• As the global population increases, so too does the amount of cattle, rice production and waste. This, in turn, increases the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
• Nitrous oxide is produced when artificial fertilisers in the form of nitrates are used. This increases the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are the most dangerous of the greenhouse gases. These were used in aerosol cans, foam packaging and refrigerators. These gases have been phased out because of the damage they were causing to the ozone layer.
The ozone layer is a part of the lower atmosphere, which helps to filter out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. It is very important to wear sunscreen with UV ray protection to help avoid skin cancer.
• Rising sea levels will threaten low-lying land and the people who live and farm there.
• Increasing temperatures bring higher evaporation rates, which lead to drought and famine in some places such as the Sahel region of Africa as crops fail. Lack of vegetation cover causes soil erosion and desertification where land is turned into desert.
• Weather patterns will become more extreme with more regions suffering drought and flooding.
• The skiing season will be reduced or may even disappear altogether, which will affect the economies of mountainous areas.
: Figure 14.20 The effects of climate change: melting ice sheets
• There will be less meltwater available for the production of HEP in places such as Norway and Italy. • Habitats will be under threat and so will the animals that live in them as they struggle to adapt to new climatic conditions.
• There could be an increase in the number and length of wildfires due to rising temperatures. ACT VITY
Check out https://educateplus.ie/go/sea-levels. In groups, choose a country that will be affected by rising sea levels. Discuss how this might impact on the country you have chosen.
; Figure 14.21 The effects of climate change: forest fires
