IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE + POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS Flashcards
Impacts of Climate Change
- Changes in water availability
- Distribution of Biomes and Crop Growing Areas
- Loss of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Coastal Flooding
- Ocean Acidification
- Damage to human health
Changes in Water Availability
Climate change can lead to alterations in precipitation patterns, resulting in changes in water availability
Some regions may experience increased rainfall and flooding, while others may face more frequent and severe droughts, impacting water resources for agriculture, drinking water, and ecosystems
Distribution of Biomes and Crop Growing Areas
As temperatures and precipitation patterns shift, the distribution of biomes and suitable areas for agriculture can change
Some regions may experience expansion of favourable conditions for crops and ecosystems, while others may face the loss or shifting of suitable habitats, impacting food production and biodiversity
Loss of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Climate change can disrupt ecosystems, leading to the loss of biodiversity and the services they provide
Changes in temperature, rainfall, and habitats can affect species’ survival, migration patterns, and interactions, resulting in shifts in ecosystem functioning and potential declines in ecosystem services
Coastal Flooding
Rising sea levels, attributed to climate change, can lead to coastal flooding and increased vulnerability to storm surges
This can result in the loss of land, infrastructure, and displacement of coastal communities
Ocean Acidification
Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to the absorption of more carbon dioxide by the oceans, resulting in ocean acidification
This can have detrimental effects on marine life, including coral reefs, shellfish, and other organisms that rely on calcium carbonate for their shells and skeletons
Damage to Human Health
Climate change can impact human health in various ways:
Heatwaves, extreme weather events, changes in disease vectors (e.g. mosquitos), and reduced air quality can all have negative health consequences, including heat-related illnesses, respiratory problems, and the spread of infectious diseases
Climate Change Negative Feedback
For example, as temperatures increase, the enhanced evaporation may lead to increased cloud cover, which can reflect more sunlight back into space, thus cooling the Earth’s surface
Another negative feedback mechanism involves the absorption of carbon dioxide by oceans and vegetation, which helps regulate its concentration in the atmosphere
Climate Change Positive Feedback
For example, as temperatures rise, the melting of ice caps and glaciers reduces the Earth’s albedo, causing more sunlight to be absorbed and increasing warming
Another positive feedback mechanism involves the release of methane from thawing permafrost, which further enhances the greenhouse effect
Time Lags
Time lags refer to the delay between a cause and its effect in the climate system, which can span decades or even centuries
For example, the release of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels may have immediate warming effects, but the full impact on global temperatures may take years to manifest due to thermal inertia in the oceans (the slow speed at which oceans actually warm up) and slow feedback processes
Similarly, changes in land use, such as deforestation, can have long-term consequences for climate as it takes time for ecosystems to respond and feedback to develop
These feedback mechanisms and time lags make the climate system complex and challenging to predict accurately, contributing to uncertainties in climate projections
Understanding and quantifying these feedback mechanisms and time lags is crucial for accurately assessing the potential impacts of climate change and developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies
