GEOGRAPHY

Africa and Climate Change

• In Morocco, the fishing industries have been negatively effected because of the North Atlantic Oscillation
• Reduced growing period in the Sahel region e.g.Burkina Faso. 70% of employment in Sahel region through agriculture
• High proportion of population concentrated in coastal areas e.g. Nigeria. Makes them vulnerable to sea level rises
• Deforestation in the Republic of Congo for an example is affecting the climate in the south.
• Marine fishery in Namibia negatively affected by changes in ocean currents
• Drought in Zimbabwe has long lasting effects on economy. Drought increases through desertification.
• Intensity of extreme weather increases in South Africa e.g flooding
• Improved conditions for mosquitos means an increase in malaria in South Africa
• East African Great Lakes respond to climate change through storage e.g.Tanzania
• Nile Delta threatened by sea level rise hacing major regional implications
• Economic impacts may mean political turmoil and less money to prepare.

The Artic and Climate Change

• Artic is warming by 7-7.5 degrees centigrade
• Artic surfaces especially snow reflect Sun's heat back keeping the earth cool
• Artic soilds accumulate 11% of the worls carbon, therefore thawing of permafrost will release CO2
• Melting of Greenland Ice Sheets mean an injection of fresh water changing ocean currents e.g.North Atlantic Current
• Alaska is greatly affected as the melting permafrost has meant the sinking of places like Fairbanks.
• Salmon fishing is a major industry and increase in temperature means increase in parasites and a decline in salmon
• Rising sea levels and more storms increase coastal erosion
• Socio-economic impacts include opening up of the Northwest shipping pasage
• New oil and gas fields therefore more accessible.
• World impacts include changing weather patterns and flooding of many big cities like London due to melting of ice sheets and rising sea levels.
• Habitats are effected and polar bears have to feed in local towns