The Impacts of global warming

Direct impacts
1. Arctic
  1. .Northwards shift of coniferous forest
  2. Longer and warmer growing season
  3. Increasing forest fires and insect tree deaths
  4. 40% of total permafrost expected to thaw (Siberia) Methane , new wetlands.
  5. Temps risen 3-4.C 50 yrs ( Alaska, NW Canada)
  6. Temps could rise 3-5.C more 100yrs
  7. Snow reflects solar energy= melt=more warming
  8. sea less saline= Loss of gulf steam and cooling nw Europe
  9. UV radiation damage freshwater ecosystems
  10. Carbon cycle changes
  11. Coastal erosion =thawing permafrost weakens coast
  12. Impacts on marine species e.g polar bears+seals and on land species e.g vole,arctic fox.
  13. Decline of food for indigenous people , need herd animals,decline n freshwater fish, increase marine fish , increase in marine shipping, land transport distrupted permafrost. more agriculture and forestry, vulnerable to exploitation.
2. Africa
  1. Water stress
    1. Food insecurity
  2. Loss of biodiversity and Natural resources
  3. More diseases
  4. Threat to coastal zones
  5. Desertification
  6. Poverty
Indirect impacts
1. Worst case 15m rise in sea by 2100
2. Big cities in peril
3. some models show increased snowfall
4. Isostatic change
5. Vulnerable to rise
6. Largest river deltas e.g Ganges
7. Areas defended but close to sea level e.g Netherlands
8. Low lying islands
9. Bangladesh
  1. sea levels destroying mangrove swamps
  2. 70% country less 6m above sea level
  3. 20%land could be lost, 40 million displaced
  4. Multiple hazard zone and coast too long to defend
10. Egypt
  1. 1m rise in sea level affect 15% land , displace 7 million people
11. Netherlands
  1. coastal lowlands+ densely populated
  2. 1m rise in sea could cost $12,000
12. Pacific Islands
  1. Prone to natural disasters e.g hurricanes
  2. Degradation of natural environments
  3. Nowhere to flee to
  4. Groundwater contamination
  5. Maldives,Vanauatu,Tuvalu,Kiribati
  6. Dense and growing population e.g Fiji

Next up

The Impacts of global warming

Description

Resource summary

Similar

	Created by istarinmcvicar almost 11 years ago