Climate Change

Question 1

Define climate.

Answer 1

Average weather cond over long period of time

Question 2

Explain fully the greenhouse effect.

Answer 2

1. Sun emits infra radiation
2. Earth absorbs some, but some is reflected back
3. Greenhouse gases absorb re-emitted radiation
4. Gases re-radiate heat energy - some heads back to earth and warms its surface.

Question 3

Name some greenhouse gases

Answer 3

1. CO2
2. CH4
3. Water vapour

Question 4

What would happen without the greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

Earth to cold to support life

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Question 5

What human activities increase greenhouse gases and how?1

Answer 5

1. Decomp in landfills releases methane
2. Pop inc = agriculture inc = more livestock = more methane released during digestion
3. Deforestation decr natural carbon sinks
4. Burning fossil fuels produces CO2

Question 6

What are the effects of climate change?

Answer 6

1. Extreme weather patterns e.g melting ice caps (floods)

2. Change in water availability - difficult to grow crops

Question 7

How can we mitigate climate change?

Answer 7

1. Carbon capture and storage of CO2 produced from fossil fuels
2. Reducing fossil fuel use - renewable energies
3. Carbon off-setting - reforestation

Question 8

What is an uncertainty? What has happened to them?

Answer 8

1. Uncertainty = range of values that contain true value of a measurement
2. Decreased as = more monitoring stations + improved tech
3. Increases confidence in predictions