Climate Change and Impact

TEKS Alignment - §113.43. World Geography Studies (One Credit), Beginning 2011-2012.
 

(4)  Geography. The student understands the patterns and characteristics of major landforms, climates, and ecosystems of Earth and the interrelated processes that produce them. The student is expected to:

(A)  explain how elevation, latitude, wind systems, ocean currents, position on a continent, and mountain barriers influence temperature, precipitation, and distribution of climate regions;

(C)  explain the influence of climate on the distribution of biomes in different regions.

(8)  Geography. The student understands how people, places, and environments are connected and interdependent. The student is expected to:

(A)  compare ways that humans depend on, adapt to, and modify the physical environment, including the influences of culture and technology;
(B)  describe the interaction between humans and the physical environment and analyze the consequences of extreme weather and other natural disasters such as El Niño, floods, tsunamis, and volcanoes;

(20)  Science, technology, and society. The student understands how current technology affects human interaction. The student is expected to:

 (B)  examine the economic, environmental, and social effects of technology such as medical advancements or changing trade patterns on societies at different levels of development.
 

Once you have reviewed the module summary, TEKS alignment goals, key vocabulary, and key places, use the left menu navigation to access all module resources.

Climate Change

Climate change is a very real issue which is becoming increasingly important in the modern world.  Record heat waves, storm seasons, droughts, and massive flooding across the globe only hint at what the future holds as the world’s temperatures climb steadily.  It is becoming clear that certain areas of the world will fare better than others as the temperatures climb.  Wealthier countries have the resources to mitigate climate change – wealthier people merely turn down the dial on their A/C and complain about their higher electric bills.  But, the poor and the poorer countries of the world will bear the full burden of global warming – even though they have had little to do with its cause.

Unlike many parts of the world which will become much drier, Southeast Asia will be dealing with a much wetter world.  Many of Southeast Asia’s major cities lie on land low enough to become inundated with a rise in sea levels of only 2 meters – well below the 4 meter projections if temperatures rise as they are projected to.  As a result, even the more well off nations in the region face losing their entire industrial base as their major industrial centers sink under the rising waters.  Countries such as Laos and Burma, which rely heavily upon agriculture, will find their crops drowning or prone to molds, mildews and other water induced blights.  And all of the countries will face increases in diseases which are affected by water – malaria, dysentery, and others will cause huge losses in life and resources.

Most of the resources below look at climate change from a global perspective. It is important for students to understand that the excess water Southeast Asia will experience is coming from somewhere – other regions will be drying out. The American Association of Geographers presents two case studies focusing on this region and Climate Change. In addition, there are numerous resources available from The World Bank which are worth looking into. The case study draws upon the World Bank’s research into climate change and presents a look at the world – 4oC warmer. The lesson plan for this module focuses upon specific changes Southeast Asia will face as temperatures climb and provides students with an opportunity to practice reading strategies using a short article provided by Radio Free Asia.