Human impacts on climate

KGA171 The Global Geography of ChangePresented by Associate Professor Elaine StratfordSemester 1

Clouds over the future?

LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING BACK

Part 1

Revising Module 4 Lecture 2

1. What are solar activity cycles? Describe their ‘periodicity’ or cyclical frequency. What might a decline in their periodicity or intensity mean for temperatures on Earth? Illustrate your answer with examples.

2. Why and how are ice cores useful in measuring climate change over long periods of time? Exemplify your response by reference to Dome C and/or Vostok.

3. Define ‘glacial’ and ‘interglacial’, their apparent or documented durations on average, and their main characteristics.

4. How might a shoreline provide evidence of past climate change? How about tree rings?

5. What might ocean drilling reveal about changes to climate in the past? Illustrate your response with reference to the Mayans.

6. List and explain four points that help explain climate’s impact on humans.

Man thinking

Learning ObjectivesModule 4 Lecture 3Be able to• describe some of the ways in which

human activity has affected climate systems and processes and elucidate how the enhanced greenhouse effect works

• explain the extent to which changing land use patterns, allied to globalised systems of production and consumption, affect climate

• summarize some of the effects of an anticipated rise in sea level

• compare and contrast narratives of despair and resilience

KGA171• demonstrate knowledge of

geographical concepts, earth and social systems and spatial patterns of change

• create and interpret basic maps, graphs and field data

• identify and analyse different viewpoints to contribute to debates about global development

• communicate in reflective and academic writing, referencing literature when needed

Textbook Reading Bergman and Renwick (2008) pp. 86-90

and for extension reading

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) Assessment Report IV, Chapter 11 – Australia and New Zealand, Executive Summary [one web page]

Kelly, P.M and Adger, W.N. (2000) Theory and practice in assessing vulnerability to climate change and facilitating adaptation Climatic Change 47: 325–352

Critical reading1.What is the author’s purpose?2.What key questions or problems does the author raise?3.What information, data and evidence does the author present?4.What key concepts does the author use to organize this information, this evidence?5.What key conclusions is the author coming to? Are those conclusions justified? 6.What are the author’s primary assumptions?7.What viewpoints is the author writing from?8.What are the implications of the author’s reasoning?[from Foundation for Critical Thinking]

Man reading a book

A NARRATIVE OF DESPAIRPart 2

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NOAA-Hurricane-Katrina-Aug28-05-2145UTC.jpg

Aid donations, New Orleans, August 2005

Sign, New Orleans, August 2005

Banda Aceh, 2004

INSIDE THE GREENHOUSEPart 3

http://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_tar/?src=/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/247.htm

Source: UNEP

Global temperature trends 2001-2005Source: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

See also Planet Ark

Summer days over 35 °C

Location Present 2030 2070

Hobart 1 1-2 1-4

Sydney 2 2-4 3-11

Brisbane 3 3-6 4-35

Canberra 4 6-10 7-30

Melbourne 8 9-12 10-20

Adelaide 10 11-16 13-28

Perth 15 16-22 18-39

CSIRO (2001) Climate Change - Projections for Australia

CRUCIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT LAND USEPart 4

Land and land useLand = includes – (a) buildings and other structures permanently fixed to land; and (b) land covered with water; and (c) water covering land; and (d) any estate, interest, easement, servitude, privilege or right in or over landUse = in relation to land, includes the manner of utilising land but does not include the undertaking of development (Tasmanian Land Use Planning and Approvals Act, 1993)

William Hogarth, Southwark Fair, 1833

Developmentincludes – (a) the construction, exterior alteration or exterior decoration of a building; and (b) the demolition or removal of a building or works; and (c) the construction or carrying out of works; and (d) the subdivision or consolidation of land, including buildings or airspace; and (e) the placing or relocation of a building or works on land; and (f) the construction or putting up for display of signs or hoardings (Tasmanian Land Use Planning and Approvals Act, 1993)

“… shows the change in GHG on a sectoral basis over the period 1990 to 2003. In 2003, Australia's total greenhouse emissions were estimated at 550.1 megatonne (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). This represented an increase of 25.6 Mt of CO2-e (4.9%) between 1990 and 2003. The major source of emissions was the energy sector which accounted for 68% of total national emissions in 2003. Energy industries (including power stations) were the largest contributor, accounting for 38% of total national emissions with transport contributing a further 14.5%. Over the period 1990-2003 emissions from the energy sector increased by 31%. This trend is likely to continue with emissions expected to grow by over 39% (119 Mt CO2-e) between 1990 and 2010. Emissions from the land use and forestry sector declined by 67% from 106.6 Mt CO2-e in 1993 to 34.9 Mt CO2-e in 2003. This decline reflects the greenhouse sink offset of mainly the forestry subsector. (AGO 2005a)” 1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2006. Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 

The urban climate

See also the American Meteorological Society Glossary

The effects of pollution on climate

Intensive animal husbandry – land use linked to climate change

4613.0 - Australia's Environment: Issues and Trends, Jan 2010

The Amazon

RISING TIDESPart 5

Melting ice from the land will have significant effects on sea level. Melting ice already in the oceans will additionally exacerbate acidification, change the salinity of the ocean and both will affect ocean currents and the transfer of heat and energy between ocean and atmosphere

Source UNEP

Derwent Estuary Climate Change Issues: Regional actions, research and possible impacts

A NARRATIVE OF RESILIENCE?Part 6

See Tompkins and Adger (2004) on resilience