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Sometimes climate change just seems like an abstraction—like some environmental doomsday scenario whose consequences lurk far in the future. Of course, global warming has begun to effect ecosystems and weather patterns—and entire human communities—across the globe already. And knowing exactly what sort of impact climate change is having on the region which you live is a good way to bring the concept home, to help further our understanding of the phenomenon's significance.
For instance, right here in the US glaciers are melting, coral is getting bleached, marshes are vanishing, and animal migration paths are changing due to the effects of climate change. And by using this handy online map at Climate Hot Map, you can see for yourself what's going on right around your home.
You simply click on regions of the map, and the program will display exactly what ills are taking place there. For example, if you live in Chesapeake Bay, a click reveals the following:
Chesapeake Bay—Marsh and island loss. The current rate of a sea-level rise is three times the historical rate and appears to be accelerating. Since 1938, about one-third of the marsh at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has been submerged.
Bad news. How about Glacier Park, Montana? "All glaciers in the park will be gone by 2070 if retreat continues at its current rate." Guess they'd have to change the name...
Anyhow, you get the idea. It can be a pretty frightening experience, even with the site's rudimentary graphics. Yet it's a useful tool that can really solidify one's understanding of the power of climate change—which is a good thing. No, the point isn't to scare you—it's simply to help you recognize that things are changing now. And that we need to act now to start preventing the worst of it.
More on Climate Change:
Climate Change a Bunch of Hooey...and Other Google Search Results
12 Colleges Chosen to Fight Climate Change
Native Cultures Endangered By Climate Change
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