Climate Flashcards
Name the gases that make up the Earth’s atmosphere.
Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide
Name two greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide, methane.
What is meant by the term global warming?
The gradual increase in the air temperature at the surface of the Earth
What percentage of the Eath’s atmosphere is comprised of oxygen?
21%
What percentage of the Eath’s atmosphere is comprised of carbon dioxide?
0.04%
Name two processes that add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Respiration, combustion.
Name two processes that remove carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis, dissolving in the oceans
Give two ways that human activities increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, farming cattle.
Explain what climate change is
Long term changes to weather patterns
Describe the link between global average air temperature and carbon dioxide concentration.
The patterns in temperature increase and carbon dioxide increase are similar. Human activity is very likely to be the cause.
Which gas makes up about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere?
nitrogen
What is meant by the term greenhouse gas?
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect, such as carbon dioxide.
Explain the greenhouse effect
When energy from the Sun is transferred to the thermal energy store of gases in Earth’s atmosphere, keeping the surface of the Earth warmer than it would otherwise be
Explain why using public transport more often can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Using fewer cars, less often. Fewer fossil fuels are burned so less carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere.
Explain why generating electricity from renewable resources can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Burning fewer fossil fuels
Explain why buying and wasting less can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The processes required to make new things requires burning fossil fuels, mining for resources and/or making space for crops. All of these increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Where do all the materials we originally use come from?
Earth’s crust, atmosphere, oceans
What is meant by the term recycling?
Collecting and processing materials that have been used so that these materials can be used again.
Why is it particularly important to recycle some materials?
Resources will not last forever and the faster we extract them, the sooner they will run out.
Give two advantages of recycling.
Resources last longer, uses less energy than extracting new materials, reduces waste and pollution.
