1.2 Natural causes of climate change Flashcards
1st main impact of climate change (Global average temperature)
The global average temperature has risen by 1.1° since 1910.
2nd main impact of climate change (Arctic sea ice)
sea ice melting due to temperature rise.
3rd main impact of climate change (Sea level change)
Sea levels have risen by 210mm from 1870 to 2010. The sea is expanding as it is taking in extra heat from are atmosphere.
4th main impact of climate change (Human activity)
Due to humans burning fossil fuels the average temperature has increased.
volcanic eruptions and asteroid strikes (cooler climate)
Volcantic eruptions and asteriod strikes make a cooler climate has when they erupt or strike they cause dust and ash to shoot up in the air blocking out parts of the sun.
Sun spots
Sunspots are dark areas on the surface of the Sun. They appear dark because they are cooler than other parts of the Sun’s surface.
Orbit
Orbit can make the earth more circular making us slightly warmer (interglacial) or sometimes it goes more elliptical (oval) making it slighly colder (glacial).
Tilt
It can move further away from the sun making winters colder and summers warmer or the closer to the sun where the change is less.
Wobble
As the earth rotates on its axis it does not do it perfectly. This affects our seasons either with a greater or smaller difference.
How does ice cores in Antarctica tell us about previous temperatures in the most recent quaternary (2.5million years)?
Ice cores store CO2, methane and other green house gasses which can tell us the temperatures from the past.
How can trees help with this too?
Each ring in a tree shows a year of growth. Warmer and wetter weather can show greater growth as the tree ring is bigger, cooler or drier weather can mean rings are thinner.
