EQ3 6.8

Question 1

Climate change impacts on wellbeing?

Answer 1

• Increased food insecurity for communities reliant on wetland ecosystems
• Low human development communities reliant on forest for fuel, medicine etc (CC = reduced forest health)

Question 2

Explain the Kuznet’s curve of environmental degradation

Answer 2

• Rising part (Pre-industrial): weak rights of people to a healthy environment, weak laws/enforcement, resource use + pollution activities subsidised
• Turning point: Industrial
• Falling part (Post-industrial): Removal of harmful subsidies, introduction of environmental laws + resource management

Question 3

How do increased temperatures affect precipitation patterns?

Answer 3

• Warmer oceans = lower pressure = reduced temperature gradient = weaker winds + less precipitation
• OR increase in evaporation = increased CCC = increased precipitation at ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone - low pressure belt)

Question 4

Changes in the Arctic?

Answer 4

• Arctic pond dries up
• Humidity increase = melting of permafrost/ice/snow = SRO = flooding

Question 5

How do increased temperatures affect the carbon cycle?

Answer 5

• CH4 from wetlands/sea floors/permafrost + CO2 from forest fires = removal of sink + source of CO2

Question 6

Increased temperatures impacts on people?

Answer 6

• Drought
• Food insecurity
• Building collapse due to solifluction, thawing, thermokarst
• Alaskans have to relocate
• Avalanches + river floods increase

Question 7

Marshall Islands background information?

Answer 7

• Fishing comprises large part of economy (limited land space)
• Dependent on imports
• Receives funds for ‘flags of convenience shipping’ (allows nations to exploit its waters for income)
• Site of US Nuclear testing in 1950s = Bikini Atoll has radioactive waste and is off limits
• Dealing with climate change

Question 8

What are the changes in ocean health? (globally and in the Marshall Islands)

Answer 8

Globally:
* Increasing temps = algae dies out = coral bleaching + decay = reduced coastal protection from corals + reduced tourism + reduced food source (food webs depend on reef health)

Locally:
* SL rise + increased frequency of extreme weather events = Nucelar dome on Bikini Atoll vulnerable to break up = released radioactive waste into oceans (esp bad bc of economy’s reliance on ocean due to fishing dependence)
* Sewage, plastic waste + poor regulations for disposal + increasing population = poor ocean quality + biodiversity loss

Question 9

How is human wellbeing affected by degradation of marine resources?

Answer 9

• Depletion of fish stocks = reduced ability to fish = food insecurity
• ‘Flags for convenience’ shipping = local fishermen lose out to both fish depletion and ‘flags for convenience’ shipping from wealthier nations
• Could result in fish wars/conflict
• Bleaching predicted severe threat = increased net coastal erosion = reduced tourism ($10bn) + affects coastal infrastructure due to reduced protection
• SL rise + increased storm activity removes livelihoods on the coast = mass emigration = break up of communities