1. Global Temperature
Variations and Heat
Waves
Linh Nguyen and Isabel Wilson
IB HL1 Geography

2. Background
Global Temperature
Variations:
Temperature changes
in different areas of
the world.
Heat Waves: A period
of unusually hot
weather

3. Causes
• Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration
o -CO2, CH4,N2O
• Urban heat islands
o -Lack of greenery in cities may exacerbate heat load
during heat waves

4. Consequences on environment
• Rising sea level
o Melting of icecaps and
glaciers
o Destroy polar bear and
penguin habitats
• Changes in lengths of
seasons
o Affects migration
• Increased forest fires

5. Consequences on man
• Health
o increase in cardio-
respiratory illnesses
o increased infection
• Agriculture
o increased heat-
>decreased
precipitation -> drought
-> dead crops
• Water management
o drought
• Possible civil war

6. Solutions: Individual
• Make use of public transportation
• Educate others
• Appeal to the government
• Simple solutions
o reusable bags

7. Solutions: National
• Reduce cost differential between fossil fuels
and carbon-free alternatives
o Tax incentives
• Increased government research
• Emission constraints
• Invest more on public transportations
• Invest in agriculture, fishery

8. Solutions: International
• Establish an environmentally conscious
global economy
• Policy intervention
o Establish "baselines"
• Global agreement on rules
o like MDGs
• Mitigation and adaptation

9. Bibliography
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-06/rising-global-
temperatures-spur-steepest-sea-level-rise-2100-years-new-study-
finds linh check the chat bar
http://www.nrdc.org/health/files/temperatures.pdf
http://www.planetseed.com/co2-and-temperature-change
http://www.global-greenhouse-warming.com/climate-mitigation-and-
adaptation.html
http://www.epa.gov/heatisld/about/index.htm
http://www.livescience.com/19679-climate-change-seasons-shift-
mismatch.html
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1002-04.htm
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/risingsealevel_more.htm
http://ccir.ciesin.columbia.edu/nyc/pdf/q1a.pdf