2. What predictions can you make from the hypothesis that global temperatures are rising? Think of predictions beyond those discussed in this chapter

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some possible answers:
· Higher temperatures will mean more evaporation, so there should be more evidence of droughts. [Note: Fewer students recognize that increased temperatures invigorate all aspects of the hydrologic cycle, so that increased evaporation will also mean increased precipitation. However, since the evaporation and precipitation processes do not necessarily happen equally at the same locations, some places can expect drought whereas other can anticipate increased rainfall.]
· Less snowfall in mountains during the winter, which will be recorded by how long ski resorts are open from year to year.
· Geographic ranges of plants and animals should change as temperatures change, allowing warm-climate plants and animals to expand to higher latitudes and higher elevations. So, historic records should show appearances of animals and plants in recent years that were not seen in the same location previously.
· Tropical diseases and parasites will expand north and south from the equator, so records should show expanding ranges of these diseases and parasites.