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7.2 Climate change - Coggle Diagram
7.2 Climate change
Potential impacts of climate change
Water availability
Some regions get more rainfall, others face droughts
Negative: Water shortages for drinking, farming.
Positive: Some dry regions may get more water.
Distribution of Biomes and Crop Growth
Warmer temperatures may expand or reduce biomes.
Negative: Some crops fail in hotter climates.
Positive: New areas become suitable for farming.
Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services
High latitude species (e.g., polar bears) lose habitat.
Negative: Less pollination, food chain disruption.
Positive: Some species may adapt or migrate.
Coastal Inundation
Rising sea levels flood coastal cities
Negative: Displacement, economic damage.
Positive: Could create new coastal wetlands.
Ocean acidification
CO₂ absorption lowers ocean pH.
Negative: Coral bleaching, marine species die.
Positive: Some algae thrive in acidic water.
Damage to human health
Heatwaves increase deaths.
Mosquito-borne diseases (malaria, dengue) spread to new areas.
Major impacts of greenhouse gases by humans
Higher global temperatures
More extreme weather events (heatwaves, hurricanes, floods)
Rising sea levels (melting ice caps, coastal flooding)
Long-term shifts in climate patterns
Disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity
Difference between climate and weather
Climate
how the atmosphere behaves over long periods of time.
Weather
short-term atmospheric conditions.
Both determined by solar radiation, latitude and Earth's rotation
Atmospheric circulatory
Moves air and redistributes heat and moisture.
Example: Sahara dust fertilizes the Mediterranean but also impacts air quality.
Air movement affects precipitation and temperature in different locations.
Oceanic circulation
Moves heat across the globe.
Example: Gulf Stream warms Western Europe.
Changes in ocean currents can affect rainfall and climate patterns.
complexity and uncertainty affect climate model predictions
Many variables influence climate (ocean currents, solar activity, human emissions).
Climate models involve assumptions and projections.
Different models give slightly different results
viewpoints on climate change
Al Gore (environmentalist) → Calls for drastic action.
Al Gore (environmentalist) → Calls for drastic action.
The Stern Report → Economic study advocating immediate climate action
Feedback mechanisms
Positive feedback
Ice albedo effect
More heat absorbed
even less ice
Negative feedback
Increased plant growth absorbs CO₂, reducing warming.
Feedback mechanisms involve time lags
Climate feedbacks don’t happen immediately.
Melting ice exposes land, which absorbs more heat, but takes years for full effect.