HOW IS CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

WARMER TEMPERATURES

Earth’s average temperature is increasing

A warming climate can create an extended growing season for farmers in the mid- latitude

Warmer temperatures may allow more settlements farther north in Canada, Europe, and Russia

The increase in temperature may make transportation easier in places that are frozen most of the time

This may result in more people wanting to settle there

Warmer climates farther north and south may also mean that employment opportunities could change

CHANGING PRECIPITATION PATTERNS

Climate scientists predict that the global climate will become much wetter overall

Climate models use climate data collected over the years to predict patterns

An increase in precipitation may either hurt or help agriculture, depending on when and where it happens

Less precipitation increases the risk of drought and potentially desertification

It is difficult to predict what will occur due to its complexity of the different systems

MORE FREQUENT AND EXTREME STORMS

Coastal populations in lower latitude countries are at great risk because hurricanes form at
lower latitudes

Hurricanes are strong storms with high speed winds

The high winds bring lots of water, which can lead to mudslides, landslides, and flooding in
some areas

Increased precipitation could mean more and stronger storms in some areas

Communities can protect themselves from extreme weather by making changes to their homes,
buildings, and communication plans

RISING SEA LEVELS

Global sea levels have risen 3.2 mm each year since around 1994

INCREASED FLOODING

Climate scientists predict a rise of 1 m in sea levels by 2100

About 600 million people live on ocean coasts that are less than 10 m above sea level

LAND RECLAMATION

Land reclamation is the creation of new land in coastal areas by people

Some areas have expanded through land reclamation

LAND RECLAMATION IN THE NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands has a population of 16.8 million people in an area not much larger than
southwestern ontario

Approximately one-quarter of the land area is below sea level

They have been using a system of dams and dikes to successfully keep the north sea out

The dams help control flooding and the dikes are used to protect against erosion

The netherlands is an agricultural with an industrialized economy

There is debate in the Netherlands about whether to spend money on raising the dikes for more
protection

COASTAL EROSION

As sea levels rise, more erosion can occur

Erosion is the gradual wearing away of earth’s surface by wind, water, or ice movement

The erosion of beaches and cliffs threatens people living along coastlines all over the world

Erosion may occur quickly or more slowly, depending on what the land is made of

Construction near shorelines can stop sand from building up on beaches that protect the shore

Settlements built right on beaches are also at risk