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Evaluate the actual and potential impacts of climate change in your…
Evaluate the actual and potential impacts of climate change in your regional case study of a TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM
Local climate
ACTUAL:
- Average temperature increased by 2°C in the past 5years / 3.5°C in winter.
- Retreating glaciers and less ice cover means more heat is absorbed by the ocean
POTENTIAL:
- Rain falls more often as snow
Soils
ACTUAL:
- Melt in permafrost over last 50 years - soil temps at 1m depth decrease by 4°C and 2.5°C at 20m.
- Shrubs and trees moving northwards with salt water-tolerant plants.
POTENTIAL:
- Some places set to lose all permafrost by the end of the century - could cost $3.6 billion to maintain infrastructure
- Although reduction of permafrost will make it easier to drill for oil - generates more income for region
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TRANSPORT
ACTUAL:
- Disruption of travel routes for fishermen as there is decreased solid ice and increased open water
- Since 1980s the melting of permafrost has meant the number of days when travel is permitted on ice has fallen from 200 to 100 days
POTENTIAL:
- Estimated cost of transportation infrastructure and road maintenance will increase from $3.6billion by 2030
WATER QUALITY
ACTUAL:
- Thawing of permafrost and eroding soils release mercury which adds chemical pollution to air and oceans - makes Arctic oceans more acidic
- The earlier melting of permafrost sees increased CO2, 14% of which is held in arctic ice
POTENTIAL:
- Similar impacts expected in Chukchi seas becoming more acidic
WILDLIFE
ACTUAL:
- Birds and insect species migrating northward
- Loss of sea ice is endangering polar bears and pacific walruses in Chukchi sea
POTENTIAL:
- Changing habitats with some species being out competed by other species e.g. Red fox endangering the Arctic fox leading to possible extinction
DRILLING OF OIL
ACTUAL:
- Current permafrost means oil pipes must be elevated above ground level in Alaska disrupting the natural migration of species
POTENTIAL:
- Thaws will allow for further extraction of fossil fuels which will lead greater CO2 into atmosphere.
- Drilling will disrupt habitat and food sources for polar bears
FISHING
ACTUAL:
- Increasing ocean temperatures causes salmon to alter their breeding patterns
- Fish like pollock and crab fair worse in colder temperatures
POTENTIAL:
- Jellyfish number will increase with higher temperatures and compete with fish for food. Clog fishermen's nets
WILDFIRES
ACTUAL:
- In 2015, 15million acres of Alaskan Tundra were burned by wildfires. Reindeer who rely on destroyed lichen to survive have been decreasing - removes them from the food chain leading to decrease in high concentration of grizzly bears
- Smoke from wildfires darkens snow and reduces albedo
POTENTIAL:
- Risk of burning oils held in landscape adding CO2
- Concerns that wildfires will double by 2050
LAKES AND WETLANDS
ACTUAL:
- Some areas lakes are increasing due to melting permafrost, however overall increase in temp cause greater rates of evapotranspiration
- 2/3 of Alaska covered by lakes has decreased with summer lakes vanishing
POTENTIAL:
- Decrease in wetlands are set to continue