geography term 2 revision

climate change

• long-term changes in weather patterns (temp, rainfall, extreme weather events)

• driven by human activities → increases greenhouse gases

e.g. more heatwaves/bushfires in australia

greenhouse effect

• gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun

• keeps earth warm, but human activities has intensified it

e.g. CO₂ from coal increases heat trapping → increases global temp

global warming

• gradual increase in earth’s surface temp

• caused by the intensified greenhouse effect (more greenhouse gases in atmosphere)

e.g. last 10 years have been the warmest (record high)

carbon emissions

• release of CO₂ / carbon gases into the atmosphere

• caused by human activities → increases greenhouse effect

e.g. emissions from vehicles are a major source in australia

mitigation

• actions that reduce the causes of climate change

• lowering greenhouse gas emissions → limits impact of climate change

e.g. switching to renewable energy sources (climate change mitigation)

adaptation

• controlling human activities → reduce the negative impacts of climate change

• some climate change is unavoidable → manage its effects

e.g. flood barriers to protect coastal communities

sustainability

• using resources to meet current needs without harming future generations

• balancing protection of environment, economy, and social wellbeing

e.g. maintain soil health + continue food production (sustainable farming practices)

climate vulnerability

• how easily affected a place is on the effects of climate change

• judged by exposure to hazards, ability to adapt

e.g. low-lying islands are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels

sea-level rise

• gradual increase in the levels of oceans

• caused by expansion of seawater when it warms → serious risks to coastal environments

e.g. threatens homes/buildings near the coast

extreme weather events

• weather conditions very different from weather patterns (heatwaves, floods)

• climate change increases severity of these events

e.g. intense rainfall → increased flooding

location + importance of kakadu

• Kakadu National Park → Northern Territory

• UNESCO World Heritage Site

• biodiverse wetlands + floodplains

• jointly managed with Traditional Owners

saltwater intrusion

• seawater moves into freshwater wetlands

• increases salinity in water + soil

• damages freshwater ecosystems + biodiversity

sea level rise (cause)

• warming oceans + melting ice increases sea levels

• seawater pushed further inland during tides/flooding

• low-lying Kakadu wetlands highly vulnerable

climate change (cause)

• greenhouse gases warm Earth’s climate

• increases storms, flooding + sea-level rise

• speeds up saltwater intrusion into wetlands

buffalo grazing damage (cause)

• introduced buffalo damaged vegetation + levee banks

• weakened natural barriers against seawater

• allowed saltwater to move inland easier

storm surges + tides (cause)

• storms push seawater further onto land

• repeated surges increase salinity over time

• freshwater wetlands become salt-affected

evidence/data

• northern Australia sea levels rising ~3–4 mm yearly

• salinity readings increasing in wetlands

• freshwater vegetation declining

environmental effects

• freshwater plants die from salt exposure

• habitat loss affects fish, birds + insects

• biodiversity decreases + ecosystems less resilient

social/cultural/economic effects

• Indigenous food sources reduced

• cultural connection to Country disrupted

• tourism risks from environmental degradation

stakeholders

• Traditional Owners protect Country/culture

• Parks Australia manages wetlands + tourism

• scientists monitor ecosystem change

• government funds management responses

management responses

• saltwater barriers reduce seawater entry

• vegetation restoration rebuilds habitats

• ranger programs use Indigenous knowledge

• monitoring programs track salinity/ecosystem health

mitigation strategies

• short-term: monitoring environmental changes

• medium-term: restoring habitats/vegetation

• long-term: climate adaptation planning + sustainability

evaluation

• some wetlands recovering due to management

• strategies expensive + ongoing maintenance needed

• sea-level rise continues threatening Kakadu

• long-term success requires climate action globally