ms allen geog

Climate Change

  • Weather: The condition of the atmosphere at a specific place and time.
  • Climate: The average weather conditions in a place over many years.
Evidence for Climate Change
  • Ice Cores: Analysis of ice cores reveals past atmospheric composition.
    • Trapped air bubbles show past CO2 levels, indicating a correlation between CO2 concentration and temperature.
  • Glacier Retreat: Worldwide glaciers are shrinking, indicating warming temperatures.
  • Historical Data: Provides long-term trends and patterns.
  • Paintings: Historical paintings indicating climate change
Human Causes of Climate Change
  • Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) releases greenhouse gases.
  • Deforestation reduces the number of trees absorbing CO_2.
  • Industrial processes emit greenhouse gases.
  • Agriculture, particularly livestock farming, produces methane.
Natural Causes of Climate Change
  • Volcanic eruptions release greenhouse gases and aerosols.
  • Changes in solar radiation affect Earth's temperature.
  • Variations in Earth's orbit (Milankovitch cycles).
The Greenhouse Effect
  • Solar radiation enters the Earth's atmosphere.
  • Some radiation is reflected back into space.
  • Greenhouse gases (e.g., CO_2, methane) trap some of the outgoing radiation, warming the Earth.
Meat Production and the Environment
  • Livestock farming contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (methane from digestion).
  • Requires large amounts of land, leading to deforestation.
  • Water consumption and pollution.
Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Impact
  1. Walk or cycle instead of driving: Reduces emissions from vehicles.
  2. Use public transport: Buses emit less per passenger than individual cars.
  3. LED light bulbs: Use less energy than traditional bulbs.
  4. Minimize food waste: Reduces methane emissions from landfills.
  5. Eat some meat-free meals: Reduces demand for meat production.
  6. Minimize deforestation: Enhances carbon sequestration.
  7. Plant trees: Absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Development and Trade

Definitions
  • Economic Development: Improvement of a country's economic conditions.
  • Quality of Life: The standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group.
  • Social Development: Improvement in social well-being (e.g., education, health).
  • Environmental Development: Sustainable use and conservation of natural resources.
  • Political Development: Advancement in governance, democracy, and human rights.
  • Short-Term Aid: Immediate assistance provided during emergencies.
  • Bilateral Aid: Assistance from one government to another.
  • Multilateral Aid: Assistance from international organizations (e.g., UN) to countries.
  • Voluntary Aid: Aid given by NGOs and charities.
  • Tied Aid: Aid with conditions attached (e.g., recipient must buy goods from donor country).
  • Long-Term Aid: Sustainable assistance for long-term development.
Country Examples on the Development Highway
  • LIC (Low-Income Country): Nepal
  • MIC (Middle-Income Country): India
  • HIC (High-Income Country): United Kingdom
Neglected Sub-Tropical Diseases
  1. Dengue Fever
  2. Leishmaniasis
Case Study: Trachoma
  • A bacterial eye infection causing blindness if untreated.
  • Affects people's ability to work, attend school, and care for themselves.
Example