Climate and Change

Question 1

Climate

Answer 1

the average weather conditions over 30 years

Question 2

Interglacials

Answer 2

warm periods

Question 3

Glacials

Answer 3

cold periods

Question 4

How long did the quaternary period last?

Answer 4

2.6 million years

Question 5

The Little Ice Age (2 points)

Answer 5

-1350-1850 AD -was an interglacial period, not an ice age

Question 6

Evidence of the distant past (Quaternary Period) (3 points)

Answer 6

-fossils of ancient and extinct animals and plants -landforms left by glaciers (mountains) -ice sheet samples (CO2 levels are studied)

Question 7

Evidence of the recent past (The Little Ice Age) (4 points)

Answer 7

-Old photos/paintings -diaries -newspapers -recorded dates of blossom and migration of birds

Question 8

Eruption Theory: (3 points)

Answer 8

-ash and gas from volcanic eruption -spreads around stratosphere to block sunlight -cools earth

Question 9

Sunspot Theory: (3 points)

Answer 9

-black spots on sun’s surface (more energy) -every 11 years -1-2 degrees

Question 10

Orbital Theory/Milankovitch Cycles: ( 3 points)

Answer 10

-changes in Earth’s cycle -affects amount of sunlight received -warmer when closer to Earth, cooler when further away

Question 11

Asteroid Collisions: (3 points)

Answer 11

-asteroid hitting Earth’s surface would throw ash and dust into atmosphere -ash and dust block sunlight -cools climate

Question 12

Little Ice Age effects on people: (4 points)

Answer 12

-cool, wet summers lead to outbreaks of St Anthony’s Fire illness -malaria in several parts of England -great famine lasted 8 years -many farmsteads were destroyed

Question 13

Little Ice Age effects on environment: (3 points)

Answer 13

-many farms abandoned -change in crops from wheat to potatoes -advancing glaciers closed the gold mines

Question 14

Ecosystems:

Answer 14

where plants and animals interact with each other and their environment in order to survive

Question 15

The dinosaur extinction (7 steps)

Answer 15

-possibly caused by massive asteroid and huge volcanic eruption -dust, ash, gas into stratosphere -blocks sun -cools climate -plants don’t grow -dinosaurs have no food -knock on effect through food chain

Question 16

Megafauna Extinction (4 points)

Answer 16

-(eg big animals such as the woolly mammoth) -climate warmed so they had to relocate -food chains disrupted -humans hunted them to extinction

Question 17

North Atlantic Drift (4 points)

Answer 17

-causes temp change -clouds travelling across atlantic ocean -pick up water -rains and becomes lighter

Question 18

UK climate: (3 points)

Answer 18

-maritime climate (mild) -mild temps and rainfall in all months of the year -cooler in North than South

Question 19

air masses (2 points)

Answer 19

-bring weather conditions with them -have strong influence on temp, air pressure, wind, cloud cover and precipitation

Question 20

Changing climate of uk: (2 extended points)

Answer 20

• ocean currents: north atlantic drift could change position or weaken, creating a more variable climate -air masses: polar front could shift north, so uk gets tropical air masses, creating warmer and drier summers but wetter winters

Question 21

% of greenhouse gases produced:

Answer 21

89% CO2, 7% Methane, 3% Nitrous oxide, 1% halocarbons

Question 22

What does the natural greenhouse effect do?

Answer 22

-warms planet by 16 degrees -allows humans to live (earth would be too cold without)

Question 23

Global Warming

Answer 23

warming of the earth’s atmosphere caused by enhanced greenhouse effect (caused by humans)

Question 24

What does global warming cause?

Answer 24

-increasing temperature -sea levels rise

Question 25

costs of climate change on UK: (6 points)

Answer 25

-more illnesses -roads melt -summer drought and water shortages -extinctions of some plants and animals -cost of sea defences and flood barriers -more extreme weather

Question 26

benefits of climate change on UK: (4 points)

Answer 26

-winter heating costs decrease -tourism increases -fewer deaths in winter -more land can be farmed

Question 27

costs of climate change on Egypt: (7 points)

Answer 27

-1/3 of Alexandria would be underwater due t sea levels rising -7 million people would have to leave home due to flooding -loss of farmland leaving to lack of food -water shortages -desertification -increased disease -water wars

Question 28

Greenhouse effect diagram:

Answer 28