7.2.6
Impacts of Climate Change
Climate Change Increases Uncertainty
Climate Change Increases Uncertainty
Climate change and the ENSO cycles increase the uncertainty about weather patterns globally.
El Niño Southern Oscillation
El Niño Southern Oscillation
- El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles produce uncertainty for weather patterns as conditions change in different years.
- El Niño sees winds decline and reverse direction, warm water moves towards South America, low air pressure increases rainfall and flood risk rises.
- In contrast, ocean temperatures drop in Australasia meaning higher air pressure, less rainfall and increased drought risk.
- La Niña events exaggerate normal weather and increase drought risk in South America and flood risk in Australasia.
Increased uncertainty
Increased uncertainty
- Climate change increases the uncertainty with weather patterns across the world, resulting in higher or lower precipitation that leads to either drought and floods.
- Sea level rise and warmer sea surface temperatures increase the chance of tropical storms and the floods associated with them.
Drought risk projections
Drought risk projections
- Areas that are at risk for future drought are the USA, Central America and the Mediterranean. These regions, all around similar latitude, could see a reduction in rainwater.
- The Southern Mediterranean countries (i.e. Spain and Greece) are particularly at risk from drought because of their relatively high populations and reliance on the tourism industry.
- Countries seeing a reduction in drought risk include northern Alaska, Asian countries and countries surrounding the Indian Ocean.
Flood risk projections
Flood risk projections
- South East Asia (i.e. India and Bangladesh) is seeing an increase in the likelihood of flooding.
- 70% of Bangladesh is on a floodplain and the majority of the nation is only 1 m above sea level.
- Climate change is likely to cause Himalayan glacial meltwater to increase and flood the rivers. Sea level rise and the increased likelihood of tropical storms (referred to as Cyclones here) means Bangladesh is increasingly at risk from flooding.
Climate Change Impacts in The Sahel
Climate Change Impacts in The Sahel
The Sahel is an arid region bordering to the south of the Sahara Desert. We can look at it as an example to see how climate change has affected the hydrological cycle in that location.
Precipitation
Precipitation
- In the Sahel, rainfall is low, around 100mm-600mm per year.
- The Sahel has a rainy season from July to September, during which 90% of the region's precipitation falls.
- During the 1970s and 1980s, rain declined by around 40%. This led to drought, poverty and a civil war broke out in Eritrea and Ethiopia (as people fought for water and land).
Changes in climate
Changes in climate
- Since 1996, the climate seems to have been changing. There have been five significantly wetter years.
- This increase in wetter years has been referred to as a ‘re-greening’ opportunity. Locals have taken advantage of the wetter years by ensuring the regeneration of water, retaining vegetation and low-cost afforestation.
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
Jump to other topics
1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.1Tectonic Processes & Hazards
1.2Natural Disasters
1.3Natural Disaster Case Studies
1.4Trends & Patterns
2Option 2A: Glaciated Landscapes & Change
2.1Glaciated Landscapes Over Time
2.2Periglacial Landscapes
2.3Glacial Processes
2.4Glacial Landforms
3Option 2B: Coastal Landscapes & Change
3.1Coastal Landscapes
3.2Coastal Erosion & Deposition
3.3Coastal Risks
4Globalisation
4.1Globalisation
4.2Negatives of Globalisation
4.3Global Shift
4.5Culture
4.6Measuring Development
5Option 4A: Regenerating Places
5.1Types of Economies
5.2Function of Places
5.3Regeneration
5.4Regeneration Case Studies
6Option 4B: Diverse Places
6.1Population Structure
6.2Past & Present Connections
6.3Urban & Rural Spaces
6.4Diversity
6.5Urban & Rural Case Studies
6.6Case Study - Tower Hamlets
6.7Case Study - Sturton-le-Steeple
7The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity (A2 only)
7.1Hydrological Processes Global to Local
7.2Influences on the Water Cycle
7.3Water Insecurity
8The Carbon Cycle & Energy Security (A2 only)
8.1The Carbon Cycle
8.2Energy Consumption
8.3Alternative Energy
8.4Growing Demand for Resources
9Superpowers (A2 only)
9.1Superpowers
9.2Hard & Soft Power
9.2.1Hard & Soft Power
9.2.2Emerging Powers - China Rivalry
9.2.3Emerging Powers - Chinese Sources of Power
9.2.4Emerging Powers - Brazil
9.2.5Emerging Powers - Russia
9.2.6Emerging Powers - India
9.2.7Theories of Development
9.2.8Power Case Studies: Chinese One Belt One Road
9.2.9Power Case Studies: Pakistan Nuclear Arms
9.2.10Power Case Studies: OPEC
9.3IGOs, TNCs & Alliances
10Option 8A: Health & Human Rights (A2 only)
10.1Human Development
10.2Role of Governments & IGOs
10.3Human Rights
10.4Interventions
11Option 8B: Migration & Identity (A2 only)
11.1Globalisation & Migration
11.2Consequences of Migration
11.3Nation States
11.4Responses to Global Migration
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