Impacts Of Climate Change On Coasts

Question 1

How are globally sea levels increasing

Answer 1

Eustatically = thermal expansion and melting ice sheets

Question 2

Impacts of sea level chnage in UK specifically (2+)

Answer 2

Lots of UK agricultural land could be lost through both flooding and increased coastal erosion
Major centres of UK population = London + Hull + Middlesbrough are at risk from flooding

Question 3

Impacts to infrastructure (2)

Answer 3

Major road + rail links = east coast mainline are at risk
Numerous power stations and gas and oil terminals which are often built along the coast risk flooding

Question 4

Impacts to populations (2+)

Answer 4

Groundwater contaminated with salt water = unusable
Migration away from coastal areas = in Bangladesh 11% of area likely to be flooded

Question 5

Impacts on ecosystems (2)

Answer 5

Loss of coastal habitats such as mangroves
Submergence of low-lying islands like the Maldives