Causes, Effects & Management of Climate Change Flashcards
1
Q
What are some natural causes of climate change
A
- Changes on the earths orbit (Milankovitch cycles) which affects our seasons
- Sunspots in the sun can vary heat output
- Volcanic activity can blast large amounts of ash, liquids and gas into the atmosphere.
2
Q
What are some Human causes of Climate change
A
- car exhausts (CO2)
- deforestation (CO2)
- burning of fossil fuels (CO2)
- farm livestock (methane)
- decaying organic matter (methane)
- burning biomass (methane)
- Agricultural fertilisers (nitrous oxides)
- Sewage treatment (nitrous oxides)
3
Q
What are the effects of climate change
A
- Glaciers and ice caps melting
- Arctic sea life is less extensive, affecting the wildlife (polar bears etc)
- Low lying islands such as the Maldives and Tuvalu are under threat from sea levels rising
- Sea level rise will cause the flooding of agricultural land in Bangladesh, Vietnam, India and China
4
Q
How can we manage the rate of climate change
A
- Reducing the use of fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy sources such as wind, nuclear and solar
- Carbon capture technology allows for CO2 to be injected as a liquid into the ground for storage
- Planting trees helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis
