Impacts of Climate Change (Edexcel A Level Geography)

Warmer air holds more water, therefore, there would be an increase in rainfall frequency and intensity; areas most affected would be the tropics and high latitudes

Decreases in precipitation would most likely lie between 10° and 30° north and south of the Equator

Increased frequency and length of heatwaves, increasing occurrences of drought and water scarcity

Snowfall is replaced with rain in northern regions, reducing glacier mass

Where areas see an increase in precipitation then it would follow that soil moisture will increase also and vice versa

Overall impact of climate change is uncertain as many factors contribute soil moisture levels and climate is just one factor 

Increased evaporation over large land masses such as North America and Asia

Transpiration levels would alter inline with vegetation changes (increase or decrease), this would further link to changes in soil moisture and precipitation

Higher temperatures lead to negative mass balance 

Shrinking of glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets

Reduction of glacial water for human use

Possible increase in evaporation

Rise in sea levels as warmer waters expand

Rise in frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones

Storage capacity increased by meltwater

Decreased length of snow cover seasons - economic impact on tourism revenue

Spring melt starts earlier

Melting of permafrost and release of methane to the atmosphere, increase of greenhouse effect (positive feedback)

Changes to the ecosystems and tundra reducing stores of water

Increased low and high flow events (drought and floods)

Reduced infiltration with increased surface runoff

Abstraction of water makes impact uncertain

Aquifers depleted through over abstraction but also low flow events not recharging store