*5.1.2 Mountain glaciers and lakes*

Climate change causes mountain glaciers to melt and accelerates the rate of ice loss on Earth in Greenland and Antarctica (**Figure 3**). Some glaciers are sites of

**203**

**Figure 4.**

*Impact of Climate Change on Life*

*5.1.3 Sea levels*

particularly impacted.

*5.1.4 Hurricanes and rainstorms*

*Climate change triggers rise in sea levels.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94538*

powerful sacred and symbolic meanings for local communities (e.g., in the Peruvian

Climate change triggers rise in sea levels. The sea levels rise following either an increase in the volume of the water already in the ocean as water warms and expands or an increase in the mass of the water in the ocean mainly due to melting glaciers [4]. Since 1900, global mean sea level has increased by approximately 0.20 meter [4]. Over the last 25 years, the global mean see level rose on average by 0.003 meter per year [8]. By 2100, based on different emissions scenarios, sea levels are predicted to rise between 0.40 and 1.50 meters [4]. The sea-level rise will lead to disappearance of some islands and flooding with invasion of cities by water, leading

The salty ocean water will challenge native plants and animals to adapt to the changing conditions. For humans, it causes salination of freshwater supplies and loss of productive farmlands [8]. Low-income countries (e.g., Bangladesh) are

Climate change promotes more dangerous hurricanes and heavier rainstorms due to warmer ocean water temperature (**Figure 5**) [4, 9]. The proportion of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has increased at a rate of 25–30% per 1.0°C of global warming [9]. Hurricane Katrina (Category 5, New Orleans, USA, 2005) was one of the deadliest hurricanes in recent USA history. The total number of direct or indirect fatalities following hurricane Katrina was 1,833 (reports from state and local officials in five states). The 2019 North Atlantic hurricane season had six hurricanes

(including three major hurricanes, e.g., Category 3 or higher).

Andes, the Nepalese Himalayas, and the Chinese Meili Snow Mountains) [7]. Lakes around the world are freezing less and for a shorter duration. In few

decades, thousands of lakes may lose their winter ice cover.

to homelessness and population movement (**Figure 4**).

**Figure 3.** *Climate change causes melting of mountain glaciers.*

#### *Impact of Climate Change on Life DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94538*

powerful sacred and symbolic meanings for local communities (e.g., in the Peruvian Andes, the Nepalese Himalayas, and the Chinese Meili Snow Mountains) [7].

Lakes around the world are freezing less and for a shorter duration. In few decades, thousands of lakes may lose their winter ice cover.
