20 - Disruption of the Water Cycle

20 Infiltration Snow Rain Clouds Evaporation Disruption of the Water Cycle
Set 3 www.climatefresk.org 20 Hotter oceans and a hotter atmosphere lead to stronger evaporation, causing rainclouds and rainfall. Hotter land and a hotter atmosphere also lead to stronger evaporation, this time causing the ground to dry out.

3
Causes

Increase in Water Temperature

Increase in Water Temperature


Temperature Rise

Temperature Rise


Methane Hydrates

Methane Hydrates

Weakening of thermohaline circulation may disrupt water cycle even more in many places in the word.

5
Consequences

Terrestrial Biodiversity

Disruption of the Water Cycle


River Flooding

Disruption of the Water Cycle


Droughts

Disruption of the Water Cycle


Coastal flooding

Disruption of the Water Cycle


Hurricanes

Disruption of the Water Cycle


1
Other possible cause

Deforestation

Deforestation

Deforestation can perturb local precipitation.

2
Other possible consequences

Melting of Ice Caps

Disruption of the Water Cycle

It's a bit technical, but the blue part of the map of Antarctica on card 19 represents a gain in mass due to an increase of precipitations. The red part represents a loss in mass. In total, Antarctica is losing mass.
Vectors of Disease

Disruption of the Water Cycle

The Vectors of disease card is generally linked to the Terrestrial Biodiversity card because disease vectors are a sub-part of biodiversity, but it can also be linked to the same causes as the biodiversity card, i.e. Disruption of the Water Cycle and Rising Air Temperatures.

1
Wrong cause

Melting of Sea Ice

Melting of Sea Ice

The melting of the Arctic ice pack, but also the melting of Greenland's glaciers may lead, in the distant future, to a disruption of the thermohaline circulation (which gives rise to the Gulf Stream). But beware, the "Water Cycle" card does not refer at all to the thermohaline circulation.

1
Wrong consequence

Sea Level Rise

Disruption of the Water Cycle

No, more rain is not going to cause the oceans to overflow! This is a rare mistake to be made, but if it happens to you, ask the players where rainclouds come from...
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