4.B - the impacts of climate change are dynamic

Question 1

what are the risks of climate change to the polar regions?

Answer 1

• marine ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems
• no potential for additional adapation to reduce risk
• polar bears - need ice flows to hunt. if that is gone they have nowhere to go

Question 2

what are the risks of climate change to Africa?

Answer 2

• compounded stress on water (drought and desertification)
• reduced crop productiviity affects livelihoods and food security
• vector and water bourne diseases

Question 3

what are the risks of climate change to SIDS?

Answer 3

• coastal flooding/erosion
• loss of livelihoods, settlements, infrastructure, ecosystem services and economic stability
• risks for low-lying coastal areas

Question 4

what are the effects of global warming in the arctic?

Answer 4

• ice is thinner
• less extensive coverage, particularly in summer

Question 5

why is warming more acute in the arctic?

Answer 5

• as surrounding water gets warmer it helps melt more of the ice
• more than 90% of heat that hits open ocean is absorbed
• when there’s no ice to reflect (albedo effect) = positive feedback loop

Question 6

what is the potential impact of global warming on the Ocean Conveyor?

Answer 6

• w/ more and more ice melting the salinity levels in the N Atlantic are dropping
• ocean currents depend on differences in salt content
• ocean conveyor getting shut down

Question 7

what is biome shift?

Answer 7

• many land, freshwater and ocean species are shifting their geographic ranges to cooler climates or higher altitudes, in an attempt to escape warming.
• they’re changing seasonal behaviours and traditional migration patterns too
• and yet many still face increased extinction risk due to climate change.
• some examples of biome shifts that occurred include woodlands giving way to grasslands in the African Sahel, and shrublands encroaching onto tundra in the arctic

Question 8

how does biome shift affect ecosystems?

Answer 8

• the dieback of trees and shrubs in the Sahel leaves less wood for houses and cooking, while the contraction of Arctic tundra reduces habitat for caribou and other wildlife
• globally vegetation shifts are disrupting ecosystems, reducing habitat for endangered species, and altering the forests that supply water and other services to many people.

Question 9

how have changes to vegetation occured as a result of climate change?

Answer 9

• in canada and alaska, substantial changes in patterns of forest disturbance, including insect outbreaks, blowdown and fire, have been observed in both the boreal and southeast coastal forest.
• rising temperatures have allowed spruce bark beetles to reproduce at twice their normal rate. A sustained outbreak on the Kenai Peninsula has caused over 2.3 million acres of tree mortality, the largest loss from a single outbreak recorded in N America

Question 10

how have the spruce beetles been disastrous for ecosystems in Alaska?

Answer 10

• rising temperatures have allowed spruce bark beetles to reproduce at twice their normal rate.
• A sustained outbreak on the Kenai Peninsula has caused over 2.3 million acres of tree mortality, the largest loss from a single outbreak recorded in N America

Question 11

what impact is biome shift going to have on the climate - ALBEDO EFFECT?

Answer 11

WILL EXACERBATE THE ALBEDO EFFECT
- when snow falls on the tundra’s shrubs, it creates a continuous white blanket that reflects the sun’s energy back into space
- biome shift = more tree growth in the mild Eurasian piece of the Arctic. 10-15% is now covered in tree-size shrubs
- trees rise above the snow, breaking up the white and darkening the land surface
- as a result less energy is reflected back into space and more is absorbed, resulting in warming (PFL)

Question 12

what impact is biome shift going to have on the climate?

Answer 12

• will exacerbate albedo effect
• will reduce habitat for caribou and other wildlife
• dieback of trees and shrubs in Sahel = less wood for houses and cooking
• globally vegetation shifts are disrupting ecosystems, altering the forests that supply water and other services to many people
• trees are slow growing. net gain/carbon absorption are outweighed by loss of permafrost/albedo effect.

Question 13

how can an increase in sea surface temperatures be devastating for the Arctic ecosystem?

Answer 13

• upwelling of nutrients is cut off
• phytoplankton can’t grow
• phytoplankton play a big role in removing GHG emissions from atmosphere, and are also the foundation of the ocean food chain
• as nutrients become scarce at the surface, where the phytoplankton grow, productivity declines

Question 14

how are the Alaskan Gwich’in people vulnerable to the impacts of global warming?

Answer 14

• hunting is what puts food on the table. they survive mostly from hunting caribou
• the impacts of oil drilling for the developed world are felt more intensely w/in this part of the Yukon
• less snowfall = snowmobile/sled transportation = more difficult
• ice is too thin to carry heavy loads and calves drown when they try to cross rivers that are usually frozen
• not possible to import food = very expensive
• in 10 years = 25% drop in caribou

Question 15

what makes SIDS vulnerable?

Answer 15

• low lying
• substicence lifestyle.
• biome shift + ocean temps increasing = fish farming changes
• often poor nations

Question 16

how is climate change affecting the Maldives?

