Table 2. Teaching geography by climate change: selected topics and considerations. Phenomenon/process Broader Reason for emphasis Relation to climate Rea-arrangement of population Population Requirements to sustain in a Critical changes, e.g. distribution. Migration, Geography region, correlation of desertification, loss of conflicts. population and natural Himalaya glaciers. resources. Transformation of the Settlement Requirements to establish and Cross-cutting of climate settlements. Over-population in Geography to sustain a settlement. warming and the mega-cities. overpopulation. Polar ecosystem reduction Hydrology Vulnerability of sea-ice and Warming fast at the mountain glaciers. Processes to poles. Expansion, melt Sea-level (volume) rise influence the sea level. of pack ice. Climatic & other causes of Changes in flooding frequency More intense rains, flood. heat-waves. Loss of drinking water in the Himalaya region Shift of vegetation zones; Biogeography Importance to retain the Regional climate extinction of species, expansion present biodiversity. changes, reminding to of other species. Expansion or Possibilities and limitations of shift of climate zones. reduction of the wet ecosystems. the vegetation to Spontaneous and managed Agricultural Possibilities & limits of Slow changes, but adaptation to the climate Geography biological adaptation. Effect of changes in extreme changes, possible modification of environment on the events. its extremes. competition the species. Adaptation by plant breeding. Occurrence of new pests. Economic effect of the climate Economic Showing the costs (and Slow changes, but changes: costs of adaptation and Geography incomes) of selected key changes in extreme mitigation. economical activities. events. Changes in water, road- and rail Transportation Factors determining water-, Consequences of connections partly related to Geography road or rail connection climate change in water primary (drying) and secondary (including the environmental levels, their stability and (settlement structuring) reasons. conditions, as well). on population. Lack of food and poverty, Social Geography Existence and geographical Slow changes, but epidemic distribution of poverty, famine, changes in extreme thirst and epidemic. events. Physical changes of the natural Geology Rock disintegration in the Extreme weather surfaces process of weathering (rain, conditions, likely more ice, wind, temperature) intense with warming. Soil erosion Process and consequences of Intensive likely Pedology (Soil Geography) soil degradation. more frequent with the Slow shift of the zonal and warming. soil types 3.4.2. Developing the key competences
Table 2. Teaching geography by climate change: selected topics and considerations. Phenomenon/process Broader Reason for emphasis Relation to climate Rea-arrangement of population distribution. Migration, conflicts. Population Geography Requirements to sustain in a region, correlation of population and natural resources. Critical changes, e.g. desertification, loss of Himalaya glaciers. Transformation of the settlements. Over-population in the mega-cities. Settlement Geography Requirements to establish and to sustain a settlement. Cross-cutting of climate warming and overpopulation. Polar ecosystem reduction Sea-level (volume) rise Changes in flooding frequency Loss of drinking water in the Himalaya region Hydrology Vulnerability of sea-ice and mountain glaciers. Processes to influence the sea level. Climatic & other causes of flood. Warming fast at the poles. Expansion, melt of pack ice. More intense rains, heat-waves. Shift of vegetation zones; extinction of species, expansion of other species. Expansion or reduction of the wet ecosystems. Biogeography Importance to retain the present biodiversity. Possibilities and limitations of the vegetation to Regional climate changes, reminding to shift of climate zones. Spontaneous and managed adaptation to the climate changes, possible modification of its extremes. Occurrence of new pests. Agricultural Geography Possibilities & limits of biological adaptation. Effect of environment on the competition the species. Adaptation by plant breeding. Slow changes, but changes in extreme events. Economic effect of the climate changes: costs of adaptation and mitigation. Economic Geography Showing the costs (and incomes) of selected key economical activities. Slow changes, but changes in extreme events. Changes in water, road- and rail connections partly related to primary (drying) and secondary (settlement structuring) reasons. Transportation Geography Factors determining water-, road or rail connection (including the environmental conditions, as well). Consequences of climate change in water levels, their stability and on population. Lack of food and poverty, epidemic Social Geography Existence and geographical distribution of poverty, famine, thirst and epidemic. Slow changes, but changes in extreme events. Physical changes of the natural surfaces Geology Rock disintegration in the process of weathering (rain, ice, wind, temperature) Extreme weather conditions, likely more intense with warming. Soil erosion Slow shift of the zonal and soil types Pedology (Soil Geography) Process and consequences of soil degradation. Intensive likely more frequent with the warming. 3.4.2. Developing the key competences