Question 87 – Fragile environments and climate change - Questions

Study Figure 5a, which shows selected impacts of global climate change.

Forests & Ecosystems	Cold & Glacial Regions	Coastal Settlements
Mid-latitude forests experience longer, more severe wildfire seasons	Thawing permafrost destabilizes foundations of northern infrastructure	Sea level rise increases high-tide coastal flooding
Plant and animal species experience rapid poleward shifts in range	Accelerated retreat of mountain glaciers reduces freshwater supply	Coastal aquifers suffer from increasing saltwater intrusion

Assess the varying impacts of climate change on physical and human systems.

Study Figure 5a, which shows selected impacts of global climate change.

Forests & Ecosystems	Cold & Glacial Regions	Coastal Settlements
Mid-latitude forests experience longer, more severe wildfire seasons	Thawing permafrost destabilizes foundations of northern infrastructure	Sea level rise increases high-tide coastal flooding
Plant and animal species experience rapid poleward shifts in range	Accelerated retreat of mountain glaciers reduces freshwater supply	Coastal aquifers suffer from increasing saltwater intrusion

Assess the varying impacts of climate change on physical and human systems.

Fragile environments and climate change