The continuum

How about the effects of climate change?

LEDC’s and NICs They are currently experiencing their industrial revolution and are becoming the greatest users and producers of electricity and are burning huge quantities of fossil fuels to keep their booming industries going. This is creating masses of pollution and contributing greatly to global warming. China and India (NICs) are particular big contributors to global warming.

China is currently the world's second largest energy consumer and producer and will overtake the USA by 2019 6 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in China! Picture above: Beijing's smog Lanzhou This country is hooked on coal. With 21,000 coal mines across the country, it is cheaper and more easily available than any other form of energy in China. It is the lifeblood of its booming economy, producing 70 per cent of the energy that fuels its dramatic growth.

Engines burn oil which is another fossil fuel Engines burn oil which is another fossil fuel. They also add carbon back into the atmosphere and thicken the layer. Just think a moment about how many vehicles there are around……

Brilliant we will be able to sunbathe here in the UK!! So what......?! Global Warming…. It was found that 9 hottest years on record occurred during the past 14 years. The mean Earth temperature in 2017 was 0.63°C higher than the past 26 years. Brilliant we will be able to sunbathe here in the UK!!

Not necessarily a good thing………..

GREENLAND’S CONTINENTAL ICE MELTING COULD MEAN HUGE SEA LEVEL RISE But what are the real consequences of global warming for us all? GREENLAND’S CONTINENTAL ICE MELTING COULD MEAN HUGE SEA LEVEL RISE

Global warming causes the polar ice sheets melt Global warming causes the polar ice sheets melt. It increases the sea-level. It will possibly rise 18 cm by 2030 and 58 cm by 2090. Flooding will probably occur in lowlands. Many cities along the coast may be under sea water.

The loss of polar ice will have a profound effect on nature in particular animal habitats.

13 METRE RISE 7 METRE RISE 84 METRE RISE Sea level rise around the world is going to leave many people homeless!

Many of the world’s islands are already disappearing beneath the sea. The tiny island nation of the Maldives ( WATCH THE 2 VIDEOS ON THE WEBSITE) is in trouble. If global warming continues, say scientists, the country could sink beneath the ocean within 100 years. The average height of the islands above sea level is 1.5 metres and the rate of sea level rise is currently 75cm per century.

There will also be an increase in COASTAL FLOODING

And Hurricanes will become more frequent, intense and will happen in places that currently do not suffer them!

And drought and crop failure which leads to

FAMINE WHICH THEN LEADS TO DISEASE And this could be common in countries that do not usually suffer from this

And therefore flooding will become more frequent and severe. Some places will suffer far more rain…. And therefore flooding will become more frequent and severe.

What can we do to stop or control Global Warming?

Basically we all need to reduce our….. CARBON FOOTPRINTS!

Homework questions 2 Fig. 1A shows the proportions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that result from human activities. Fig. 1B shows the proportions of different human activities that produce greenhouse gases. (a) (i) Calculate the total percentage of carbon dioxide shown in Fig. 1A. [1] (ii) Name the human activity that results in the greatest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions shown in Fig. 1B. [1] (b) Using Figs 1A and 1B, briefly describe the relationship between agriculture and theproduction of greenhouse gases. [3] (c) Explain how an increase in greenhouse gases can lead to global warming. [5]