Answer 16

• According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) projections, the predicted sea-level rise of 0.5-0.8 metres will mean that Maldives will lose most of its land area by the year 2100.
• Maldives, being the lowest-lying country in the world, with no immediate neighbours on the mainland, a high population density, and an over-reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism and fisheries to fuel its economy, is highly vulnerable to climate change.
• The then Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed hosted an underwater cabinet meeting in October 2009 in an emotional appeal to attract global focus to their plight.

Question 17

what are the PHYSICAL IMPACTS of climate change on the Maldives?

Answer 17

• As the flattest country on Earth, the Republic of Maldives is extremely vulnerable to rising sea level and faces the very real possibility that the majority of its land area will be underwater by the end of this century.
• Today, the white sand beaches and extensive coral reefs of the Maldives’ 1,190 islands draw more than 600,000 tourists annually.
• Sea level rise is likely to worsen existing environmental stresses in the Maldives, such as periodic flooding from storm surges, and a scarcity of freshwater for drinking and other purposes.
• Given mid–level scenarios for global warming emissions, the Maldives is projected to experience sea level rise on the order of 1.5 feet (half a meter)—and to lose some 77 percent of its land area—by around the year 2100.
• If sea level were instead to rise by 3 feet (1 meter), the Maldives could be almost completely inundated by about 2085.
• At the current rate of global warming, almost 80% of the Maldives could become uninhabitable by 2050
• Monsoons and tropical storms are more frequent and more violent. They are exaggerating natural coastal erosion and making it happen much more quickly.

Question 18

what are the IMPACTS ON DEMOGRAPHICS because of climate change on the Maldives?

Answer 18

• By 2050, 80% of the country could become uninhabitable due to sea level rise from global warming.
• 80% of the islands are only 1m above sea level, meaningextremeweather eventsdrasticallyeffectSIDS and the people living there
• For example, a tsunami in 2004 flooded two-thirds of Maldives with 82 people dying and 26 missing when the tsunami triggered the most powerful earthquake since 1964 (9.0 magnitude)
• Affect tourism drastically aspeople become aware of dangerousweather events occuring and so will no longer want to visit. 25% of its GDP comes from tourism
• In 2022, 84 refugees and 109 refugee claimants were registered coming from the Maldive islands. Although seemingly not a lot, there total population is only around 500,000. Families separated, schooling interuppted.
• Mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue fever and zika can be contracted in the Maldives and climate changewill cause a rise in cases of these diseases -> decrease population further

Question 19

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS because of climate change on the Maldives?

Answer 19

• Tourism and fisheries together contribute 40% of the Maldives’ GDP and employ 70% of the total population. These sectors are vulnerable to climate events as 70-90% of tourism and fisheries infrastructure is within 100 metres of the coast.
• Due to their proximity to the coast, trade and transportation infrastructures are vulnerable to sea-level rise, cyclones, and flooding.
• Damage to these infrastructures results in a loss of GDP and jobs and high reconstruction cost.
• Threats of flooding, saltwater intrusion, unpredictable rainfall, and loss of transportation and communication routes affect food security.
• Furthermore, domestic cultivation of only a few subsistence crops explains Maldives’ heavy dependence on food imports.
• Crop losses will impact women’s livelihoods and marginalise them further.
• Also, climate change has threatened the projected revenue income from the major foreign-funded infrastructure projects, such as the Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
• The potential loss to these projects imperils the country’s ability to repay its debt and jeopardises future investments risk-prone areas.
• Houses could be damaged or destroyed, and severe flooding could make entire communities homeless.
• Supplies of freshwater are already low on many of the Islands. If supplies are polluted with salty seawater during floods then less freshwater will be available. Some islands will have to rely on rainwater or build expensive desalination plants (also economic) to meet their water demands.

Question 20

why is climate change a risk to public health?

Answer 20

• due to climate change, higher altitude places e.g. Cabale in Uganda have higher temps = CDs such as malaria more prevelant becuase mosquitoes are able to survive now.
• places that have been immune to it are now under threat and don’t know how to mitigate it
• higher temps are also increasing the risk of food contamination by salmonella and other bacteria which cause food poisoning
• heavier frainfall increases flood frequencies and probability of water supplies polluted by human waste
• droughts and floods reduce crop yields and food production = malnutritions
• WHO forecasts an additional 250,000 deaths/year worldwide between 2030-50 linked to climate change and spread of infectious disease, malnutrition and diarrhea

Question 21

why are cities such as London most vulnerable to high temperatures?

Answer 21

• URBAN HEAT ISLAND PHENOMENON
• the bigger the city the more noticable the effect
• building and man made surfaces absorb much more heat than green spaces do.
• that heat is then slowly released, increasing city air temps well into the night = no relief from the heat.

Question 22

what happened in 2003?

Answer 22

• 10 day heatwave, 35,000 people across Europe died from the heat
• 9th August = central London nighttime temps 9C hotter than surrounding countryside
• by 2020 heatwaves like this = 25x more likely

Question 23

how might we adapt to more frequent/hotter heatwaves in the future?

