Climate and Change

Question 1

Name three natural causes of climate change

Answer 1

The eruption theory
The sunspot theory
The orbital theory

Question 2

Explain the eruption theory

Answer 2

Volcano erupts on Earth
Ash blankets the Earth, blocking sun rays
Sunlight reaching the Earth is reduced
Earth cools down

Question 3

Explain the sunspot theory

Answer 3

Suns output is not constant
Sun spots (tiny black spots) appear on the suns surface
They are hotter than the rest of the sun
Sun emits different amounts of heat and solar energy
Earth is heated at different temperatures

Question 4

Explain the orbital theory

Answer 4

Following affect how much sunlight we receive:

• Earth is tilted on its axis - tilt varies 1-2 degrees
• Earth wobbles when it spins
• Earth’s orbit changes from circular to elliptical every 100,000 years (ice age more likely in circular orbit)

Question 5

What was the little Ice Age?

Answer 5

Period of climate change colder than normal
1600-1800
Probably due to orbital theory (change in Earth’s tilt)

Question 6

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 6

Greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2) build up in atmosphere
Forms a blanket around the Earth
Traps heat inside Earth, warming the planet

Question 7

When were greenhouse gases first discovered?

Answer 7

1824

Question 8

If greenhouse gases didn’t exist, what would happen to the Earth?

Answer 8

Too cold for animals/humans
Freeze
Become an Ice Ball

Question 9

What are the main greenhouse gases?

Answer 9

Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
(Water Vapour)

Question 10

Name a few ways humans produce carbon dioxide

Answer 10

Deforestation (less trees to take in CO2)
Producing steel/metal/cement
Burning fossil fuels

Question 11

Name a few ways humans produce methane

Answer 11

Raising livestock
Production and transport of coal, natural gas, oil
Decomposition of organic wastes in landfill sites

Question 12

Name a few ways humans produce nitrous oxide

Answer 12

Agricultural and industrial activities

Combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels

Question 13

What are the affects of climate change?

Answer 13

Temperatures rising
Precipitation change (flood/drought)
Sea temp rise, glaciers melt, sea levels rise
Species threatened to extinction
Food supplies decrease

Question 14

Give some economic affects of climate change

Answer 14

Winter sports decrease (snow melts)
Cost of helping climate change refugees
Fishing industry affected (sea levels rising)

Question 15

Give some environmental affects of climate change

Answer 15

Snow/glaciers melts
Rising sea levels
More cases of tropical diseases like Malaria
More severe storms
Longer summer droughts

Question 16

Summarise the Maldives case study

Answer 16

Tiny islands in the Indian Ocean (holiday destination)
Less than 2 metres above sea level
Flood risk from rising sea levels
300,000 people will have to evacuate
President asked neighbours India/Sri Lanka if he could buy some of their land

Question 17

Summarise the Bangladesh case study

Answer 17

In Asia, bordering India and Indian Ocean
150 million people live there
Flood risk from rising sea levels
Vulnerable land near sea level 
Land on delta (mouth) of river Ganges
Low capacity - little money (LEDC)

Question 18

How did Britain help Bangladesh?

Answer 18

Since Britain is partly responsible for climate change
Britain recently gave £75 million to help Bangladesh recover from climate change issues
Money used to help protect schools by rebuilding them on raised stilts and platforms (water pass safely beneath)
Farmers helped by introduction of crops tolerant to salt

Question 19

How do we know climate change exists?

Answer 19

Media: Diaries, Newspapers, Books, Paintings, Photographs
Tree ring growth
Farming methods
Ice cores
Fossils

Question 20

How does drilling ice cores help us determine whether climate change exists?

Answer 20

Tells us how long ago ice was formed and the temperatures then
Further we drill, older the ice
Some have greenhouse gases trapped inside of them