Please enable JavaScript.

Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.

7.2 Climate Change: Causes and Impacts, Climate, Weather, Climate Change …

- - - - Burning - increase aerosols - they will absorb the solar radiation and prevent from reaching the Earth surface - global cooling
  - - - Melting of the polar ice caps - less ice - lower albedo - ice is reflective than water, less ice means less reflection
    - - Rising temperatures - increased biomass decomposition - increased CO2 - GHG increase
      - Tropical deforestation - increase warming and drying - decline in the amount of rainforest
      - Increased forest cover in high latitudes - decrease albedo - increase warming
- - - - The Greenland and the Antarctic ice sheets are thinning - sea levels rise more
        
        If there is a threshold and it is exceeded, sea level could rise many metres
        
        e.g Bangladesh, the Maldives and the Netherlands would lose land area
        
        e.g Tuvalu would disappear completely
        
        Oceans low albedo - absorb CO2 - they will be acidic
        
        May effect marine organisms, particularly corals
        
        When they warm, they absorb less CO2
        
        Glaciers are melting into the seas - sea levels rise
        
        It will slow down or stop the North Atlantic Drift and Gulf Stream by diluting the salt water
        
        It could open up trade routes - make travel in the region easier - allow exploitation of undersea minerals and fossil fuels
        
        Loss of glaciers ice leads to flooding and landslides
        
        Adv
        Provides freshwater supply to people living below the glacier and provide water to many major Asian rivers (River Ganges)
  - - - • Biodiversity Loss: Climate change disrupts ecosystems by altering temperature and precipitation patterns, leading to species extinction. For example, coral reefs in the Great Barrier Reef are experiencing mass bleaching due to rising sea temperatures, threatening marine biodiversity.
      - • Habitat Degradation: Extreme weather events, like the increasing frequency of wildfires in the Amazon rainforest, are destroying habitats, reducing the ability of these ecosystems to provide essential services like carbon storage and water regulation.
    - - • Altered Growth Conditions: Changes in temperature and rainfall affect plant growth. For instance, vineyards in California are seeing reduced grape quality due to increased heatwaves, impacting wine production.
      - • Shifts in Growing Seasons: Warmer winters and unpredictable springs in Europe have disrupted the growing seasons for crops like wheat and barley, affecting both yield and quality.
    - - • Reduced Crop Yields: In sub-Saharan Africa, increased drought frequency has led to significant declines in maize production, threatening food security in the region.
      - • Pests and Diseases: The spread of the fall armyworm in Africa, fueled by warmer temperatures, has devastated maize crops, leading to major economic losses for farmers.
      - • Water Scarcity: The ongoing drought in California has severely restricted water availability for agriculture, forcing farmers to let fields lie fallow and reducing overall food production.
- - - - most abundance GHG
      - positive feedback cycle
      - higher temps
        
        more heat trapped
        
        increased evaporation
        
        More H2O
        vapour in atm
- - - - Function:forecast future climate conditions based on various greenhouse gas emission scenarios.
      - Function: By analyzing historical climate data and current trends, it help to anticipate its potential impacts on ecosystems and human societies.
      - RLE: Community Earth System Model (CESM) CESM simulates the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and sea ice, providing insights into climate variability and long-term trends.
- - - - • focus on human well-being and technocentric reliance on technological solutions.
      - Arguments
        
        while climate change is a real issue in his book “The Skeptical Environmentalist,” it is often overstated, and the costs of addressing it through drastic measures might outweigh the benefits.
        
        suggests that resources might be better spent on other global issues like poverty and disease, which could yield more immediate benefits to humanity.
        
        emphasises the role of technology and innovation in mitigating climate impacts without compromising economic growth.
    - - • focus economic rationality while emphasise the need to protect the environment, acknowledging the role of market mechanisms and technological innovation, but it also reflects an ecocentric concern for the long-term health of the planet
      - Arguments
        
        comprehensive review on the economics of climate change, argues that the costs of inaction on climate change far outweigh the costs of taking action.
        
        while grounded in economic analysis (may seen as anthropo), advocates for strong and immediate action to reduce GHGs.
        
        investment in sustainable technologies and policies will ultimately benefit both the environment and the economy.
  - - - • focus preserving natural environment, biodiversity and intrinsic value of the natural world as well as the ethical responsibility to protect ecosystems.
      - Arguments
        
        through his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change as a moral and environmental issue.
        
        human actions are causing significant harm to the planet, leading to catastrophic consequences if not addressed.