Answer 23

• london underground - water cooling system instead of air con

Question 24

what is the solution to dealing with water shortages in the UK?

Answer 24

• build more reservoirs
• meet demand in the impacts of climate change

Question 25

why is flooding likely to get worse?

Answer 25

• 1/4 of all household that flood in UK are in towns and cities, like glasgow. threat comes from sewage
• autumn of 2000 = heaviest rainfall since records began = extensive flooding to properties all along the river front in Bewdley

Question 26

how does climate change affect health - KEY FACTS?

Answer 26

• climate change affects the social and environmental determinants of health - clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter
• between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approx 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress
• the direct damage costs to health is estimated to be $2-4bill/year by 2030
• areas with weak health infrastructire, mostly in developing countries, will be the least able to cope w/o assistance to prepare and respond
• reducing emissions of GHGs through better transport, food and energy-use choices can result in improved health, particularly through reduced air pollution

Question 27

what is happening in climate change because of climate change?

Answer 27

• according to projections, predicted SL rise of 0.5 metres will mean that the Maldives will lose most of its land area by 2100.
• Maldives, being the lowest lying country in the world, with no immediate neighbours on the mainland, a high population density, and an over-reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism and fisheries to fuel its economy is highly vulnerable to climate change
• the then President Mohamed Nasheed hosted an underwater cabinet meeting in Oct 2009 in an emotional appeal to attract global focus to their plight

Question 28

what are the physical impacts of climate change in the Maldives? RISING SEA LEVEL

Answer 28

• as the flattest country on Earth, the Maldives is extremely vulnerable to rising SL and faces the very real possibility that the majority of its land area will be underwater by 2100
• SL rise is likely to worsen existing environmental stresses in the Maldives, such as periodic flooding from storm surges, and a scarcity of freshwater for drinking and other purposes

Question 29

how much land is the Maldives predicted to lose to rising sea levels?

Answer 29

• Given mid–level scenarios for global warming emissions, the Maldives is projected to experience sea level rise of half a meter —and to lose some 77 percent of its land area—by around the year 2100.
• If sea level were instead to rise by 1 meter, the Maldives could be almost completely inundated by about 2085.

Question 30

how much land is the Maldives predicted to lose to rising sea levels at the current rate of global warming?

Answer 30

• at the current rate of global warming, almost 80% of the maldives could become uninhabitable by 2050, according to multiple reports from NASA

Question 31

what are the physical impacts of climate change in the Maldives? TROPICAL STORMS

Answer 31

• monsoons and tropical storms are more frequent and more violent
• they are exaggerating natural coastal erosion and making it happen much more quickly

Question 32

what are the impacts of climate change on the population of the maldives?

Answer 32

• 80% of the islands are only 1m above sea level, meaning extreme weather events drastically affect SIDS and the people living there
• affects tourism drastically as people become aware of dangerous weather events occurring and so will no longer a
  want to visit. 25% of its GDP comes from tourism
• in 2022 200 refugees were registered coming from the Maldives. families separated, schooling interrupted.
• mosquito borne illnesses, including dengue fever and zika virus can be contracted in the Maldives and climatic change will cause a rise in cases of these diseases.

Question 33

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMICS impacts of climate change on the maldives? TOURISM

Answer 33

• tourism and fisheries contribute 40% of the maldives GDP and employ 70% of the total population
• these sectors are vulnerable to climate change events as 70-90% of tourism and fisheries infrastructure is within 100 metres of the coast. vulnerable to SL rise, cyclones and flooding. damage to these infrastructures results in loss of GDP and jobs, and high reconstruction costs.

Question 34

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMICS impacts of climate change on the maldives? SUBSISTENCE LIFESTYLES

Answer 34

• domestic cultivation of only a few subsistence crops explains Maldives’ heavy dependence on food imports.
• crop losses will impact women’s livelihoods and marginalise them further
• similarly tuna, a critical foreign exchange earner for Maldives, accounting for 90% of its total fish exports, is sensitive to temperature fluctuations
• the govt will face a loss of tax revenues due to the demand for aid or subsidies, impeding the creation of domestic jobs

Question 35

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMICS impacts of climate change on the maldives? PROJECTED INCOME

Answer 35

• climate change has threatened the projected revenue income from the major FDI funded infrastructure projects
• such as the Hanimaadhoo International Airport
• the potential loss to these projects imperils the country’s ability to repay its debt and jeopardises future investments in risk prone areas

Question 36

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMICS impacts of climate change on the maldives? HOUSES

Answer 36

• houses could be damaged or destroyed, and severe flooding could make entire communities homeless

Question 37

what are the SOCIO-ECONOMICS impacts of climate change on the maldives? SUPPLIES OF FRESHWATER

Answer 37

• supplies of freshwater are already low on many of the islands
• if supplies are polluted with salty seawater during floods then less freshwater will be available
• some islands will have to rely on rainwater or build expensive desalination plants to meet their water demands