23 Inquiry — climate change and ecosystems
- Prepare a group presentation covering: causes of climate change (greenhouse gases, Module 12); evidence (rising temperatures, melting ice, sea-level rise); its impacts on ecosystems (coral bleaching, shifts in species ranges, changes in rainfall, spread of diseases, effects on agriculture); how scientists predict (climate models, satellites; Module 12); and how societies adapt and reduce emissions.
- The answer to the final question — can environmental changes be predicted, and can their effects be adapted to? — is yes, to a large extent: models can predict trends and probabilities (not exact days), and early warning and adaptation reduce damage.
1Heat
Key ideas
- affects pressure, wind, humidity, rainfall; T = t + 273; tF = 1.8t + 32; conduction, convection, radiation; adaptations (wood frog glucose, ice fish antifreeze proteins, thorny devil)
2Pressure
Key ideas
- 1.013 × 10⁵ N/m² = 76 cmHg = 1013 mbar; decreases with altitude; mercury barometer; isobars; more red blood cells at altitude; nose capillaries; blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
3Wind
Key ideas
- from high to low pressure; polar winds; wind speed redistributes heat and moisture; parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma
4Humidity
Key ideas
- water vapour in air; depends on temperature; hygrometer; comfort 40–60 %; osmoregulation; transpiration decreases at high humidity