20 - Disruption of the Water Cycle

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This card shows why we used to talk about global warming and now about climate change. Temperature increase is in itself a problem, but you can see that disruption of the water cycle has much more consequences.

Earth from Space
Imagine the world without water: as cold and lifeless as the planet Mars. Earth is unique in our solar system in being able to sustain liquid water on its surface. Water is essential for life and for Earth’s climate, helping transport heat around the planet, but it is difficult to track through the whole water cycle. The global view offered by satellites helps. ESA’s Climate Change Initiative is looking at a range of climate variables linked to the water cycle.
Credits :© ESA/Planetary Visions
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2
Causes

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Rising Temperatures

Disruption of the Water Cycle

6
Consequences

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Disruption of the Water Cycle

1
Other possible cause

Disruption of the Water Cycle

Deforestation can perturb local precipitation.

2
Other possible consequences

Melting Ice Sheets

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.

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

Disruption of the Water Cycle

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

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...