Impacts of Global Warming and Climate Change

• Desertification

  The projected increase in the temperature will increase the amount of moisture evaporated from land and water surfaces. This will increase the rate of desertification (the process by which land available for agriculture dries up and turns to desert), which threatens a third of the Earth's surface. Areas across Africa are likely to experience more droughts with devastating consequences for agriculture, food supply and human health. Also increases the risk of wildfires.
• Food Production

  Climate change could significantly reduce Earth's ability to produce enough food for the growing population. As areas become more arid and experience episodes of drought and soil erosion, famine and reduced water supplies are a threat.
• Weather Patterns

  With more energy in the atmosphere, the frequency of storm events will increase. Longer lasting hurricanes with stronger winds and bigger storm surges will cause more damage to coastal communities. The UK will have increased rainfall and flooding.
• Sea Levels

  40% of people live 100km from the coast. Rising sea levels could damage economic activity, infrastructure, loss of income, flooding and farmland. In Tuvalu, the highest point is 3 metres so the island is disappearing due to increased wave intensity. This will impact water contamination, stilts of houses, crops dying and spread of disease. New Zealand will allow 75 immigrants annually but requirements must be met e.g. a job.
• Oceans

  Thermal expansion has caused sea levels to rise by 20cm in the last century, as the warmer oceans occupy more space. Melting of sea ice (Arctic) will not contribute to sea level rise but if glaciers and continental ice masses (Greenland or Antartica) were to thaw this would be see a rise in sea levels by 30cm by 2100. Threat to low lying areas such as Bangladesh. Increase in carbon dioxide will also cause acidification of oceans. Covering 70% of the planet, oceans are the largest single carbon sink in the world, absorbing a large portion of the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Some of this reacts with water, producing dilute carbonic acid which can make it inhospitable for marine life and lead to coral bleaching.
• Ecosystems

  Climate change is anticipated to have an enormous impact on the planet's ecosystems and biodiversity. As pack ice starts to melt, the capacity of large carnivores to hunt, such as polar bears. The areas anticipated to face the biggest change ar epolar and tundra areas.
• Heat Related Illness

  As temperatures rise, the risks of heat-related illness and mortality for the most vulnerable will also increase. Extreme heat waves will become more common; the WHO estimated that there were 20,000 deaths in Europe as a result of a summer heatwave in 2003.
• Infectious Disease

  Climate change may increase the spread of infectious diseases, because warmer temperatures allow disease carrying insects, animals and microbes to survive in areas that were once inhospitably cold. Malaria could become a threat again in places such as the USA and southern Europe with warmer temperatures.