Changing Climate Flashcards
What is climate change ?
Long term, global shift in temperatures and weathers which may lead to an increased amount of natural disasters.
What is the Quaternary period ?
The most recent geological period in which there were several cold and warm periods.
When did the quaternary period start?
2.6 million years ago
What are glacial periods and how long do they last?
Lasting 90,000 years, glacial periods are an ice age.
What are interglacial periods and how long do they last?
Lasting less time at around 10,000 years, they are a warm period of time existing in between glacial periods.
How has the global temperatures changed over the past 100 years?
They have overall increased in temperature.
How has the global temperatures changed over the past 5 million years?
The earth is overall decreasing in temperature.
How have the fluctuations in global temperatures changed over the last 5 million years?
Earlier on, the fluctuations were quite small, however more recently the fluctuation size has significantly increased.
Name 4 pieces of evidence for climate change.
Sea ice positions, ice cores, global temperature data and paintings and diaries.
Explain how ice cores are extracted and how they help us learn about past climates?
Scientist use professional and accurate equipment to extract cylindrical cores from ice that is many thousands of years old. By analysing the trapped water molecules within them, scientists can calculate the temperature of the atmosphere when the snow fell. This has allowed scientists to calculate temperature changed over the last 400,000 years.
Explain paintings and diaries and how they help us learn about past climates?
They show when temperatures were hotter/colder at different times leading to bird migration etc. global shift in temperatures at different times of the year.
Explain global temperature data and how they help us learn about past climates?
Global temperatures, which have been recorded for up to 200 years, tells us there is a warming trend for most of the world.
Explain sea ice positions and how they help us learn about past climates?
Sea ice position data, extracted from satellites(although records only go back to 1979) shows us the annual temperatures. This is because during annual warming , for example, the sea ice moves and due to the temperature increasing every year, less and less ice survives and is instead engulfed by the warm sun.
Name 2 types of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Methane
Carbon dioxide
Explain the difference between the enhanced greenhouse effect and the natural greenhouse effect.
the natural greenhouse effect is a necessary and balanced process that keeps Earth warm enough for life, while the enhanced greenhouse effect is the result of human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases, leading to excessive warming and climate change.
What are the two main causes of climate change ?
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Natural greenhouse effect
Name three causes of natural climate change ?(natural greenhouse effect)
Sun spots, volcanic eruptions and Milankovitch cycles.
Explain Sun spots and how they naturally contribute to climate change ?
Sunspots are dark, cooler areas on the Sun’s surface. When sunspot activity is high, the Sun releases more energy, leading to warmer temperatures on Earth. This contributes to short-term climate variations.
Explain volcanic eruptions and how they naturally contribute to climate change ?
Volcanic eruptions release ash and gases like sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. These particles block sunlight, causing temporary cooling (volcanic winters), which can affect global climate for months or years.
Explain milankovitch cycles and how they naturally contribute to climate change ?
Milankovitch cycles are long-term changes in Earth’s orbit, tilt, and wobble. These cycles affect the amount of solar energy Earth receives and can lead to periods of warming or cooling, contributing to natural climate change over thousands of years.
Name an enhanced greenhouse effect cause?
Burning fossil fuels.
How does burning fossil fuels contribute to climate change?
the amount of solar energy Earth receives and can lead to periods of warming or cooling, contributing to natural climate change over thousands of years.
Where are the three countries we focus on when talking about how climate change affects globally?
Uk, Tuvalu and Australia.
What is Tuvalu?
A nation, composed of various small islands located North -East to Australia and located in the South - Pacific Ocean.
What is Tuvalu greatly struggling with?
Rising sea levels.
What recent event in Australia was catastrophic?
In 2019-2020, Australia had awful bushfires and some of the worst droughts ever.
List one social, economic and environmental impacts of extreme weather (drought) on Australia in 2019-2020.
Socially=
34 people were killed by bushfires, including 4 firefighters.
Environmentally=
Estimated 1.25 billion animals were killed.
Economically=
Estimated £57 billion of property damage and economic losses.
Explain how the salt in the sea water damages Tuvalu?
The salt in the sea water destroys the crops, leading to people without food.
How has the sea level in Tuvalu changed over the last 30 years?
15 cm higher.
What will happen in Tuvalu because of climate change?
By 2050, the entire nation will be forced to emigrate elsewhere. Tuvalu may become the First Nation to be stripped of its status due to climate Change, may become the first digital nation.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
List social, economic and environmental impacts of extreme weather on the UK.
Socially =Heat related illnesses such as skin cancer and heat stroke may increase. Schoolchildren miss more days of school due to more frequent heatwaves.
Economically=increased spending on sea defences up to £10 billion.
Environmentally=more crops will be able to grow in the Uk that weren’t able to before due to temperature increases. Such as grapes.
