Climate change

Question 1

What evidence is there for climate change from the beginning of the quaternary period to the present day?

Answer 1

You could count the number of rings in a tree trunk as every year a tree gains a ring. The wider the rings are apart the faster the tree must have grown meaning scientists could looks at the conditions of when the tree grew
Scientists can also see if pollen has been trapped in sediment as the sediment can then be scientifically analysed so they can see what species of plants were around at what times

Question 2

How do ice cores provide evidence for past climate change?

Answer 2

Scientists can drill into the ice to study the oxygen in ocean sediments or water molecules to calculate what temperatures would have been like, they have been used to reconstruct temperature patterns

Question 3

What are two possible causes of the changes in temperature?

Answer 3

Orbital changes when at an eliptical orbit the earth is further away from the sun so the temperatures may be cooler this occurs every 100,000 years
Volcanic activity can release large quantities of ash and liquids into the atmosphere which can block out the sun, reducing temperatures on the Earth

Question 4

Give two ways in which human activities may contribute to climate change

Answer 4

Deforestation - no carbon sink
Rice farming releases methane when being grown
Breeding of cows also releases methane

Question 5

What are the 3 ways of mitigation?

Answer 5

1. Alternative energy production
2. Carbon Capture
3. International agreements

Question 6

Name 4 ways of adaptation?

Answer 6

1. Changes in agricultural system eg. genetically modifying seeds
2. Managing water supply
3. Reducing rising sea levels