosion Coastal erosion is a gradual process that takes place over time, but as with all erosion the greatest changes are caused by the most severe events. The gentle lapping of waves at a cliff edge, over time will cause a small degree of weathering; however the ferocious winter storm that generates much larger waves will cause the greatest degree of erosion. The East coast of England has been eroding since Roman times. It is composed mainly of soft glacial deposits making it vulnerable to the eroding force of wave power. The rate of erosion has increased dramatically in recent times due to a greater incidence of stormy weather. As the planet warms the computer models predict that we will see an increase in both the number and ferocity of storms, leading to even more rapid coastal erosion. Already on some parts of the East coast of England the authorities are looking at managed retreat, whereby farmer’s fields are left to convert to salt marsh as the sea defences are taken down.
 


coral bleaching (34)
Coral Bleaching Coral reefs have been described as the tropical rainforests of the sea. They harbour a huge range of bio diversity as well as providing protection to shorelines from coastal erosion. Corals are formed from a symbiotic relationship between Scleractinian Coral and microalgae. Corals come in many different forms, but all are dependent on the relationship with the algae. Coral tends to form in areas of relatively stable sea temperatures around the tropics. In recent years increasing areas of reef have been bleached. This bleaching is caused when the temperature of the sea gets too warm, causing the coral to eject the algae. Once the pigmented algae are rejected the translucent coral then appears white. Reefs can recover from bleaching episodes if they are not too frequent or too severe. As global warming is causing sea temperatures to rise around the planet, more and more areas of reef are suffering bleaching.
 


climate criminals (1020)
Climate Criminals Steel works, petrochemical plants, coal fired power stations belching out millions of tonnes of Co2, these are perhaps what we think of as climate criminals. Indeed they can all be found in this category. However the individual switching on a light, the kettle, washing machine, or going for a drive in the car, are equally as guilty and are also featured in this category. Climate criminals are then for the purposes of this site any individual, corporation or process that involves burning fossil fuels and releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
 


Dubai (120)
Dubai is a carbon fools paradise who's excesses and phenomenal growth have exacted a heavy price on the planet. Currently 25% of the worlds cranes are working on massive construction projects in Dubai. Steel and cement are both extremely carbon hungry in their manufacture. The city of Dubai has used more of these materials in recent years than many countries. Among the attractions are the worlds tallest building and a luxury hotel that is having a cooling system fitted under its private beach. Most of this excess could be powered by the abundant solar energy, but instead has been fueled by exploiting its rich oil wealth. Dubai is creating many new islands from the sea to build endless luxury hotels and apartments at a time when other island nations around the world are being threatened by global warming induced sea level rise.
 


education (63)
Education Education plays a vital role in tackling global warming/ climate change. We need individuals to understand the threat that global warming poses not just to humans but to every living thing on the planet. We can all take actions to reduce our carbon footprint, but none of us are going to do this without seeing the need to do so. In this respect educating both children and adults is crucial in the battle against climate change.
 


Finland (202)
Due to Finland's northerly position on the planet it is heating more rapidly than areas closer to the equator. Average temperatures have already risen across Finland by 0.7 degrees celcius in the last century. New climate modeling predictions for Finland show an increase in temperature of between 2.4 - 7.4 degrees c by 2080, they also show a significant increase in precipitation. This will lead to Southern Finland becoming snow free and an increased risk of flooding. The tundra peatlands of Finland as well as containing vast quantities of carbon dioxide also contain huge amounts of methane, as the permafrost melts these are likely to be released in increasing quantities adding to global temperature rise significantly. Northern Finland or Lapland is synonymous with the Reindeer herding Sami people, they are likely to be increasingly adversely affected as conditions become less than ideal for Reindeer to survive in.
 


floods (630)
Perhaps one of the most visible signs of climate change, flooding is starting to affect communities that had hitherto thought they were safe. All the computer models show that as the earth warms the weather will get more severe and less predictable. Some places will get less rain and suffer drought, others will get more leading to catastrophic flooding. Even if annual rainfall totals in some areas remain the same, they will probably suffer greater flooding. This is because the rainfall will be less spread out throughout the year, but more intense. These rainfall events of greater intensity will inevitably lead to more frequent flooding. In the UK alone catastrophic flooding has occurred recently in Carlisle, Sheffield, Doncaster and Tewkesbury affecting millions of people. Not only is this a huge inconvenience, it costs the insurance industry £millions. In addition many farm crops were flooded leading to food shortages. It seems likely that once inhabitable areas of flood plain will become less and less inhabitable as time goes on.
 


food miles (457)
This category contains images that define food miles as well as looking at food security and how our agricultural systems affect the environment and add to climate change. In addition it contains images that show how we can reduce our food miles.
 


