Changing Climate

Question 1

Give a named example of a past climate

Answer 1

The Little Ice Age

Question 2

Explain the causes and impacts of a historical even on people and the environment

Answer 2

The Little Ice Age, 1300-1870
Average temp was at least 1°C lower than nowadays

Likely caused by reduced sunspots

Impacts:
- Baltic Sea and most rivers in Europe froze over in winter
- sea ice reached as far south as Iceland
- colder and longer winters reduced growing season by several weeks
- widespread crop failure and famine
- remote areas abandoned eg Greenland
- price of grain increased, causing social unrest and revolt
- glaciers advanced in the Alps and Northern Europe, overrunning towns and farms
[- extinction of megafauna when ended]

Question 3

What caused the extinction of megafauna

Answer 3

The end of the Quaternary Period / the little ice age ended

End of little ice age saw temp rise of 5°C in 1000 years -> couldn’t cope -> extinction

Question 4

The U.K. Climate now vs in the future

Answer 4

Now:
The U.K. climate is unusually low for its latitude
- prevailing south-westerly winds bring moist air from Atlantic -> precipitation
- surrounding seas -> warmer winters, colder summers
- Gulf Stream ocean current that brings warm water across the Atlantic -> warm air around uk

Future:
Affected by climate change / global warming
- different seasonal pattern of air masses that the uk experiences by changing the jet streams typical position
- warmer seas around uk -> warmer temps, more rainfall
- unusual weather extremes become more common
- disruption to ocean currents that affect uk -> cooler climate?

Question 5

Examine the environmental and economic impacts of climate change for the uk

Answer 5

Environmental impacts:

• new bird / animal species migrate to uk -> others disappear
• warmer seas -> changes to fish species eg cod leave
• more storms -> more coastal erosion

Economic impacts:

• rising sea levels -> cost of protecting low lying areas eg London
• heatwaves -> illness / diseases -> NHS strain
• more frequent, costly floods
• more domestic tourism (stay-cations)
• Scottish ski industry disappear
• farmers will need to change crops (potatoes -> maize / grapes)
• higher irrigation costs

Question 6

Examine the environmental and economic impacts of climate change for a developing country

Answer 6

Egypt
Environmental impacts:
- temp rise by 8°C
- unreliable rainfall -> more desertification
- more frequent heatwaves
- rising sea levels

Economic impacts:

• 1/3 of Alexandria submerged in sea -> 7 million homeless
• 10% of river Nile delta submerged -> 7 million homeless
• loss of farmland -> out of business -> famine
• failing crop yields -> imported food
• heatwaves -> illness
• spread of disease eg malaria