Unit 3: What are the consequences of climate change?

Question 1

Consequences of Climate Change in the Atmosphere

Answer 1

1. Rise in Global mean temperature
2. Changes in climatic zones
3. Changes in precipitation patterns
4. more frequent extreme weather events

Question 2

changes in climatic zones

Answer 2

• climatic zones extend poleward
• tropical areas -> EXPAND poleward -> temperate area
• temperate areas -> SHIFT poleward -> tropical area
• polar areas shrink
• dry regions -> increase

Question 3

changes in precipitation patterns

Answer 3

changes:
rising temperature -> increase evaporation rates
1. warmer air can hold more moisture -> more precipitation in some moist tropical areas + high latitude areas
2. high evaporation rate -> dry out the land quickly -> dry air -> less precipitation in dry regions in mid-latitude areas + semi-arid tropical areas

Question 4

more frequent extreme weather events

Answer 4

1. warmer oceans -> more evaporation + condensation -> more common + intense tropical cyclones
2. storm surges
3. heat waves and wildfires
4. cold spells
5. rising sea level -> greater + frequent storm surges -> more precipitation in some places
   -» flooding
6. drought (more severe and long lasting)

Question 5

how flooding is caused

Answer 5

1. rising sea level
2. greater + frequent storm surges
3. more precipitation in some places
   -» flooding

Question 6

storm surges meaning

Answer 6

abnormal rise in seawater during a storm

Question 7

why there are changes in precipitation patterns

Answer 7

climate change -> shift in air + ocean currents -> change in precipitation patterns

Question 8

Consequences of Climate Change in the Hydrosphere

Answer 8

1. Retreat and disappearance of glaciers
2. Melting of sea ice
3. Disruption of ice shelf (e.g. Larsen Ice Shelf in Antarctica)
4. Melting of Ice sheet -> rising sea level
5. Ocean acidification
6. Rising sea level

Question 9

Retreat and disappearance of glaciers

Answer 9

short term:
melting of glaciers -> river flow decreases
long term:
glaciers depleted -> river flow decreases

Question 10

melting of sea ice example

Answer 10

floating ice in the arctic ocean disappears

Question 11

melting of ice sheet

Answer 11

melting of greenland + antarctic ice sheet -> rising sea level

Question 12

ocean acidification

Answer 12

increasing co2 from global warming -> oceans absorb more co2 (co2 is slightly acidic) -> PH value of ocean lowers

Question 13

rising sea level cause

Answer 13

meltwater running into the ocean + thermal expansion of seawater

Question 14

Consequences of Climate Change in the Lithosphere

Answer 14

1. Inundation of low-lying coastal areas and islands
2. Salinisation
3. More serious wave erosion
4. Loss of global coastal wetland
5. Melting of frozen ground / permafrost

Question 15

reasons of inundation of low-lying coastal areas and islands

Answer 15

1. melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice and snow
2. thermal expansion of water

Question 16

examples of inundation of low-lying coastal areas and islands

Answer 16

1. Maldives
2. Turela
3. Bangladesh

Question 17

Salinisation in hydrosphere

Answer 17

• rising sea level
• intrusion of sea water + salinisation of ground water supplies

Question 18

where is erosion more serious

Answer 18

at the coast

Question 19

melting of frozen ground / permafrost…

Answer 19

• release co2 + methane into the atmosphere
• increase slope instability

Question 20

Consequences of Climate Change in the Biosphere

Answer 20

1. Shift of distribution of plants
2. Extinction of species
3. Desertification
4. Hill Fires

Question 21

Shift in distribution of plants

Answer 21

• deserts expand -> semi-arid region

because:
1. increasing temperature
2. soil degradation
3. decreasing rainfall
- tropical rainfalls -> savanna / degrade to desert (e.g. Amazon Basin)

• Forests (tree line) expand poleward / into highland areas
• area of tundra shrinks
• northern high latitudes -> native plants cannot adapt to warmer climates -> cannot survive -> less plants in Northern high latitudes

Question 22

where do forest expands as a result of global warming

Answer 22

polewards / into highland areas

Question 23

why do tropical rainfalls degrade and what do they turn into due to global warming

Answer 23

1. increasing temperature
2. soil degradation
3. decreasing rainfall

-> turn into savanna / degrade into deserts

e.g. amazon basin

Question 24

why are there less plants in northern high latitudes due to global warming

Answer 24

global warming -> northern high latitudes -> native plants cannot adapt to warmer climates -> cannot survive -> less plants in Northern high latitudes

Question 25

why has there been more common + intense tropical cyclones

Answer 25

global warming -> warmer oceans -> more evaporation + condensation -> more common + intense tropical cyclones

