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7.2 Climate change cause and impacts - Coggle Diagram
7.2 Climate change cause and impacts
Greenhouse Effect & Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Definition and types (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, ozone).
Natural vs. Anthropogenic Sources: Distinguishing between natural greenhouse effect and human-caused enhancements (e.g., fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, industrial activities).
Role of GHGs in Climate Change: Trapping heat within the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.
Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Fossil Fuels: Key contributors (coal, oil, and natural gas) in sectors like electricity generation, transportation, and industry.
Deforestation & Land Use Changes: Forest carbon sinks vs. emissions from deforestation and degradation.
Agriculture: Methane emissions from livestock digestion, rice paddies, and nitrous oxide from fertilizer use.
Climate Feedback Mechanisms
Positive Feedback: Mechanisms that amplify warming, such as ice-albedo feedback (melting ice reducing reflectivity) and permafrost thaw releasing methane.
Negative Feedback: Mechanisms that mitigate warming, though generally weaker, like increased plant growth due to CO₂ fertilization.
Tipping Points: Thresholds that lead to irreversible changes (e.g., melting of polar ice caps, loss of the Amazon rainforest).
Impacts
Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Species Distribution & Extinction: Shifts in habitats, increased risk for species unable to adapt or migrate.
Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of droughts, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires.
Ocean Acidification: CO₂ absorption by oceans, affecting marine life, especially coral reefs and shell-forming organisms.
Ecosystem Services Disruption: Impact on resources like fresh water, food, and air quality.
Human Societies
Food and Water Security: Agricultural yield reduction, changing growing seasons, and water scarcity.
Health Effects: Increased risks of heat-related illnesses, spread of vector-borne diseases, and malnutrition.
Economic Consequences: Costs of disaster recovery, loss of agricultural productivity, and damage to infrastructure.
Climate Refugees: Displacement of people due to sea-level rise, extreme weather, and resource scarcity.
International Responses and Agreements
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Goals and scope of the treaty.
IPCC Reports: Role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in assessing and summarizing scientific findings on climate change.
Kyoto Protocol & Paris Agreement: Key agreements aimed at reducing global GHG emissions, setting targets for nations.
Carbon Trading & Emissions Targets: Mechanisms to incentivize emission reductions, like carbon credits and national commitments.
RLE
Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Industrial Sector in China: As the largest global emitter, China has extensive coal-based industries contributing to CO₂ and particulate emissions; recent shifts to renewable energy aim to reduce these impacts.
Greenhouse Effect & Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions Tracking: Monitoring CO₂ concentrations at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii demonstrates a steady rise, surpassing 415 ppm in recent years (compared to pre-industrial levels of 280 ppm).
Climate Feedback Mechanisms
Arctic Ice Melt and Polar Amplification: The Arctic region is warming at twice the global rate. Studies show that as ice melts, the darker ocean surface absorbs more heat, exacerbating local warming—a positive feedback loop with global implications.
Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Coral Bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef: Rising ocean temperatures have led to multiple bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef, drastically reducing biodiversity and damaging an ecosystem critical for marine life.
Migration of Species in the Himalayas: Warming temperatures are forcing plant and animal species to migrate to higher altitudes, disrupting local ecosystems and threatening species that cannot adapt or relocate.
Impacts on Human Societies
Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Changes in precipitation and temperature patterns are reducing crop yields, impacting food security and leading to economic instability in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia.
Mosquito-Borne Disease Spread in Southeast Asia: Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are expanding mosquito habitats, increasing malaria and dengue fever risks in areas that historically had lower exposure.