Which is a cause of sea level rise?

thermal expansion of seawater. Warmer water takes up more space.

Which is an environmental impact of climate change?

coral bleaching. Warmer seas damage coral reefs.

How does climate change affect extreme weather?

It makes heatwaves, droughts and floods more frequent or severe. There is more energy in the atmosphere and oceans.

Why are shrinking glaciers a problem for people?

They supply rivers that many people rely on for water. Less ice means less meltwater in the dry season.

Which countries are generally most vulnerable to climate change?

low-income countries. They have the least money to adapt.

The impacts of climate change · Cambridge IGCSE Geography (9

In plain words

One degree does not sound like much. Spread over the whole planet, it is an enormous amount of extra energy, and it is already changing coastlines, harvests and weather. The effects fall hardest on the countries that did least to cause them.

8 things to know

Sea level is rising, because seawater expands as it warms and because ice on land is melting. Low-lying coasts and islands face flooding and the loss of land.
Extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more severe: heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, heavy rain and floods, and stronger tropical storms.
Patterns of rainfall are shifting. Some regions are becoming drier and others wetter.
Food production: crop yields fall in many hot regions, through heat and drought. Some cooler regions may be able to grow more.
Water supply: glaciers that feed rivers are shrinking, threatening water supplies for millions.
Ecosystems: coral bleaching, species moving towards the poles or dying out, and loss of sea ice.
People: more disease as mosquitoes spread, loss of homes, and migration away from the worst-hit areas.
Impacts can be local, national or global, and social, economic or environmental. Low-income countries are the most vulnerable, because they have less money to adapt.

Worked example

Explain why low-lying island countries are among the places most at risk from climate change.

Much of their land is only a metre or two above sea level, so a small rise floods a large area.
Salt water gets into the soil and the fresh water supply, making farming and drinking water difficult.
They are small and often poor, so they have little money for sea defences and nowhere to move people to.

Tips and tricks

Sea level rises for two reasons: thermal expansion of the water, and melting of ice on land. Melting sea ice does not raise sea level, because it is already floating.
Give impacts at different scales and of different kinds. A mix of social, economic and environmental points scores best.

5 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

The impacts of climate change: 5 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

Which is a cause of sea level rise?
- melting of floating sea ice
- thermal expansion of seawater (the answer)
- more rainfall
- stronger winds
Warmer water takes up more space.
Which is an environmental impact of climate change?
- loss of jobs
- higher food prices
- coral bleaching (the answer)
- migration of people
Warmer seas damage coral reefs.
How does climate change affect extreme weather?
- It stops storms.
- It makes heatwaves, droughts and floods more frequent or severe. (the answer)
- It has no effect.
- It makes all places colder.
There is more energy in the atmosphere and oceans.
Why are shrinking glaciers a problem for people?
- They cause volcanoes.
- They supply rivers that many people rely on for water. (the answer)
- They make the sea colder.
- They block roads.
Less ice means less meltwater in the dry season.
Which countries are generally most vulnerable to climate change?
- high-income countries
- low-income countries (the answer)
- countries with no coastline only
- countries near the poles only
They have the least money to adapt.

5 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 8 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

The impacts of climate change

Cambridge IGCSE Geography (9–1) 0976 · 8 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

Give two reasons why sea level is rising.[2]
Show answerHide answer
Seawater expands as it gets warmer. Ice on land, such as glaciers and ice sheets, is melting and adding water to the oceans.
I got this one
Describe two impacts of climate change on people.[4]
Show answerHide answer
Flooding of coastal areas forces people to leave their homes. Droughts reduce crop yields, causing food shortages. (Also: the spread of diseases, water shortages.)
I got this one
Explain why low-income countries are more vulnerable to climate change.[2]
Show answerHide answer
They have less money to pay for defences and to adapt. More of their people depend directly on farming.
I got this one

Answers: The impacts of climate change

1. Seawater expands as it gets warmer. Ice on land, such as glaciers and ice sheets, is melting and adding water to the oceans.
2. Flooding of coastal areas forces people to leave their homes. Droughts reduce crop yields, causing food shortages. (Also: the spread of diseases, water shortages.)
3. They have less money to pay for defences and to adapt. More of their people depend directly on farming.