Climate change implications

Question 1

What are the climatic implications of a 2C temperature rise ?

Answer 1

• Thermohailine circulation may weaken, altering heat transfers by oceans
• Sahel and mediterrainian will become drier and maybe uninhabitable, however uncertainties remain regarding where warming takes place most and ENSO etc
• Average temperature will increase and snow and ice cover will contract with the ablation of glaciers

Question 2

What are the Ecosystemic implications of a 2C temperature rise ?

Answer 2

• 10% of land species will face extinction, this can rise to 15-40 percent of all species
• Biodiversity will decrease as habitats shift poleward into deeper ocean waters and higher altitudes, soil and oxygen will face change
• Acidity of ocean will increase and cause coral bleaching which then destroys local ecosystems and furthers extinction
• Plant changes will lag behined animal changes as they cannot move and face new pests and disease where there is less cold weather to kill them

Question 3

What are the hydrological implications of a 2C temperature rise ?

Answer 3

• Rivers dry up
• Shift in subtropical high pressures northwards will cause a 25% decrease in water availability in mediterrainian zones
• small glaciers will disappear (e.g. in andeas and himalayas) decreasing river discharges
• Humidity levels will increase
• Extreme heavy percipitation will become common with increased percipitation over northern hemisphere land areas
• Permathrost will thaw which releases stored carbon and adds more water to arctic rivers (positive multiplier effect)

Question 4

Describe the factors which have shaped the UK’s energy mix

Answer 4

Physical availability: -Use of domestic coal until 1970’s, large reserves of north sea oil and gas discoveres which altered energy mix
Cost: -North sea oil is expensive to extract so if global prices fall it is not viable to extract -otherwise good alternative to dependacy of middle easter oil
Technology: -150 years worth of coal to extract however last coal mine is closed as its not technologically viable to extract profitabley
Political considerations: -reliance on foreign energy threatens energy security, -privatisation of energy supply means companies decide on energy sources for UK
Economic development: -GDP per Captia=$41k, annual energy cost per capita:$1300
Environmental priorities: -commited to reducing emmisions by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 -abandoned Green Deal conservation and insulation schemes -intends to broaden energy mix with nuclear energy

Question 5

Describe the factors which have shaped the Norways energy mix

Answer 5

Physical availability: Mountainous with steep valleys and rainfall, HEP is perfect -Oil and natural gas from natural supplies is exported
Cost: -Norsk Hydro runs 600+ HEP sites and supplies 98% of renewable energy, cheap to maintain after large start up cost, transfer of energy to rural expensive
Technology: Deepwater drilling technology enabled extraction of north sea reserves
Political considerations: -Strict nationalised interventionist government policy on energy, prevents private and foreign companies from taking control
Economic development: -GDP per capita: $62k -Annual energy costs: $2400
Environmental priorities: Commited to 60% reduction in emissions by 2030 from 1990 -Aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 -3rd largest exporter of hydrocarbons -More emission in 2015 than 1989s