Climate and Change Flashcards
Name three natural causes of climate change
The eruption theory
The sunspot theory
The orbital theory
Explain the eruption theory
Volcano erupts on Earth
Ash blankets the Earth, blocking sun rays
Sunlight reaching the Earth is reduced
Earth cools down
Explain the sunspot theory
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
Explain the orbital theory
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)
What was the little Ice Age?
Period of climate change colder than normal
1600-1800
Probably due to orbital theory (change in Earth’s tilt)
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2) build up in atmosphere
Forms a blanket around the Earth
Traps heat inside Earth, warming the planet
When were greenhouse gases first discovered?
1824
If greenhouse gases didn’t exist, what would happen to the Earth?
Too cold for animals/humans
Freeze
Become an Ice Ball
What are the main greenhouse gases?
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
(Water Vapour)
Name a few ways humans produce carbon dioxide
Deforestation (less trees to take in CO2)
Producing steel/metal/cement
Burning fossil fuels
Name a few ways humans produce methane
Raising livestock
Production and transport of coal, natural gas, oil
Decomposition of organic wastes in landfill sites
Name a few ways humans produce nitrous oxide
Agricultural and industrial activities
Combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels
What are the affects of climate change?
Temperatures rising Precipitation change (flood/drought) Sea temp rise, glaciers melt, sea levels rise Species threatened to extinction Food supplies decrease
Give some economic affects of climate change
Winter sports decrease (snow melts)
Cost of helping climate change refugees
Fishing industry affected (sea levels rising)
Give some environmental affects of climate change
Snow/glaciers melts Rising sea levels More cases of tropical diseases like Malaria More severe storms Longer summer droughts
Summarise the Maldives case study
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
Summarise the Bangladesh case study
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)
How did Britain help Bangladesh?
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
How do we know climate change exists?
Media: Diaries, Newspapers, Books, Paintings, Photographs Tree ring growth Farming methods Ice cores Fossils
How does drilling ice cores help us determine whether climate change exists?
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
