Unit 7 - Climate Impact Modeling

Question 1

What is the potential sea level rise if both the Greenland Ice Sheet and West Antarctic Ice Sheet were to disintegrate completely?

Answer 1

Answer: 13 meters (7m from Greenland + 6m from West Antarctic)

Question 2

Name three sources of runaway greenhouse effects

Answer 2

• Forest dieback → widespread death of forest vegetation
• Melting permafrost
• Release of methane clathrates

Question 3

How much more likely is a once-in-50-years extreme weather event with 2 degrees of warming?

Answer 3

Answer: 13.9 times more likely compared to a climate without human influence

Question 4

What were the key statistics about the 2003 European Heat Wave?

Answer 4

• Temperature deviation exceeded 5 standard deviations
• Over 20,000 excess deaths in Western and Southern Europe
• Return period in present time: 9000 years
• Return period in future (2071-2100): every 2 years

Question 5

What are the four main categories of climate change that can occur in terrestrial ecosystems?

Answer 5

1. Improvement (More trees and higher productivity)
2. Change (Different species composition and landscapes)
3. Degradation (Fewer trees and lower productivity)
4. Extinction (Large habitat decline and irreversible change)

Question 6

What is the thermohaline circulation and why is it important?

Answer 6

Answer: The thermohaline circulation (North Atlantic Current) is the global ocean conveyer belt system that distributes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s oceans. Its breakdown could lead to significant changes in surface air temperature and global climate patterns.

Question 7

List three impacts of climate change on human health.

Answer 7

Answer:
- Increased exposure to vector-borne diseases (e.g., malaria)
- Higher incidence of water-borne diseases (e.g., cholera)
- Increased heat stress mortality

Question 8

How does climate change affect agriculture differently in tropical versus mid-latitude regions?

Answer 8

Answer: In tropical and subtropical regions, crop yields are expected to reduce. In mid-latitudes, there are mixed effects: potential increases with minor temperature rises, but decreased yields when temperature increases above a few degrees.

Question 9

What is the relationship between soil moisture and heat waves, as demonstrated in the 2003 European heat wave?

Answer 9

Answer: Drought and lack of soil moisture suppress the cooling effect of evapotranspiration (the process where water evaporates from soil and plants), which can intensify heat waves.

Question 10

What was the initial global climate protection goal, and how was it modified by the Paris Agreement?

Answer 10

Answer: The initial goal was 2°C above preindustrial levels (set by IPCC to prevent biggest risk concerns while accepting moderate impacts). The Paris Agreement later strengthened this target to 1.5°C.

Question 11

Explain the Gradual Climate Impacts on hydrology and water supply

Answer 11

• Decreased availability in water-scarce regions, particularly in subtropics
• Potential increases in water supply in some water-scarce regions, e.g. in some parts of Southeast Asia
• Increased flooding risks for many human settlements (could be more tens of millions of inhabitants) from both increased heavy precipitation events and sea level rise

Question 12

what is a biome?

Answer 12

Biome - major ecosystem types characterized by dominant vegetation and climate (e.g. tropical rainforests, deserts are all biomes)

Question 13

how does climate change affect Infrastructure and energy demand?

Answer 13

• Increased cooling demand in summer
  
  • Reduced heating demand in winter