Climate change case studies

Climate change case studies

1. The Arctic

   • The Arctic is a vulnerable environment, global warming is effecting it by; (1) Arctic sea ice has been shrinking at an increasing rate (some scientist 'no sea ice by summer 2030). (2) Greenland ice sheet is melting - rate has increased in recent years. (3) Permafrost boundary moving north and area covered by it is shrinking. (4) Treeline is moving north and area where trees cant grow is shrinking . These all have indirect impacts on the environment and ecology of the Arctic.
   • Environmental impacts; (1) Melting ice sheets e.g. Greenland ice sheets, means an injection of fresh water into the sea. Causing density change of the water, could disrupt ocean currents like North Atlantic drift. (2) Thawing of permafrost releases co2 and methane (permafrost = natural sink).
   • Ecological impacts; (1) Causing habitats of some species are being reduced or lost e.g. polar bears. (2) Some parts of the Arctic are very sensitive ecosystems - few species so loss of one has devastating impacts. (3) Other places e.g. the ocean, the number and diversity of species may increase and as sea ice is reduced and temps increase.
   • Socio-economic impacts; (1) Shrinking ice sea- could open new shipping routes. (2) New natural resources may be exploited (less sea ice = available for fishing). (3) Could be undiscovered oil and gas reserves here - unfrozen grown - easier to find/extract. (5) Warmer soils and climate = more opportunity for agriculture. (6) Thawing of permafrost can result in collapsing buildings and broken pipelines as ground becomes unstable.
   • Arctic warming has consequences to rest of the world; (1) Melting ice sheets = rising global sea levels. (2) Ocean currents in Arctic are affected by salinity - affecting global ocean currents because it's an interlinked system. (3) Changing temps, sea ice and landscape affect air currents there - affecting global weather patterns because the atmosphere is an interlinked system.

2. Africa

   • It's population is vulnerable to this change, dry areas (arid and semi-arid) are getting drier, wet areas (tropical and subtropical) getting wetter and whole country is getting warmer (0.5 degrees in last century).
   • Africa's pop is vulnerable so economic impacts of global warming are complex and financial costs are massive; (1) Poor = reduced capacity to cope e.g. subsistence farmers, only grow enough to meet need of family will have no income and at rick of starvation if climate change affects crops. (2) Poor countries less able to prepare for and respond to impacts of climate change. (3) Political turmoil can mean appropriate responses aren't made, making the impacts worse.
   • Example 1 of impacts; causing desertification, major problem in Sahel region. Causes a decrease in agricultural production, leads to more poverty, unemployment and starvation.
   • Impact 2; Mosquitoes are able to survive in more areas of Africa now. Costs of health care and reduction in productivity = economies are put under strain and prevented them growing.
   • Impact 3; Reduced growing period over much of the continent = decrease in agricultural production. Same consequences as desertification.
   • Impact 4; Causing a more erratic climate. E.g. Mozambique suffered drought and crop failure (1995), then flooding (2000). Homes and infrastructure was destroyed in areas where people were unable to rebuild and recover.
   • Impact 5; Tropical areas receiving longer growing periods, may finically benefit from better agricultural conditions.