A level June 2022

Question 1

Explain the concept of negative feedback within the carbon cycle. (4 marks)

Answer 1

• Negative feedback nullifies a system
• Example: Increased CO2 leads to warmer temp and uptake of CO2 by plants
• Increased photosynthesis and carbon storage by plants
• Reducing carbon levels

Question 2

Analyse the changes in the terrestrial water system shown in Figure 1. (6 marks)

Answer 2

• P - Changes between 2012-2016 is mixed. Some places experienced a net loss/gain in terrestrial water
• E - Example: In Greenland and Antarctica both experienced loss (2cm/yr) due to probable climate change
• D - Deserts (e.g. Sahara/Middle East) have lost terrestrial water
• A - In Siberia. Only region which experienced increase in terrestrial water due to possible climate change
• L - In south-east Asia is mixed with India and eastern China experiencing increasing terrestrial water

Question 3

Using Figure 2 and your own knowledge, assess the challenges arising out of the changing forest cover. (6 marks)

Answer 3

AO1:
* Stores of carbon (e.g. lithosphere)
* Factors change magnitude of stores over time and space
* Carbon budget (e.g. impact on land)

AO2:
* Challenge: Deforestation (e.g. forest loss in Central and South America)
* Challenge: Afforestation (e.g. East Asia)
* Example of afforestation: Great Green Wall in Africa

Question 4

‘Human activity needs to focus more on adapting to the expected negative impacts of climate change than on taking measures to restore atmospheric carbon to pre-industrial levels’.

How far do you agree with this view? (20 marks)

AO1

Answer 4

• Water, Carbon & Life on Earth
• Feedbacks linked to climate change and life on Earth
• Human intervention
• Changes to carbon cycle: Natural variation (e.g. wild fires), human impact (e.g. deforestation)

Question 5

‘Human activity needs to focus more on adapting to the expected negative impacts of climate change than on taking measures to restore atmospheric carbon to pre-industrial levels’.
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How far do you agree with this view? (20 marks)

AO2

Answer 5

• Mitigation: Global agreements such as the Paris Accord, investment in carbon capture/storage, fossil fuel reduction
• Alternative energy
• Challenges with reducing atmospheric carbon levels, but opportunities to use tech to solve challenges
• Adaptation: Farming practices
• Opportunities for agriculture, switching crops to absorb carbon

Question 6

Using only Figures 5a and 5b, evaluate the relative usefulness of these sources in demonstrating eustatic sea level change. (6 marks)

Answer 6

• Similar figures
• Figure 5a offers a larger range of change with areas (e.g. South America), experiencing drops in sea level (7 mm/yr) compared to Figure 5b which does not show the same with a drop less than 5 mm/yr
• Figure 5b offers more clarity in showing the sea level change info
• south-east Asia Figure 5a suggests higher increase compared to Figure 5b

Question 7

Using Figure 6 and your own knowledge, assess the view that deposition is the most important factor in the development of this landscape. (6 marks)

Answer 7

AO1:
* Sources of energy: winds, waves, currents and tides. Low energy coast
* Sediment cell
* Transportation and deposition
* Landform: Mudflat/saltmarsh

AO2:
* Deposition is important for landscapes (e.g. mudflat).
* Background: Vegetation, so saltmarsh. Vegetation is more important.
* Sediment continue downstream into estuary (i.e. tide is more important)