4.4 Consequences of climate change

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

4.4 Consequences of climate change

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Describe the physical consequences of climate change and some of the impacts these have;
• Explain why the impacts of climate change vary between LEDCs and MEDCs.

Learning objectives

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Describe the physical consequences of climate change and some of the impacts these have;
• Explain why the impacts of climate change vary between LEDCs and MEDCs.

Physical changes and impacts

Changes to the planet due to climate change can be divided into 2 groups:

1. Direct consequences, which are the physical changes, such as changing temperatures and the amount and timing of precipitation.
2. Indirect consequences, which are the impact of these physical changes on natural and human systems.

Figure 4.22 shows the best (left) and worst-case predictions for temperature changes until 2100 (IPCC, 2014). Conclusion: The changes are distributed unequally around the globe.

Some (wet) regions get (even) wetter...

... other (dry) regions get (even) drier.

Effect of climate change?

Talking point

If you were a subsistence farmer, what would you do to prepare for climate change?

Melting ice and sea level rise

• On average the sea level rises 2.6 mm to 2.9 mm per year. It will rise further in the future.
• Main reason: thermal expansion of the sea water = As the global temperature increases, the seawater molecules expand slightly, which raises the sea level even further.

Double trouble for the Netherlands!

Biodiversity

Wildlife, plants and marine life are affected by climate change.

Climate change: level of development

Many of the hot and arid places are found in LEDCs.

• worse starting position
• poorly equipped to deal with the impact of climate change
• socio-economic factors play a large role in the severity of the consequences of climate change

Climate change will have many different consequences on a global scale, particularly in the worst-case IPCC scenario. Vulnerable, poor, populations will be more heavily impacted by the consequences of climate change. (Figure 4.28)

Uncertainty

Scientists studying climate change often present a range of possible outcomes, such as the average global temperature in 2100. 

They have two main reasons for this uncertainty:

1. Computer models cannot possibly predict all future events. 
2. If governments  make agreements to limit the output of greenhouse gases and implement these agreements in their respective countries, the consequences of climate change in the future will be different.

Essence

Climate change has many consequences for the Earth and its population. Physical changes include the changing temperature and precipitation patterns. The impacts of these physical changes include the disappearance of glaciers, a rising sea level and changes to biodiversity, such as a move by foxes northwards and a decline in the number of penguins and polar bears. LEDCs are vulnerable to these changes. However, there is a good deal of uncertainty attached to climate change, which is why climate scientists present a range of possibilities.

Homework 3HT

Monday 4 May, 2nd hour:

• Study 4.3
• Read 4.4 and do ex. 1 to 6, 8, 9 and 11

Homework 3VT

Friday 8 May, 4th hour:

• Study 4.3
• Read 4.4 and do ex. 1 to 11