Climate Change Flashcards
What two pieces of evidence can be used to define the start of the Anthropocene?
- Global changes to the Earth’s system must leave evidence of long-term effects. These changes should occur simultaneously across the world.
- To accurately date this event, we need to find a marker that can be identified by digging through rocks, ocean floor sediment, or glacial ice.
What is the difference between the greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is natural and traps the Sun’s energy at the Earth’s surface. It is essential for life on Earth.
The enhanced greenhouse effect is where extra greenhouse gases in our atmosphere trap too much of the Sun’s energy.
What are the four major greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, Flurogases, methane and nitrous oxide oxides
What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions is carbon dioxide?
75%
What percentage of Greenhouse gas emissions is fluoro-gases?
2%
What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions is Methane?
17%
What percentage of greenhouse gas emissions is nitrous oxide?
6%
What greenhouse strength is carbon dioxide?
1
What greenhouse strength is Fluoro-gases?
10,000
What greenhouse strength is methane?
30
What greenhouse strength is Nitrous Oxide?
600
Where does Carbon dioxide come from?
- Burning fossil fuels for electricity and to power transport
- Deforestation
Where do Fluoro- gases come from?
Man-made gases used in fridges, aerosol and aircon
Where does Methane come from?
Agriculture, Melting permafrost
Where does Nitrous Oxide come from?
Agriculture (fertiliser), burning fossil fuels (car engines)
