Ch 11.3 How does climate affect us? Flashcards
How does climate change effect us in terms of rising sea levels?
Global temperature increases -> Ice cover on land retreats and sea water heats up and expands -> sea level rises -> many low lying area and island countries will be flooded.
What are the changes in rainfall patterns?
A rise in air temperature-> water holding capacity in creases and the evaporation rate increases -> moisture in the atmosphere increases -> more precipitation. There will be more rainfall in the world as a whole but it’s unevenly distributed around the world.
In coastal and humid regions, what does higher air temperature cause?
Higher evaporation rate and higher relative humidity leads to higher rate of rainfall.
In inland and dry regions, what does high air temperature cause?
It causes higher evaporation rate but lower relative humidity leads ti lower rainfall and soil becomes even drier.
The changes in meteorological hazards in terms of rain.
Global temperature rises -> more evaporation -> more water vapour condenses releasing more latent heat to the air -> increase of stronger typhoons, increase of stronger blizzards, increase of intenses rainstorms. increases of strong typhoons and blizzards -> greater storm surges, together with rising sea levels. increase of intense rainstorms and increase of stronger typhoons and blizzards both leads to more flooding in low lying areas. These climate hazards become more frequent and intense.
The changes in meteorological hazards in terms of drought and soil.
Global temperature rises -> more evaporation and heat waves. More evaporation in dry areas -> lower relative humidity->rainfall decreases -> prolonged drought -> soil erosion -> worsens desertification. More heat waves-> increase of wildfires.
How the rise of global temperature disrupts the ecosystem?
Higher temperature of the sand upsets the sex ratio of sea turtles and causes less reproduction. Shrinking sea ice reduces the ability of polar bears to find enough foods.
How it disrupts the eco-system as a whole?
Changes in climate -> spread of tropical diseases to temperate areas and some species may not be able to cope with rapid climate change and die off -> destroys the natural habitat -> extinction of animal and marine species -> break down the food chain -> upset the stability of ecosystem, reduce the biodiversity. Rise in sea level -> inundate coastal habitat such as mangrove forests. Rise in seawater temperature and ocean acidification-> causes coral bleaching-> mass die-offs of coral-> extinction of animal and marine species-> breaks down the food chain -> disrupts the stability of the ecosystem. Massive extinction of species threatens the ecological balance and security. Damaged ecosystem may not be able to provide food and raw food needed for human survival.
How does climate change affect humans in terms of relocation of people?
Global warming will lead to a rise in sea levels and increase the occurrence of flooding. These increase the risk of coastal erosion. Low lying and coastal areas may be inundated. People living in these areas will have to relocate to other places.
How does climate change affect human in terms of food and freshwater supply in warmer climate?
Warmer climate -> increase of evaporation rate -> increase of loss of soil moisture -> soil erosion increases -> desertification increases and land productivity decreases. Warmer climate also -> warmer summer and shorter winter and prolonged droughts and frequent floods-> pests become more active and leads to crop failure.
How does climate change affect human in terms of food and freshwater supply and prolonged drought snd frequent floods?
It leads to crop failure ->food production decreases -> food supply decreases.
How does climate change affect human in terms of food and freshwater supply and rising sea levels?
Rising sea levels -> Inundate coastal farmland -> arable farmland decreases.
Rising sea levels -> surging seawater in coastal area makes the soil salty -> arable farming
Rising sea levels -> intrusion of seawater into aquifers -> ground water becomes salty -> freshwater supply decrease.
Rising sea levels -> less meltwater from glaciers decreases discharge of rivers in a long run.
What are the possible benefits of climate change?
Shorter shipping routes, easier access to natural resources, higher crop yield in temperate regions, fewer health problems
