Climate Change Flashcards
What is the evidence that our tempurature is changing
20 warmest years having ocurred since 1981 and the 10 warmest years having ocurred in the last 12 years
What is the evidence the rate of glaciation being affected
- Glaciers such as Argentina’s Upsala Glacier (biggest in South America) are disappearing at a rate of 200m per year
- Glaciers such as the Rhone glacier in Switzerland shrunk by 2.5km
What is the evidence that global sea levels are rising
- It is predicted that sea levels could rise by between 9 and 88cm in the next century
- Global sea level rose about 17 cm (6.7 inches) in the last century. The rate in the last decade, however, is nearly double that of the last century
Give an example of extreme weather caused by climate change
More than 130 severe flood warnings (indicating a threat to life) were issued in the first three months of 2014. In contrast, there were only nine in the whole of 2012
Why do we need greenhouse gases
Without natural greenhouse gases the world’s temperature would be -18°C ; too cold for any form of life on the planet. We therefore need some greenhouse gases for our life today – we call this the natural greenhouse effect
- Enhanced greenhouse effect
The sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere to Earth and then the Earth’s surface is warmed
What is the carbon cycle
The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon travels from the atmosphere into organisms and the Earth and then back into the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make food. Animals then eat the food and carbon is stored in their bodies or released as CO2 through respiration
What are the consequences of climate change in the UK?
- Increase in coastal erosion
- Extreme weather
- Low water supply
- Loss of wildlife habitat
What are the consequences of climate change in the Maldives?
- Loss of tourism
- Disrupted fishing industry
- Loss of land
- Less freshwater available
What is carbon footprint?
The amount of carbon dioxide given off by a city through its transport, housing, energy and industry.
How has BedZED been designed to be sustainable?
- Triple glazed windows to maximise solar gain
- Low energy in appliances
- Roofs fitted with small plants to collect rainwater
- Solar panel fitting on roof and balconies
What is renewable energy
Energy that comes from sources that will not run out
What is non-renewable energy
Energy that comes from sources that will eventually run out
What percentage of energy in the UK is renewable?
25%
What is solar energy
Energy from the sun is used to heat water and solar cookers or generate electricity through battery cells.
