QUIZ Climate Crisis

Study Notes – QUIZ Climate Crisis

• The Shocking Vulnerability of Planet Earth to Climate Change

  • Climate change affects weather patterns, harming animals and plants.
  • The earth is warming, leading to stronger storms, rising seas, and extreme dryness or wetness.

  Key Takeaways

  • Climate change leads to more hot days and stronger storms, causing floods that harm homes and farms.
  • Melting ice increases sea levels, threatening coastal communities and animal habitats and changing where animals can live.
  • Health risks increase with heat waves, leading to illnesses like heat stroke, and food security is endangered by bad weather affecting farming.
  • Extreme weather damages important infrastructure, hindering access to water and electricity.
  • Immediate action is needed to reduce climate change’s impact on the planet’s health, safety, and economy.

  Climate Change Risks to the Formations on Planet Earth

  • Climate change poses risks to Earth’s natural formations, impacting landscapes and ecosystems.

  Mountains

  • Glaciers are retreating, reducing water supplies and increasing the risk of avalanches, landslides, and floods.
  • Decreasing snow cover and thawing permafrost destabilize slopes and infrastructure.

  Biodiversity Threats

  • Species in cold, high-altitude environments face extinction as climate zones shift upward.

  Extreme Weather

  • Increased rainfall at high elevations leads to more frequent and severe floods and landslides.

  Oceans

  • Rising temperatures and sea levels through thermal expansion and melting ice threaten coastal formations and wetlands.
  • Oceans absorb CO₂, becoming more acidic, harming coral reefs and marine food webs.
  • Coral bleaching, shifting fish populations, and altered nutrient cycles endanger marine ecosystems.

  Deserts

  • Deserts are experiencing high rates of warming, potentially reaching 5–7°C increases by the end of the century.
  • Reduced rainfall and increased evaporation threaten water supplies.
  • Melting glaciers exacerbate water shortages.
  • The biocrusts stabilizing desert soils are vulnerable to extreme heat, risking desertification and loss of agricultural land.

  Forests

  • Increased droughts make forests susceptible to wildfires, pests, and diseases, leading to tree mortality and shifts in forest composition.
  • Many plant and animal species cannot adapt quickly enough, leading to reduced diversity.
  • Forests’ ability to store carbon is compromised, fueling further climate change.

  Soils and Landscapes

  • Intense rainfall, floods, and droughts accelerate soil erosion, reduce soil fertility, and change landforms.
  • Climate change shifts erosion, deposition, and sediment transport, reshaping rivers and coasts.

  Cryosphere (Ice Sheets and Permafrost)

  • Loss of polar and alpine ice contributes to sea level rise and alters ocean currents.
  • Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases and destabilizes ground in Arctic regions.

  General Ecosystem Risks on Planet Earth

  • Habitat loss and species extinction occur as habitats shift or disappear.
  • More frequent and severe storms, heatwaves, and droughts disrupt natural processes and human societies.

  Summary Table: Key Risks by Formation

  • Mountains: Glacier loss, landslides, floods, biodiversity loss, water scarcity.
  • Oceans: Sea level rise, acidification, coral bleaching, biodiversity loss.
  • Deserts: Extreme heat, water scarcity, biocrust loss, desertification.
  • Forests: Drought, wildfires, pest outbreaks, carbon loss, biodiversity decline.
  • Soils/Landscapes: Erosion, land degradation, altered river/coastal forms.
  • Cryosphere: Melting ice, permafrost thaw, sea level rise, habitat loss.

  Why are shifting weather patterns dangerous for Earth’s plant and animal ranges?

  • Shifting weather patterns disrupt stable climate conditions, endangering species survival.
  • Plants and animals are adapted to specific temperature, moisture, and seasonal cycles.

  Here are the main dangers posed by shifting weather patterns:

  • Habitat loss and range shifts: Species are forced to move to find suitable conditions, but may face barriers.
  • Disrupted life cycles: Timing of events like flowering, breeding, and migration is affected, threatening survival.
  • Increased stress and mortality: Extreme weather harms plants and animals, reducing reproductive success.
  • Ecosystem imbalance and biodiversity loss: Invasive species may thrive, destabilizing ecosystems.
  • Physiological limits exceeded: Species may be unable to adapt to temperature and moisture changes, leading to extinction.

