Climate Change - Effects of Climate Change

Question 1

Name three effects of climate change.

Answer 1

Rising Sea Levels
Retreating Glaciers
Changing Crop Yields

Question 2

Explain how rising sea levels are effecting people and the environment.

Answer 2

Sea levels are predicted to rise by 88cm by the end of the century.

Some Pacific Islands are already beginning to disappear which is killing some tribal groups and forcing them to relocate if they can.

New York City and London are very low lying areas. If sea levels rise then people’s homes and local businesses will be lost which will cause stress because they will have to relocate which is expensive and traumatic. It will also effect the economy of the area - nobody will want to buy houses and local shops will go out of business.

Question 3

Explain how retreating glaciers are effecting people and the environment.

Answer 3

90% of Antarctica’s glaciers are melting. They then feed into the Atlantic Ocean and cause cooler temperatures in the Summer.

In Peru glaciers are also beginning to melt. Villages have had to be abandoned because they have no more access to water which they used to get from glaciers, for example at Glacier National Park. This will cause stress for locals as they have to relocate and also negatively effect tourism. Nobody will want to come and see the glaciers as they have melted so this will mean less money for local people who used to benefit from tourism.

Question 4

Explain how changing crop yields are effecting people and the environment.

Answer 4

In Tanzania there is now a very long drought thanks to climate change which gives them a shorter growing time. 1/3 of the crops are being lost so this will result in a rise in crop prices and perhaps even not enough food to feed the population which could result in famine and starvation.