Impacts & Management of Global Climate Change in Extreme Environments (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Impacts & Management of Global Climate Change in Cold Environments
Rises in global warming have led to unprecedented levels of melting in cold environments
Approximately 40% of permafrost areas are at risk of degradation, melting and the development of thermokarst subsidence (see periglacial processes here)
Very cold areas will remain well below freezing even if they experience a rise in temperature, such as in central Antarctica
The average air temperature in the Arctic has risen by over 2 °C since 1960, nearly twice as fast as the average global temperature increase
The extent and thickness of the sea ice have declined, threatening the traditional hunter-gatherer existence of the Inuit
Changes in seasonal melt have placed ice-dependent animals at risk
The far northern Canadian polar bears are expected to face starvation and reproductive failure by 2100
Present and Future Impacts of Climate Change
Present Impacts | Future Impacts |
|---|---|
Rates of global glacial retreat has increased | Positive feedback of methane release from the permafrost into the atmosphere, raising greenhouse gas levels |
Sea level rise due to melting glaciers and ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica | Flooding of cold, low-lying coastal areas due to further sea level rise as warming temperatures accelerate glacial melting |
Permafrost melting is accelerating, causing buildings and roads to collapse | Winter sports regions are seeing reduced snowfall, which has economic impacts for the locals. By 2050, only resorts above 1500 m would be able to offer snow for 100 days or more |
Ice roads, which are essential supply routes, are open for less time each year | Ingress of warmer-loving flora and fauna into cold regions as temperatures increase, outcompeting native species |
Migratory patterns of birds and animals are changing inline with seasonal changes | Existing flora and fauna become extinct as they are unable to adapt to warmer climate quickly enough |
Increasing UV radiation has caused alterations to phytoplankton communities, impacting the food chain | Flooding and landslides increase, as inland glaciers retreat |
There may be some advantages of global climate change in cold environments, such as:
Rising temperatures increases agricultural output as the length of the growing season increases
The extent of cultivable land increases as permafrost levels decrease
Forestry, particularly coniferous forestry, may be possible as the treeline extents poleward
Tourism may increase in certain areas as they become more accessible
However, most of these benefits are only short-term and eventually, these environments will become too extreme for people, settlements and economic activities to continue
Examiner Tip
Being synoptic in your exam is an important skill the examiner is looking for. Therefore, remember to draw on knowledge of climate change from other parts of the course, such as permafrost acting as a carbon sink and the impact it has on the carbon cycle, etc.
Impacts & Management of Global Climate Change in Arid Environments
By 2050, temperatures in the world’s arid regions could rise by 2 to 5 °C, accelerating and increasing desertification impacts
Precipitation rates will decrease, moving semi-arid areas into arid regions
Extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent such as drought
There will be an increasing pressure on scarce water resources, reduced agricultural production, lower crop yields and increased food insecurity
Daily tasks will become more difficult to complete due to rising temperatures
Increased migration to already overcrowded cities
Less productive soils will lead to rural areas becoming less viable, forcing more people to migrate further afield
This adds pressure on other countries to provide food, water and shelter when they themselves may be struggling
Some may stay and adapt by using soil conservation strategies or changing agricultural practices
The future for those living in extreme environments depends on the action taken to mitigate and ameliorate climate change
No one plan or action can solve the issue, and this means there are two possible outcomes:
Business as usual
Human intervention stops, halts or reverses change
Strategies in arid regions could include:
Improving soil fertility through the careful use of fertilisers
Using indigenous plant species that are better suited to extreme conditions
Improving irrigation systems and pest control
Adopting water and soil conservation techniques
Enabling mitigation
Communicating and accessing weather and hazard information
Creating transport systems that work amid extreme events
Using banking credit and insurance to spread the risk before, during, and after extreme events
Diversifying business and personal economic prospects
Providing basic language and skills to understand risks and change livelihoods
Providing the freedom to organise, access and voice issues through varied public, private, and civil society organisations
Combining social and scientific knowledge into planning and learning from experiences. proactively identify hazards, assess risk, and create local responses
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