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Questions and Answers
Climate change can cause the temperature to increase by as much as 4.8°C by the year 2100.
True
Climate refers to average weather conditions over a short period of time, specifically less than 10 years.
False
Global warming decreases the evaporation of water from bodies like seas and rivers.
False
Climate change results in less intense rainstorms as warmer air cannot hold additional water vapor.
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The greenhouse effect is a process where greenhouse gases allow sunlight to pass through but trap heat in the atmosphere.
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Increased temperatures from climate change can lead to both flooding and drought in different regions.
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Human activities have been the primary cause of the decreasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last century.
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Climate change has no impact on the frequency or intensity of extreme weather events.
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Since 1880, global temperatures have increased by almost 2°C due to the overwhelming presence of greenhouse gases.
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Without greenhouse gases, the Earth's surface temperature would be around 0°C, enabling life as we know it.
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Study Notes
Climate
- Refers to average weather conditions over a long period of time (30+ years)
Climate Change
- Statistically significant change in the state of the climate that persists for an extended period of time (decades or longer)
Greenhouse Effect
- Sunlight passes through the atmosphere to earth
- At earth’s surface it’s reflected back through the atmosphere to space.
- Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere
- This is similar to a greenhouse
- Greenhouse gases act like a big blanket around the earth, trapping heat
Greenhouse Gases
- Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere, after it is reflected from earth
- Greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere
- Without them, the earth would be very cold – about minus 18°C
- All water on earth would freeze, the oceans would turn to ice and life as we know it would not exist
Human Activity
- Over the last 100 years, since the industrial revolution, greenhouse gases have rapidly increased in the atmosphere.
- This is due to human activities which release greenhouse gases.
- Electricity from coal or diesel generators and industry or pollution from factories contribute the most.
Global Warming
- More greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
- Since 1880, global temp has increased by almost 1°C.
- How much this rises depends on how much more greenhouse gas is released.
- Temp could rise by almost 5°C by 2100
- Humans have added so much greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, that even if all emissions stopped today, the planet would still continue to warm for decades to come.
Global Warming & The Water Cycle
- Global warming intensifies the water cycle.
- Higher temps increase evaporation of water from sea, lakes, rivers
- Warmer air holds more water vapour, resulting in more intense rainstorms
- This can lead to flooding.
- This and increased temps can lead to drought.
Hazards and Impacts
- Climate change is exacerbating a range of weather related hazards around the world.
- Climate change makes some hazards more frequent.
- Climate change makes some hazards more intense.
- These hazards impact people around the world.
- The same hazard can have different impacts for different people.
Projected Impacts
- Temperature increase (0.3 – 4.8°C by 2100)
- Heat waves - more often and last longer
- Extreme precipitation events (rain, snow) - more often and more intense
- Precipitation increases in wet regions
- Precipitation decreases in dry regions
- Increase in tropical cyclone wind speeds
- Decreased snow / ice extent
- Rising sea level
- Warming and acidification of oceans
Changing Seasons
- Rainy season may be delayed in some regions
- Spring might come earlier in other regions
- Seasons may become more intense
- Crops may die
- Farmers may need to change crops
- Incomes are lost
- Transportation is interrupted
- Financial losses
- Water availability disruptions
Drought
- Water shortage
- Wind erosion
- Desertification
- Increased risk of wild fires
- Less or no crops
- Animals may die
- Less water supply
- Incomes are lost
- Financial losses
- People become sick
- Migration
Increased Temperatures & Heat Waves
- Heat stroke
- Water shortage
- Increased malaria
- Dengue
- Sea level rise
- People get sick or die
- Animals get sick
- Crops may die
- Water shortage
- Food shortage
- Damaged forests
Melting Glaciers & Polar Ice
- Sea level rise
- Less ice to reflect sunlight, leads to increased warming
- Flooding in low lying coastal areas
- Coastal areas & cities threatened.
- Loss of wildlife / biodiversity
Sea Level Rise
- Sea level has risen 17 cm in the last 100 years
- In the last 10 years, it has risen twice as fast as in the previous 90 years.
- Coastal erosion
- Higher risk of storms leading to coastal flooding
- Salt water intrusion in coastal areas – impacts drinking water and health risks such as diarrhoea.
Increased Rainfall & Floods
- Flooding
- Landslide
- Erosion
- Vector-borne diseases (esp. malaria and dengue fever)
- Water-borne diseases (esp. diarrhoea)
- Extreme floods and population displacement
Extreme Winds & Storms
- Severe wind
- Storm surge
- Flooding
- People die
- Animals die
- Loss of income
- Financial losses
Climate Change Mitigation
- Action taken to stop climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere
Climate Change Adaptation
- Action taken to deal with climate change impacts and reduce the effects on lives, livelihoods and ecosystems
References
- IPCC (2014) AR5 Synthesis Report; https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf
- IPCC WGII (2014) Climate Change and the Ocean; https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/docs/WGII-AR5_Oceans-Compendium.pdf
- Nasa Kids (2017)
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