Managing our environment Flashcards
Definition of greenhouse effect
Natural process where atmosphere traps heat. some heat is from the sun that has been absorbed by earths surface is reradiated to atmosphere where it is being held my greenhouse gasses ie carbon dioxide methane and nitrous oxides
Carbon footprint
A measure of amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organisation or country in a given time
What are the effects of climate change on environment
extinction risks
coral bleaching
Changes in seasonal lifecycle events
disruption of ecosystems
loss of artic ice
how is extinction risks a result of climate change
If temperature rises by 2-3 degrees Celsius then 20-30% of species could be extinct in the next 100 years that is 300,000- 600,000 species lost forever
How is coral bleaching a result of climate change
Oceans are becoming more acidic as the absorb the increasing carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere. This increase of acidification and increasing temperature of the ocean is leading to the damage of coral reefs. Coral bleaching is when coral reefs lose the colourful algae which the coral reef relies on. In response to the bleaching there is a loss of colour and more exposure to disease often leading to the death of a reef
Example of coral bleaching
Australia great barrier reef
How is changes is seasonal lifecycle events an effect of climate change
This occurs in species such as birds and plants flowering for example European pied flycatchers migrate from western Africa feeding grounds to European countries including uk and northern Ireland to breed each summer. However the number fell by over 50% between 1995 and 2014. Scientists believe this is due to breeding happening at different types of food availability such as smaller insects and caterpillars emerging before the birds arrive which are essential to feed the birds young meaning bird numbers are falling
How is disruption to ecosystems an effect of climate change
Ecosystems are already vulnerable to climate change particularly when combined with other issues such as pollution or loss of habitats. In the UK many species are moving northward to mountains and cooler areas as temperature rises. Salt marshes are under increasing threat due to sea level rise. Broad leaf tree species summering due to summer droughts
Loss of artic ice
Average person from an MEDC produces enough carbon to destroy 30 square kilometres of artic sea ice. Losing ice results in less ice available to reflect some sunlight back to space therefore this add to extent of ice melt and will speed up the melting in the artic and Greenland ice cap and removes land of native Inuit people that they have inhabited for thousands of years. q1`
What effect does climate change have on people
Water security around the world
Flooding
Drier summers
Fishing and aquaculture
Farming
wider social problems
How is water security effected by climate change
Climate change has varying effects on water supply which can benifit some area while causing uncertainty and problems in others. It is forecast that more precipitation in mountains will fall as rain rather than snow in winter months which runs over the land quickly causing flooding and amage to people and property. This is an issue for rivers such as the yangtze, the Brahmaputra and ganges which originate from himalayas glaciers. Droughts in summer also more likely
How is flooding affected by climate change
rising threat of flooding could result in flood damage up to £12 billion annually by 2080s
Also estimated th current 330,000 homes at risk of flooding will rise to between 630,000 and 1.2 million by 2028s. This will have social and economic cost
How is drier summer an effect of climate change
suggested uk will have drier and warmer summers which is one of few benefits however increases droughts and heatwaves can put pressure on healthcare services especially elderly and young children. could disrupt transport by buckling railway lines
How is fishing and aquaculture an effect of climate change
livelihoods of 520 million people many of them small scare fisheries in LEDCs affected. Acidification of the oceans has resulted in decline of dish reproduction as well as ovefishing has threatened world fish population. Ecologists and economists have warned that the worldwide fisheries could totally collapse by 2048.
How is farming an effect of climate change
In many african countries ut is suggeted that food production will fall and traditional crops will nit produce as much as before. by 2030 it is estimated that southern Africa’s maize production on which most farms depend will fall by one thrid due to climate change.
