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Geography > climate change 1 ✓ > Flashcards

climate change 1 ✓ Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the cells in atmospheric circulation called ?

A
  • polar cells
  • ferrel cells
  • Hadley cells
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2
Q

how is low and high pressure created in atmospheric circulation ?

A
  • air rises at equator leading to low pressure
  • when air reaches edge of atmosphere it cannot go any further
  • so travels north and south
  • air becomes colder and denser and falls creating high pressure
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3
Q

how is heat distributed by atmospheric circulation ?

A

global atmospheric circulation creates winds which distributes heat

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4
Q

how is heat distributed by ocean current ?

A
  • each ocean has its own circular pattern of currents
  • heat is transferred by warm ocean currents
  • heat is transferred from low to high latitudes
  • ocean currents are set in motion by the prevailing winds
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5
Q

how has climate changed since the last ice age ?

A
  • conditions have got warmer
  • thermometers have shown a clear warming on the earths surface
  • global warming has helped raise the average global temperature and the temperatures are continuing to rid e
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6
Q

how did the usual climates vary during the Glacial periods ?

A
  • time with large ice sheets
  • much colder than usual temperatures
  • colder, drier and dustier than interglacial periods
  • recent glacial period occurred between about 120,000 and 11,500 years ago
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7
Q

how did the usual climates vary during the Interglacial periods ?

A
  • time without large ice sheets

- the climate is warmer than usual

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8
Q

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is eccentricity and what does it have to do with climate change ?

A

earth encounters more in energy it receives from sun when earths orbit is elongated than when earth’s orbit is more circular

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9
Q

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is earths tilt and what does it have to do with climate change ?

A
  • tilt varies between 22.5° and 24.5°

- greater the tilt the more solar energy the poles get

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10
Q

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is precession and what does it have to do with climate change ?

A
  • gradual change or wobble in orientation of earth’s axis

- affects relationship between earth’s tilt and eccentricity

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11
Q

what is solar variation ?

A
  • amount of radiation the sun produces varies overtime
  • periods of lower solar activity are more likely to lead to glacial periods
  • higher activity lead to interglacial periods
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12
Q

why dos volcanism affect climate ?

A
  • large volcanic eruptions eject huge volumes of dust and ash which can partially block out solar radiation
  • reducing temperatures and causing glacial periods
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13
Q

how do tree rings (dendrochronology) help investigate historic climates ?

A
  • medium term evidence
  • each year growth of tree is shown by a single ring
  • narrow ring = cooler and drier
  • thicker ring = warmer and wetter
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14
Q

how do historical sources help investigate historic climates ?

A
  • medium term evidence

- cave paintings, diaries and documentary evidence

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15
Q

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect ?

A

impact t on global climate of increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the earth’s atmosphere since the industrial revolution

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16
Q

how has industry created greenhouse gases ?

A
  • emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane

- occurs during production processes (iron and steel, chemicals and cement)

17
Q

how has farming created greenhouse gases ?

A
  • livestock especially cattle produce methane
  • represents almost one thirds of the emissions from agriculture sector
  • increase in rice production due to growing populations in Asia has also increased production of methane
18
Q

how has energy created greenhouse gases ?

A
  • generation of power = 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions
  • mains rouge is the use of coal and natural gas to produce electricity
19
Q

how has transport created greenhouse gases ?

A
  • transport use fossil fuels to power them

- when fossil fuels are burnt gases like carbon dioxide are reduced

20
Q

why has there been an increase in greenhouse gas production through farming, energy, transport and industry ?

A
  • population growth and industrial revolution
  • increased demand for farming, energy, industry and transport
  • creating more greenhouse gases
21
Q

what are the negative effects of climate change on crop yield ?

A
  • photosynthesis can be negatively affected by increases in temperature or decreases in sunlight
  • dramatic changes will lead to a decrease in crop yield
22
Q

where are rising sea levels a problem ?

A

Antarctica, Greenland and the Maldives

23
Q

why are rising sea levels a problem ?

A
  • rise in global temperatures causes oceans to expands
  • lose crops
  • low lying coastal areas can be lost
  • affects tourism and therefore industry
24
Q

why are glaciers retreating ?

A

melted ice adds more water to oceans leading to sea levels to rise

25
Q

what is the UK climate like ?

A
  • warm summers
  • cool winters
  • temperate maritime
  • temperatures not much lower than 0°C in winter and not much higher than 32° in summer
26
Q

how does the UK climate differ from North to South and East to West ?

A

North West - Cool summers, mild winters, heavy rain all year
North East - Cool summers, cold winters, steady rain all year
South East - Warm summers, mild winters, light rain all year, especially summer
South West - Warm summers, mild winters, heavy rain all year, especially winter

27
Q

why are there differences in temperature, rain and wind ?

A 
temperature depends on:
- air 
- water 
- land 
rain depends on:
- sun heating up 
- ground 
wind depends on:
- atmospheric pressure
28
Q

what is relief rainfall ?

A
  • moist warm air from sea rises
  • warm air forced to rise, cools and condenses and then rains
  • air drops down over high ground losing temperature and increased amount of water it can hold
  • means there is no or little rain
29
Q

where does relief rainfall occur ?

A

along coastal areas where lines of hills run along the coast

30
Q

why do the ocean currents affect the UK’s climate ?

A
  • ocean currents flow in complex patterns
  • are affected by wind
  • Gulf Stream brings warmth to the UK and north-west Europe
  • it is the reason we have mild winters
31
Q

why does the latitude affect the UK’s climate ?

A

countries that are closer to the equator receive more sunlight and more heat the UK is placed in the Ferrel cell which is why it is not hot but warm

32
Q

why does being the island affect the UK’s climate ?

A
  • prevailing winds are dominant temperature of the wind and amount of rainfall partly depends on where it comes from
  • distance from the sea - coastal areas are most affected by the sea
  • sea keeps coastal areas warm and in summer, it cools them down
33
Q

how has the UK climate changed over the past 1000 years ?

A
  • between 800 and 1300 AD known as the medieval period the UK experience a warm period around 1°C warmer than average
  • between 1300 and 1900 AD there was a period known as the ‘Little Ice Age’ around 1°C cooler than average. The river Thames froze twenty times between 1564 and 1814 and ice fairs were held
  • in Scotland temperatures were 2°C cooler than average and their were prolonged winters with much snow
  • between 1690 and 1700 the harvest in Scotland failed seven times causing widespread famine

Geography (20 decks)

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