Potentially Positive Effects of Climate Change

Climate change is the change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Base on a definition by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Article 1. Often, climate change is associated with the effects of global warming which causes the rising global temperature. With the continual focus by the media on the serious and potentially disastrous circumstances surrounding climate change, there is another side that rarely gets noticed by the public. There are possibilities and opportunities presented by these same circumstances – the other side of the climate change. The three new opportunities brought by climate change is definitely the opening of artic trade route, boost in the agriculture industry and fewer death rates caused by extreme cold weather. Firstly, climate change often associates with the rise of temperatures which causes the melting of artic icebergs. One new opportunity created by the melting of icebergs is the opening of artic trade routes, enabling a faster route between the west and Asia. Once, the artic icebergs have melted, ships are able to simply through the arctic ocean, above Russia into the Asia, in a much faster route. Currently, Russian and other European shippers

  • Word count: 977
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Geography
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Effects of Climate Change on monsoon in Bangladesh

Climate Variability and Change in Bangladesh The global climate is changing and it is likely to change further over coming decades due to increasing concentrations of 'greenhouse gases' in the earth's atmosphere caused largely by human activities. This will result in greater variations in weather patterns, a greater frequency of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and tropical storms, and gradual rises in average temperatures and sea-levels. Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts because of its geographical location, high population density, high levels of poverty, and the reliance of many livelihoods on climate-sensitive sectors, particularly rural agriculture andfisheries. These impacts will be falling more heavily on the women and girls of Bangladesh. Climate change therefore threatens both previous achievements and future efforts to reduce poverty in Bangladesh to date, particularly by reducing water and food security and damage to essential infrastructure during more frequent disaster events. Bangladesh has always been vulnerable to climate variability. This is due to its geographical features and location, high influence of monsoon and regional flow patterns, too much water in monsoon and too little water in the dry season, etc. These have significant effects on the socio-economic realities, i.e. population density, inequity

  • Word count: 771
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Geography
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Climate Change

Climate Change Over recent years it has become evident how quickly our climate is drastically changing. Evidence of this is supported by ever growing, extreme weather conditions. Scientific research has concluded that increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (), methane (), nitrous oxide (), and a few other gases are to blame for the sudden change in our climate. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is probably the most important greenhouse gas produced by human activities, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels. Currently, there is more CO2 in the atmosphere than there has been in the past 600,000 years. The term 'greenhouse effect' was first used by Atmospheric scientists in the early 1800s. At that time, it was used to describe the naturally occurring functions of lucid gases in the atmosphere. In recent decades, we often hear about the greenhouse effect in somewhat negative terms. Effects of the climate change theory are already starting to become visible. Examples include accelerating glaciers, the vast shrinking ice caps, changes in plant and animal behaviour, longer and more severe tropical storms worldwide. As sea levels are slowly, gradually rising people living on low-lying islands and coastal cities face loosing their homes for good. In December 2005, a small community living in the Pacific island chain of Vanuatu became the first in the world to be formally

  • Word count: 954
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Miscellaneous
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Climate Change

U.K Climate Change and its Effects The threat of climate change will have impact in the following areas of life in the British Isles: • Sea level rises • Flooding • Ocean currents • Health • Agricultural • Wildlife However there may be new opportunities offered by a warmer climate. However, the overall effect of climate change for the world is NEGATIVE. Rising Sea Levels Sea level will rise by between 10cms and 90cms this century depending on how we reduce CO2 emissions. The coastline of Britain could change dramatically. Low lying areas could be invaded by the sea e.g. East Anglia Ocean Currents The Gulf Stream brings warmth to the UK and north-west Europe and is the reason we have mild winters. The average annual temperature of north-west Europe is about 9C above the average for our latitude. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, the temperature and density of the sea water in the North Atlantic will change with dramatic consequences. The gulf stream may stop or be greatly reduced. This would mean that less heat is brought to north-west Europe - harsher winters and mild summers. Flooding The UK has experienced devastating floods throughout the last five years, which have affected thousands of people and caused millions of pounds worth of damage. Last Summer's floods shocked the country - Large town were cut off or under

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  • Word count: 741
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Geography
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Impact of Climate Change

The Impact of Climate Change In the last few years there has been a lot of attention given to the problem of climate change. Usually we only hear vague ideas about how the Earth is heating up, how we are all going to die and that we are to blame. However climate change is a natural process that experts have said has been sped up by human activity, for example, industrial activities, vehicles and machines producing gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases are damaging because of how the Sun's rays heat up the Earth. The rays from the Sun enter the atmosphere, hitting the Earth's surface with most being reflected back without heating up the Earth at all. The ones that are absorbed by the sea and the ground are reflected back as infrared rays therefore heating up the Earth. However as more CO2 and other "greenhouse gases" are pumped into the atmosphere, fewer and fewer of the Sun's rays are reflected away, hence the rising temperatures. Although there is debate over the largest contributor to the climate change problem that is not my focus for this essay. In this essay I intend to show how climate change would affect the world's water; that is to say 70% of the Earth's surface. The most talked about point in the media about the effect of climate change on water is the sea level. This is because as the Earth heats up the seas and oceans will absorb a lot of

  • Word count: 765
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Climate change

Climate Change: True or False? Climate change has become a main part of today's media and global warming has become a major talking point for many of us. There seems to be much advertised evidence to support the theory of climate change and also there is information on how it is going to affect our lives. Also there is evidence to support the fact that climate change is not as bad as it is made out to be. From an article I have read called 'Instant Expert: Climate Change' I have gained much evidence to support the theory of climate change and some of the causes. Some of the theories that are believed to lead to climate change are the burning of fossil fuels which releases billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year and carbon dioxide is known to trap the Sun's radiation and in turn heat up the planet. This is believed to cause an increase of 2-5°C and this very small temperature rise could have catastrophic effect on crop growth, drought, ice caps melting, weather changes and the destruction of some habitats. However there is evidence from 'An Experiment That Hints We Are Wrong on Climate Change' that suggests that the Earth is not warming up as quickly as it is made out to be. It claims that there has been no overall change in air temperature since 1999 and that even though the sea-ice in the Arctic has diminished since 1978 it has grown by 8% in

  • Word count: 543
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Geography
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Israel Climate Change

I. Climate change is, without a doubt, one of the most serious challenges facing the twenty first century world. Human survival and the development of all countries are at stake, rendering cooperation and joint efforts by the international community absolutely essential. It is therefore unsurprising that countries worldwide have placed climate change high on their list of environmental priorities. Israel is no different. Fully aware of the seriousness and urgency of reducing greenhouse gas levels, and with a deep sense of responsibility for the long-term development of mankind, the State of Israel is firmly committed to a sustainable development and realises the unprecedented need to reduce green house gas emissions in the atmosphere. Although classified Israel was classified as a developing country under the Climate Change Convention, a comparison of carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion between Israel and other countries shows that Israel is not far behind some of the developed countries listed in Annex I. The State of Israel has therefore resolved to undertake voluntary activities to restrict and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases on the basis of the conclusions of the interministerial committee on climate change. There is no doubt that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the

  • Word count: 999
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Climate Change revision

________________ Geo Skills & Challenges Part I ________________ These changes occurred due to natural causes. Natural causes of climate change are grouped into two categorises, internal and external factors. External Factors Solar Output: The amount of energy released from the sun changes over time. The concentration of sunspots can indicate the amount of solar energy emitted. The more spots there are; the more energy is given off and the warmer our climate is. (0.1% 1980’s) Orbital Patterns: The shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun changes over time. It changes from being virtually circular to being elliptical and back again every 95,000 years. Cold periods in our past have tended to occur during periods of circular orbits. Internal Factors Volcanic Activity: Volcanic eruptions can release large quantities of ash into the atmosphere. This ash acts like a blanket and blocks out the sun, reducing the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth. To confuse matters... volcanoes can also release massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,

  • Word count: 2527
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Geography
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REPORT on Climate Change

Report Human Impact on Climate Change: One of the most controversial and contested area of science in today's society is that of global warming. Its effects upon the earth and the question of whether or not humans are having an impact upon climate change. It has been discussed, analyzed and debated by scientists from many different fields of research. The purpose of this essay is twofold; firstly, to discuss the arguments for the existence of global warming and secondly, illustrates the fallacies in the arguments against global warming. This will be achieved by the exploration of several key articles related to the topic of global warming. In order to prove the existence of global warming the main arguments that will be used are, the effects of carbon emissions on the atmosphere, the clearing of land causing climate change and the changing land use patterns of Kenyan monkeys. Firstly, the article "Carbon pollution accelerates" overviews a report which clearly proves that carbon dioxide levels are increasing by unexpectedly high rates and that the effect of this rapid increase is a warming of global temperatures over the next century above and beyond what was previously forecasted by the UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "Professor Nicholas Owens of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) was quoted as saying the findings were so worrying that they made previous

  • Word count: 1038
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Miscellaneous
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Global Climate Change and Climate Protection: Current Summary

Global Climate Change and Climate Protection: Current Summary From September 6 to 10, 1997, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) held a Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign - U.S. workshop in Atlanta, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The City of Atlanta, The Climate Institute, and The Turner Foundation. ICLEI is the international environmental agency for local governments. It believes from concrete experience that local actions can have a global impact. ICLEI was established in 1990 through a partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union of Local Authorities (IULA), and the Center for Innovative Diplomacy. ICLEI's World Secretariat is in Toronto. ICLEI also has offices in Freiburg, Tokyo, Harare, Santiago, and Berkeley. ICLEI's purpose and mission are to: 1) serve as an international clearinghouse on sustainable development and environmental protection policies, programs, and techniques being implemented at the local level by local institutions; 2) initiate joint projects or campaigns among groups of local governments to research and develop new approaches to address pressing environmental and development problems; 3) organize training programs and publish reports and technical manuals on state of the art environmental management practices; and 4) serve as an advocate for

  • Word count: 2213
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Geography
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