Question 26

extinction of species due to global warming ___

Answer 26

1. increases risk of some species and rapid growth of others 2. disturb food chain 3. destroys the ecosystem 4. inundate coastal habitats warmer ocean temperature -> death of algae on corals -> coral bleaching -> reduce habitats -> disrupt food chain -> disrupt ecological balance

Question 27

examples of extinct animals

Answer 27

1. king penguin in the Antarctic region 2. polar bears

Question 28

examples of inundated coastal habitats

Answer 28

1. mangrove 2. beaches 3. marshes 4. mudflats

Question 29

how is the ecological balance disrupted due to global warming

Answer 29

global warming -> warmer ocean temperature -> death of algae on corals -> coral bleaching -> reduce habitats -> disrupt food chain -> disrupt ecological balance

Question 30

Desertification

Answer 30

global warming -> higher evaporation rate -> dry soil - unfavourable to vegetation growth

Question 31

how desertification leads to climate change / drought

Answer 31

desertification -> land degradation -> -> loss of vegetation -> -> decreased: 1. evapotranspiration 2. cloud formation 3. absorption of Co2 -> DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE

Question 32

how climate change / drought leads to desertification

Answer 32

long term change of climate towards aridity -> temperature rises + high evaporation -> -> 1. water table decrease (drop) 2. soil moisture deficit 3. decrease of condensation and rainfall -> -> loss of protective vegetation cover -> increase in soil erosion -> DESERTIFICATION

Question 33

hill fires in biosphere

Answer 33

1. reduces total area of vegetation less evaporation + transpiration -> intensify drought

Question 34

how are droughts intensified

Answer 34

less evaporation + transpiration

Question 35

Consequences of Climate Change socio-economically

Answer 35

1. migration of people 2. agriculture + food supply 3. freshwater supply 4. health issues 5. tourism 6. infrastructure + navigation

Question 36

reasons of migration of people

Answer 36

1. inundate coastal lowlands 2. intensified coastal erosion 3. more storm surges 4. coastal flooding

Question 37

negative climate change impacts on agriculture and food supply

Answer 37

1. loss of soil moisture due to higher evaporation rate 2. lower land productivity 3. desertification -> decrease arable land 4. inundate coastal farmland 5. warmer + shorter winter -> active pests 6. more frequent flooding + drought 7. greater threat to countries who are already suffering from food shortage (e.g. the Sahel)

Question 38

positive climate change impacts on agriculture and food supply

Answer 38

1. extends the growing season + frost free period in middle + high latitude areas (e.g. Russia + NE China) 2. increase crop varieties in middle + high latitude areas

Question 39

climate change on freshwater supply

Answer 39

decrease of precipitation -> increasing evaporation rate -> shrinking of irrigations + ice caps (long run) ->> decrease of freshwater supply - intrusion of seawater into freshwater aquifers in coastal areas -> groundwater too salty for drinking or irrigation - ease water shortage problems in some areas with increasing precipitation (positive impact!) example: melted ice caps and glaciers from the Himalayas -> decreased irrigation water supply -> disrupt farming activities along Ganges River

Question 40

how is freshwater supply decreased

Answer 40

1. decrease of precipitation 2. increasing evaporation rate 3. shrinking of irrigations + ice caps (long run) -> decrease of freshwater supply

Question 41

global warming on health issues

Answer 41

- change distribution patterns on 1. parasites 2. bacteria 3. carriers of infectious diseases e.g. dengue + malaria spreading to temperate areas - heat-related health problems - fewer cold-related health problems (positive impact!)

Question 42

global warming on tourism

Answer 42

- shorter ski season + decreasing snow cover on mountains -> disrupt winter tourism + skiing industry - disrupt tourism in countries with more frequent heat waves - coral bleaching -> less attractive for tourists

Question 43

global warming on infrastructure + navigation

Answer 43

global warming -> melting of permafrost -> reduce stability of buildings + roads + pipelines -disrupt transport - large ice blocks breaking off from ice glaciers / ice shelves -> threat of ships around North Atlantic + Antarctica positive impacts in Arctic: 1. shorter shipping routes -> new shipping lanes 2. tap oil + fisheries + mineral resources

Question 44

how species go extinct due to global warming

Answer 44

1. climatic changes -> some species unable to adapt to climate changes 2. rise in sea levels -> inundates coastal habitats -> loss of living and breeding grounds for some species - >> mass die off of some species -> local or global extinction of certain species -> biodiversity decreased -> food chain breaks down -> ecosystem destroyed -> extinction

Question 45

coral bleaching in ecosystems

Answer 45

water temperature rise -> coral bleaching -> marine life loses food and shelter -> loss of marine habitats -> mass die-offs of some marine animals -> disrupts balance of marine ecosystems

Question 46

changes in precipitation patterns: why do some places have MORE precipitation?