forest fires (61)
Forest Fires As the planet warms many areas of woodland are becoming drier. In hot summers tinder box conditions can rapidly lead to devastating forest fires. Not only does this destroy vital habitat, it exacerbates the problem by releasing vast quantities of C02 into the atmosphere. It also poses a threat to human life and property. In the summer of 2004 an area of forest the size of the UK burnt in Alaska
 


fossil fuel (545)
The burning of fossil fuels, chiefly coal, gas and oil is largely responsible for climate change. Burning these fossil energy reserves releases C02 into the atmosphere. This greenhouse gas traps more of the suns solar radiation within the earths atmosphere and causes the earths temperature to rise. We can see from many studies that the earths temperature over millions of years has been very closely linked to the amount of C02 in the atmosphere. In the geological past volcanoes have been responsible for much of the C02. Over the last 1000 years man has added to this by his agricultural practices, deforestation and burning fossil fuels.
 


glacial retreat (368)
Glacial Retreat The earth has seen some 20 odd periods of glaciation in the last 3 million years, interspersed with warmer interglacials. So the temperature of the planet has fluctuated wildly in the past. The difference now is the rate of change. Human induced global warming is causing the average temperature of the earth to rise faster than at any time in its history. One of the most obvious signs of this is the rate at which the majority of the earth’s glaciers are now retreating. Glaciers tend to be found in mountainous areas, being a keen mountaineer I have seen with my own eyes the rate of retreat of glaciers in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Kenya and the USA. Many of the world’s glaciers are a vital water resource from summer melting. If they disappear completely, as they inevitably will from many areas, it will lead to huge water shortages.
 


Greenland (415)
Greenland is the worlds largest none continental island and its ice sheet contains the largest volume of ice outside Antarctica, enough if it were to melt completely to raise global sea levels by nine meters. Ice covers over 80% of the island. Temperatures in Greenland have rocketed in a short space of time, having risen nine degrees fahrenheit in the last 60 years due to human induced climate change. This makes understanding the impacts on the Greenland ice sheet crucial. Many scientists are now working to try to increase our understanding of the likely future impacts on the ice sheet if we don't rapidly reduce the amount of C02 in the atmosphere.
 


inuits (70)
Inuits The Inuits of Shishmaref, Alaska, have a tiny carbon footprint as they still live a traditional hunter gatherer lifestyle. As such they are least responsible for climate change, but are being hugely affected by it. The problem is twofold. The animals that they depend on for survival are shifting range as the Arctic warms up rapidly, making them harder to hunt. Also the Island of Shishmaref is being rapidly eroded by storms as sea ice that once used to protect the island is now absent in early winter. This category includes images of Shishmaref Inuits and their traditional lifestyle
 


Managed Retreat (36)
Sea levels are rising across the world driven by melt water from glaciers and ice sheets. Sea levels will continue to rise putting ever increasing pressure on sea walls and levees that protect vulnerable low lying land around the coast. The cost of protecting these low lying areas is becoming more expensive and more difficult as time goes by. One answer to this problem is managed retreat or coastal realignment. This is where existing coastal protection is deliberately breached to allow sea water to flood onto agricultural land. This takes pressure off during storm surges and helps protect nearby urban areas. As well as protecting towns around the coast managed retreat has the added bonus that it creates valuable wildlife habitat in the form of coastal wetlands.
 


misc (418)
Miscelaneous. A catch all for the images that don't neatly fit into any of the other categories.
 


Peat Bog (60)
Peat Bog Peat forms in boggy ground where instead of decaying the dying plant matter is preserved in the anaerobic conditions and builds up over time to form peat. Peat bogs are carbon sinks and lock up huge quantities of carbon that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. In the UK, peat tends to form in cooler environments. Research has shown that as the earth warms the carbon budget of peat bogs is being affected, with carbon and methane (both greenhouse gases) being released in greater quantities than normal.
 


perma frost (40)
Permafrost. Permafrost, areas of permanently frozen ground, covers large areas of the planet at higher latitudes and elevations. The earth’s temperature is rising more rapidly at higher latitudes than the average temperature rise, leading to large areas of permafrost starting to melt. In Alaska and Siberia this melting is having devastating consequences. Infrastructure built on the permafrost like roads and houses are starting to buckle and sink. Huge swathes of Black Spruce forest are suffering from the phenomenon known as drunken forest, where they lean at alarming angles as the ground beneath them melts and subsides. Summer lakes that formed on top of the permafrost are starting to disappear as the frozen barrier melts and the water drains away.
 


protest (582)
Protest Many of the social causes of the last two centuries have caused people to take to the streets to protest. Never has it been more important to use protest as a way of getting the message across. It is an important part of the global warming story. In this category then are images of people taking to the streets to highlight the problem, as well as people taking direct action in the Climate Camp organisation.
 


