Climate change

Question 1

what are interglacial and glacial periods

Answer 1

glacial - times where much land is covered by ice, very low temperatures
interglacial - times in between these glacial periods where temperatures increase and ice melts

Question 2

evidence of climate change

Answer 2

• shrinking glaciers and melting ice
• rising sea levels
• seasonal changes e.g. tree flowering and bird migration
• thermometres

Question 3

by what percent has the artic sea ice thinned since 1975

Answer 3

65%

Question 4

natural causes of climate change

Answer 4

• orbital changes
• solar activity
• volcanic activity

Question 5

what are the three cycles that are believed to affect the worlds climate called

Answer 5

Milankovitch

Question 6

what is eccentricity

Answer 6

describes the path of the earth as it orbits the sun

Question 7

what is precession

Answer 7

• describes the natural ‘wobble’ of the earth (like a spinning top)
• complete wobble takes about 26,000 years

Question 8

obliquity

Answer 8

desribes the world being tilted at an angle as it orbits the sun
takes about 41000 years to move from 21.5 - 24.5 degrees

Question 9

what are sunspots

Answer 9

a dark patch that appeas on the surface of the sun because they are cooler

Question 10

how does fluctuations in solar output affect temperature

Answer 10

if a high amount of solar radiation from the sun is emitted, there will be an increase in Earth’s temperatures

Question 11

what are solar flares

Answer 11

sudden explosion of energy, releasing a lot of radiation into space

Question 12

how does volcanic activity affect climate change

Answer 12

• violent volcanic eruptions blast huge quantities of ash, gas (like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide) and liquids into the atmosphere
• fine particles of ash can block out the sun
• when the lower atmosphere is cold, sulfur dioxide is converted to sulphuri acid by the sun rays reacting with water vapour. This acts like mirrors reflecting radiation from the sun - leads to long term cooling

Question 13

what is a volcanic winter

Answer 13

when ash blocks out the sun, leading to short-term reduction in surface temperature

Question 14

what is the greenhouse effect

Answer 14

• some of the suns radiation is absorbed by the earth to warm it
• some is reflected back into the atmosphere
• earth warms up and gives off long-wavelength radiation
• this is then absorbed by greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere which re-emit the heat

Question 15

human causes of climate change

Answer 15

burning fossil fuels - releasing CO2
deforestation
agriculture

Question 16

what percent of the enhanced greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide

Answer 16

60%

Question 17

what percent does methane contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 17

20%

Question 18

4 ways that climate change can be managed

Answer 18

• alternative energy sources
• carbon capture
• planting trees
• international agreements

Question 19

How do alternative energy sources manage climate change + wind power example

Answer 19

examples include: hydro-electric power, nuclear power
- do not emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, some are reneable and will last into the future
- e.g. Thanet off-shore wind farm

Question 20

what is the difference between mitigation and adaption

Answer 20

mitigation is responding to the** causes **of climate change whereas adaption is taken action to address the effects of climate change

Question 21

What is carbon capture and how does it manage climate change

Answer 21

It uses technology to capture CO2 produced from the use of fossil fuels
Once captured, the carbon gas is compressed and transported by pipeline to an injection well
It is injected as a liquid into the ground to be stored.

Question 22

How does tree planting help manage climate change

Answer 22

• trees act as carbon sinks, removing CO2 by photosynthesis
• ## they also release moisture into the air which has a cooling effect by producing more cloud, reducing incoming solar radiation

Question 23

How do international agreements help manage climate change + examples

Answer 23

1992 Earth Summit - GDG’s recognised as impactful
2015 Paris Agreement - to reduce emissions and to lower temperature increase

Question 24

3 ways to adaption to climate change

Answer 24

• change in agricultural systems
• managing water supply
• reducing risk from rising sea levels

Question 25

How are people adapting by changing agricultural systems

Answer 25

• new cropping pattern (sowing dates)
• introducing drought resistant strains of crops
• educating farmers in water harvesting techniques

Question 26

How are people adapting by managing water supply + example

Answer 26

• buildign reservoirs to increase supply
• mass water transfer system from surplus to deficit regions
• Himalayas - water is collected in winter through a system of canals and embankments and it freezes. When the water melts in spring it will provide water for local villages

Question 27

How are people adapting by reducing risk from rising sea levels + example

Answer 27

• flooding will increase and coastal areas will become more at risk of storm surges
• maldives - construction of sea walls, building raised houses. Population may have to be relocated