(MUSIC)
JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN,
HOST: THE EARTH'S CLIMATE HAS
NATURALLY CYCLED THROUGH CHANGE.
BUT IN THE PAST FEW HUNDRED
YEARS, THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURE
HAS INCREASED TEN TIMES FASTER
THAN THE AVERAGES FOUND IN THE
PAST.
97 PERCENT OF CLIMATE SCIENTISTS
THINK THE EARTH'S WARMING IS DUE
TO INCREASING LEVELS OF CARBON
DIOXIDE IN OUR ATMOSPHERE.
THE MORE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE
ATMOSPHERE, THE MORE HEAT FROM
THE SUN GETS TRAPPED AND THE
HIGHER TEMPERATURES GO.
AND THAT CAUSES ICE SHEETS TO
SHRINK, GLACIERS TO DISAPPEAR,
AND OCEANS TO BECOME MORE
ACIDIC.
THE AMERICAN PIKA CAN DIE IF
IT'S EXPOSED TO TEMPERATURES
WARMER THAN 78 DEGREE
FAHRENHEIT.
SO, THEY HAVING TO CLIMB TO
HIGHER HABITATS TO STAY COOL.
BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY
RUN OUT OF MOUNTAIN?
HUNDREDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
HAVE ALREADY BEEN AFFECTED BY
CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO, CLIMATE CHANGE CAN PUT
HABITATS IN DANGER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
HABITATS CHECK OUT THE SCIENCE
TREK WEBSITE.
YOU'LL FIND IT AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCE TREK