Impacts of Climate
Change – sea levels
WORLD AT RISK
What is the
connection?
What’s happening to
Greenland?
• ‘If you’re a fisherman in
Greenland global warming is
doing wonders for your business
because the harbour no longer
freezes over’
• Economic boost through
tourism for the 56,000 Inuit
inhabitants
• Air Greenland started their first
direct flights from Baltimore to
attract American tourists
So what is all the fuss
about?
What’s happening to
Greenland?
• Since 1992 glaciologist have
reported:
• 5°C increase in winter
temperatures
• 3°C spring and autumn
temperatures
• Increased speeds of ice melt
• Increased speeds of glacier
movement towards the oceans
• Glaciers retreating up to 10km
What’s happening to
Greenland?
Greenland Ice Sheet
• Global sea level would rise 7m (23ft) this is called eustatic sea
level change
• Thermal expansion is also leading to a rise in sea levels
• On your A3 hand-out I would like you to highlight/annotate the
global impacts that a rise in sea level would have.
• http://flood.firetree.net/
Greenland ice sheet
• I would like you to write down
• What is happening in Greenland as a result of global
warming
• Why is this such a big issue
• What impact this will have on global sea levels
Ocean circulation
Thermohaline
Water cools and
freezes
As water freezes it leaves
behind the salt meaning
water become more saline
Colder, denser more
saline water sinks
Water move
towards the poles
Warmer waters near
the equator
Thermohaline
circulation
Impacts of global
warming
Ice sheets are melting
meaning there is more
freshwater
Water is not sinking so
no longer pulling
warmer waters pole ward
Water move
towards the poles
Warmer waters near
the equator
Impacts of Global
warming
Impacts of global
warming
Increased river runoff
(glacial melt water)
Ice sheets are melting
meaning there is more
freshwater
Water move
towards the poles
Warmer waters near
the equator
Ocean circulation
• I would like you to
• Explain why ocean circulation currents such as
thermohaline circulation is important
• What impacts will global warming have on this