Climate Change Flashcards
give evidence for climate change
- a tree grows a ring every year, therefore tree rings can reveal evidence of temperature and weather changes over the past 10 000 years
- the remains of organisms in ocean sediments can be analysed to identify environmental conditions, and in turn temperatures, from the last 5 million years
describe the possible natural factors for causes of climate change
orbital changes: the Earth’s orbit changes affects its distance from the Sun, when the orbit is more circular, the Earth’s temperature is likely to increase, as the Earth is closer to the sun
volcanic activity: eruptions release carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere which traps the suns heat resulting in warmer global temperatures
solar output: over the last 50 years, the Suns output energy has declined slightly, despite the rise in global temperatures - therefore many people reject this theory
describe the possible human factors for causes of climate change
use of fossil fuels: the production of fossil fuels releases carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere and is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions.
agriculture: produces huge amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, and is released by animals during digestion
deforestation: trees absorb carbon-dioxide through photosynthesis therefore clearing trees results in less being removed from the atmosphere
give an overview of the effects of climate change in people and the environment
people:
- as global temps rise, people in already hot regions will be at increased risk of developing heat-related health problems
- many areas will become hotter and drier, which results in drought, desertification and declining crop yields
environment:
- warmer global temps will cause glaciers and ice sheets to melt, leading to rising sea levels and the loss of polar habitats
- many species of animals and plants are at risk of becoming extinct as their habitats may be altered or damaged by climate change