  Impacts of Climate-Driven Ecosystem Collapse on Human Food Sources

  • Climate-driven ecosystem collapses threaten the stability and productivity of systems that support human food sources.
  • This affects agriculture, fisheries, and food security worldwide.

  Disruption of Agricultural Production

  • Crop failures result from extreme weather, reducing yields and degrading soil.
  • Loss of pollinators reduces the yields of many fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
  • Repeated climate shocks degrade soil health, limiting food production.

  Fisheries and Aquatic Food Sources

  • Fishery collapses occur due to ocean warming, acidification, and habitat loss.
  • Loss of key species disrupts marine ecosystems, affecting seafood availability.
  • Higher temperatures and changing ocean chemistry reduce marine animal biomass.

  Food Security and Nutrition

  • Reduced agricultural and fishery output leads to higher food prices.
  • Lower yields and reduced diversity in food sources can lead to malnutrition.
  • Extreme events and global food trade can trigger global food shortages and price shocks.

  Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Services

  • Ecosystem collapse undermines water regulation, pest control, and nutrient cycling.
  • Climate change and biodiversity loss increase pest and disease pressure.

  Regional and Global Impacts

  • Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, and small island nations are especially at risk of food insecurity.
  • Disruptions in one region can spread globally via international trade.

  Summary Table: Key Impacts

  • Agriculture: Crop failures, soil loss, pollinator decline.
  • Fisheries: Fishery collapse, reduced seafood, disrupted food webs.
  • Food Security: Higher prices, malnutrition, increased hunger.
  • Ecosystem Services: Loss of pollination, pest control, water regulation.
  • Global Trade: Cascading shortages, price shocks, social instability.

  Climate Impacts on Weather Patterns

  • Increased temperatures from global warming cause issues for people, animals and farms.
  • Changes in weather bring heat waves, affecting people’s health, particularly in cities.
  • Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is crucial to preventing further temperature increases.
  • Storms are getting stronger due to the planet warming, leading to floods that destroy homes and farms.
  • Hurricanes pull power from warm ocean waters, growing bigger and more destructive.

  Effects on Marine and Terrestrial Ecosystems

  • Melting sea ice and glaciers cause sea levels to rise, hurting animals like polar bears, and putting coastal communities at risk.
  • Climate change leads to habitat changes, impacting underwater organisms.
  • Wildfires ravage forests, and coral reefs are damaged by rising temperatures and ocean acidity.
  • Rising sea levels flood coastal zones, threatening turtles and birds.
  • Decreased biodiversity weakens the global ecosystem’s ability to adapt to climate changes.

  Impact on Human Health and Safety

  • Heat waves are becoming more common, leading to heat-related illnesses.
  • Extreme weather events hurt people’s health and safety, causing floods and hurricanes.
  • Droughts can lead to water shortages, impacting clean water access.
  • Climate change makes weather less predictable, impacting food production.

  Economic and Infrastructure Challenges

  • Extreme heat, floods, or droughts can damage crops, threatening food security.
  • Sea levels rising can flood fields near the ocean.
  • Climate change damages buildings etc, making it difficult to access water and electricity.
  • Airports near the ocean or rivers can flood easier.

  What are the key impacts of climate change on our planet Earth?

  • Climate change has effects, including sea level rise and impacts on air quality.

  How does climate change affect our oceans?

  • Global climate change leads to ocean acidification, harming marine life.

  Can climate change influence food security?

  • Climate change can lead to extreme weather events impacting crop yields,.

  Are there any health implications related to changing climates?

  • Warmer climates can increase waterborne diseases and allergens affecting public health.

  What role do greenhouse gases play in this crisis?

  • Greenhouse gases trap heat within the atmosphere, causing global warming.

  How can renewable energy help mitigate some effects of this changing environment?

  • Renewable energy sources reduce carbon pollution, helping in future climatic conditions.