causes of climate change

Question 1

earths orbit
categorise (human/physical)
explain

Answer 1

in an elliptical orbit the earth is closer to the sun in summer but further away in winter
overall the temperature is warmer and it is called an interglacial

in a circular orbit the earth is further away from the sun all year
this causes a constant lower temperature

Question 2

sun spotting

explain

Answer 2

sun spotting is the flaring of heat from the sun

when we have an increase of sun spotting it causes the earth’s temperature to rise

Question 3

greenhouse effect

explain

Answer 3

the earth has a naturally occurring layer of greenhouse gases (methane, carbon dioxide, water vapour) which is called the greenhouse effect

due to human activity like burning fossil fuels the greenhouse layer is getting thicker forming an enhanced greenhouse effect which is causing the earth’s temperature to rise as more greenhouse gases are getting trapped in earth’s atmosphere causing global temperature to rise.

Question 4

volcanic activity

explain

Answer 4

when volcanoes erupt greenhouse gases are released
this causes a thick greenhouse layer to be created which traps in more of the suns insolation causing global temperatures to rise

large ash clouds are formed when volcanoes erupt these block the sun’s isolation. This prevents photosynthesis of crops so the crops fail causing starvation. It also causes global cooling
(Mount Tambura in 1815 caused 2 years of cooling and 200,000 deaths due to crop failure)

Question 5

fossil fuels

explain

Answer 5

the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.

fossil fuels- natural gas, coil, oil

Question 6

agriculture

explain

Answer 6

beef agriculture- cows have 3 stomachs foods has to get broken down in each and generates lots of methane when they flatulate

rice agriculture- rice is grown in water in paddy fields when they grow they trap methane under them. When the fields are drained to harvest crops the methane is released

Question 7

what are some of the effects of climate change

Answer 7

• polar ice caps are melting
• global dimming
• droughts
• death (flooding, extreme heat/cold)
• wildfires
• loss of habitats= loss biodiversity + extinction
• climate change refugees

Question 8

define proxy data

Answer 8

natural records of climate change

e.g: tree rings, ocean sediment layers

Question 9

what are the responses to climate change

Answer 9

mitigation
- alternative energy
( UK net-zero target: 80% by 2030)

• carbon capture
  (boundary dam Canada- stores carbon underground)
• afforestation
  ( green legacy 3.5 m trees in a day)
• international agreements
  (COP26)

(afforestation, electric cars, hydrogen fuel cells, waste less food, eat less beef)

adaption
- changing farming practices or changing crops through biotechnology
(aeroponics Almeria)
- ensuring water security through storage or transfer
(spring water in the Himalayas)
- reducing risk from sea-level rise
(Thames barrier)

Question 10

list 5 effects of climate change

Answer 10

• polar ice caps are melting
  (= rising sea levels)
• global dimming
  ( hotter temperature causes ash clouds to rise more)
  -droughts
  -death from extreme heat/cold/flooding (2021 Germany flood killed 200)
• wildfires (environmental damage- loss of biodiversity)
• loss of habitat = loss of biodiversity= increased risk of extinction
• climate change refugees
• increase in natural disasters

Question 11

describe 2 strategies used to reduce the impact of climate change

Answer 11

national scale

• building sea defences
• environmental agency

local scale

• beryl bikes
• cycling to work/school
• changing car to electric

global scale

• united nations (environmental programme)
• COP26 (agreement to reduce warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius)

Question 12

how has agriculture changed?

Answer 12

• machinery (fossil fuels)
• fertilizers (methane)
  20x more potent than CO2
• increased beef and rice farming due to a growing population