Consequences of Global Climate Change | AQA A-Level Environmental Science Revision | Primrose Kitten

Name 2 causes of sea level rise

Thermal expansion of seawater

Melting of land ice

Cryosphere

Areas covered in ice, affected by warming temperatures and impacting ecosystems and societies.

Thermal expansion of seawater

Increase in volume of seawater as it warms, contributing to sea level rise and flooding.

Why is sea level rise only impacted by melting ice on land and not the ocean?

Ice in the ocean will have already displaced the water to be there so when it melts it will not contribute to sea levels rising

Positive feedback mechanism

Process amplifying initial changes, such as increased temperatures leading to more ice melt, further increasing temperatures.

Ice sheet

Massive ice expanses found in Antarctica and Greenland, with melting impacting ecosystems and societies.

Glacial retreat

Melting of glaciers at a faster rate than they can replenish, leading to changes in abiotic factors and potential flooding.

Ice lakes

Lakes formed on top of glaciers from meltwater, which can lead to flooding and destruction of habitats and infrastructure during glacial retreat.

Perennial ice

New ice formation that is thin and melts during warmer months, contributing to changes in ice thickness and cover.

Multi-year ice

Thicker ice formation surviving warmer months, affecting albedo and global temperatures.

North Atlantic Conveyor

Ocean current system, including the Gulf Stream, impacted by global warming and land ice melting.

Jet streams

Strong winds driven by differences in temperature between the poles and mid-latitudes

Tipping point

Critical threshold at which environmental impacts become irreversible, such as potential weakening of the jet stream due to global temperature rise.

El Nino

Natural phenomenon causing reversal of ocean currents and weather patterns, leading to food chain collapses, flooding, and droughts in affected regions.

La Nina

Natural phenomenon intensifying ocean currents and temperature gradients, impacting rainfall and biodiversity in affected regions.

Abiotic factors

Non-living components of ecosystems, such as temperature and water availability, affected by global warming and leading to ecological disruptions.

Impacts of habitat fragmentation

Division of habitats, leading to reduced gene pool diversity, increased edge effects, and decreased adaptability to climate changes.

Kyoto Protocol

International agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global climate change, providing a case study for climate change management.