The impacts of climate change are dynamic

Question 1

why are the polar regions at risk to climate change

Answer 1

• polar regions, have a significantly increased risk to livelihoods, due to a 2 degree global temperature

Question 2

what are the risks to Africa

Answer 2

• 2 degree temperature rise, is leading to a high risk of water stress, due to increased temperatures, leading to an increase risk of desertification

Question 3

what are the risks to small islands

Answer 3

• flooding, due to rising sea levels, due to thermal expansion, of the oceans.

Question 4

what are the effects of global warming in the Artic?

Answer 4

• 50-70 years, the ice in the artic will be gone
• 90% of radiation is absorbed by oceans (dark surface)
• polar bears, have drowned, due to melting ice.
• ice coverage, will be less extensive (thinner ice)

Question 5

what is the potential impact of global warming on the ocean conveyor

Answer 5

• more and more ice melting, is leading to salt levels dropping in the oceans
• ocean currents, rely on salt levels being stable.

Question 6

what impact is biome shift going to have on the climate

Answer 6

• overall a biome shift is going to result in a greater abundance and size of the trees found in the tundra regions.
• greater abundance of trees and larger trees, means that they will break up the snow cover, thus resulting in a reduction in the albedo effect, ultimately leading to an increase in global climate temperatures.
  -in addition, greater temperatures will lead in a positive feedback loop, when it comes to desertification as increasing temperatures will reduce biodiversity, and this will further increase temperature.

Question 7

explain how an increase in sea surface temperature can be devastating for the artic ecosystem.

Answer 7

• the warmer water on the surface, is becoming less dense, than the more dense water below. Thus meaning, the nutrients are unable to mix between teh top and bottom of the ocean.
• upwelling of nutrients is unable to take place.
• phytoplankton need the upwelling nutrients.

Question 8

explain why climate change is a risk to public health

Answer 8

• increasing temperatures, is leading to an increased Malaria risk, at higher altitudes.
• increase air pollution, is leading to an increase, in the number of respiratory related diseases and cancers.
• due to warming, the altitude to reduce malaria risk, has risen by 100m in just over 20 years.
• infections rates, of Lime disease, has risen by 35% from 2016 - 2017.

Question 9

why are cities such as London most vulnerable to high temperatures

Answer 9

due to the phenome, called urban heat island, as building store more heat than green surfaces (grass) and the heat absorbed by the buildings, is slowly released thus leading to an increase air temperature