Climate Change Flashcards
What are the physical causes of climate change?
Volcanic eruptions: dust and ash is thrown into the atmosphere and blocks the sun so cause Global cooling. The sunlight is reflected off the ash and gas back into space cooling the planet down.
Orbit of the Earth: this changes over time (Milankovitch Cycles) affecting the amount of sunlight received on Earth causing the Earth to heat up or cool down.
Ocean Currents: these can change the climate of areas they flow past, either cooling or warming them.
Sun spot activity: variations in solar energy affect the Global temperature. This can cause a temperature rise or fall.
What are the human causes of climate change?
Increase populations lead to increased car ownership so more nitrous oxide in the atmosphere which increase the greenhouse effect and global warming. More people also equals more waste going to landfill which release methane when it breaks down.
Cows release methane when ‘belching’ and growing rice in paddy fields releases methane which adds to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Deforestation causes a build up of C02 in the atmosphere as there are less trees to take it in which increases the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Burning fossil fuels in factories to produce energy or goods releases C02 into the atmosphere which leads to an enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming.