Rainforest (20)
Rainforest occurs in the tropics and is the most biodiverse habitat on the planet, it has been described as the lungs of the planet. Not only do the forests produce life giving oxygen but importantly in the battle against climate change they absorb and sequestrate huge quantities of carbon dioxide. In many areas of the world rainforest has been degraded and deforested. This is something of a double whammy as not only are we releasing this stored carbon back into the system, but we are reducing the planets ability to store the ever increasing amounts of carbon dioxide that mankind is emmitting
 


Renewable Energy (946)
If we are to stand any chance of tackling the worst excesses of climate change,we need to switch rapidly to a low carbon economy.This means generating our electricity from renewable means, rather than from fossil fuels.The most obvious sources of renewable energy are wind power, solar power and wave power.We need to invest heavily in these,at the same time as putting a pricing tariff on carbon generated power that will make renewable energy price comparable if not cheaper than generating energy from traditional means.
 


science (119)
Science. Scientific study and research is crucial in the battle against global warming/climate change. Our understanding of the issues comes to us through a science based approach. It is critical that we understand how the earth’s atmosphere and weather are changing and how they have changed in the past. From this we can also predict through computer modelling how the climate will change in the future, and what impacts this is likely to have on life on the planet.
 


seasons (672)
Seasons. It is a frightening but inescapable truth that the seasons are changing. Spring is arriving earlier, summers are getting hotter, autumn is extending into winter and winters are becoming shorter and milder. As part of the story of climate change, I felt it was important to include images of seasons that depict the variety and changing nature of the annual cycle.
 


sea level rise (178)
Sea Level Rise. Sea Levels are starting to rise around the globe. As the earth warms, glaciers and ice sheets melt, releasing water that had been locked up into the oceans. In addition as the water warms it expands also adding to the problem. Most of the world’s largest cities containing millions of people lie at or very close to sea level. The Greenland Ice sheet contains enough freshwater to raise global sea levels by 5 metres, it is currently melting at an alarmingly rapid rate. It seems likely that in the next 30-50 years, millions of people will be made homeless. Tuvalu lying at or barely above sea level will probably one of the first countries to disappear due to global warming.
 


shishmaref (77)

The Inuits of Shishmaref, Alaska, have a tiny carbon footprint as they still live a traditional subsistance hunter gatherer lifestyle. As such they are least responsible for climate change, but are being hugely affected by it. The problem is two fold. The animals that they depend on for survival are shifting range as the Arctic warms up rapidly, making them harder to hunt.

On the tiny island of Shishmaref, ten of the Inuits houses have been washed into the sea and others have had to be moved back from the edge. In the past their island home was protected from the damage of winter storms by the sea ice. As the temperatures soar the sea ice is forming later and later in the year, leaving their island vulnerable to late fall and early winter storms.
 


Sinai Desert (52)
The Sinai Desert has seen temperatures rise by 0.7 degrees centigrade in the last 100 years as a result of climate change. In some respects existing deserts are more resistant to the impacts of climate change as the ecosystems have adapted to very unpredictable rainfall. As climate change advances we are seeing the spread of desert like conditions north across the Mediteranean to areas where the local populations and agriculture are not adapted to such hot dry conditions. In the Sinai The local Bedouin Arabs are superbly adapted to the hot dry desert conditions and may suffer less than their neighbour's across the Mediteranean basin.
 


solutions (1403)
Solutions It is not too late; we can all take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. In this category you will find lots of examples of how to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, including the following. Public transport, renewable energy generation, reducing food miles, wind turbines, HEP, solar power, biodiesel and much more.
 


storm damage (259)
Storm Damage. As the world warms up the weather systems become more active. Hurricanes increase in both frequency and intensity and stormy weather becomes more common. In this category you will find images of the consequences of natures power unleashed.
 


tuvalu (76)
Tuvalu. Sea Levels are starting to rise around the globe. Most of the world’s largest cities containing millions of people lie at or very close to sea level, all vulnerable to sea level rise. Tuvalu, a remote island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean lying at or barely above sea level will probably one of the first countries to disappear entirely due to global warming. Already some of the smaller coral islands of Tuvalu have been destroyed. This section includes images of Tuvaluans and their lifestyle.
 


water resource (381)
Water Resource. As global warming accelerates water resources around the planet are going to be re-distributed. Areas that currently have enough water will dry up leading to drought, others will have too much water leading to erosion and flooding. It seems increasingly likely that water as a resource is something that will start to cause conflict around the planet. This section contains images of water and water use.
 


weather (1355)
Weather. It's all about the weather. When we talk about global warming it is the planets weather which is going to change. From this perspective it makes sense to include in this section, generic images of weather. Clouds, sunset, rainfall, snow, ice, hail, fog, sun, rainbows, wind, all are found in this category.