CLIMATE CHANGE Flashcards
When did global climate change start getting recorded?
1860s
How much has the climate globally increased?
0.8 Degrees C since 1880
Climate scientists use different methods to find out about the global climate before we started recording it. What are these methods?
-Ice cores
-Tree rings
-Historical records
- Temperature records
Has the temperature increase been steady?
Temperature graphs show that the temperature fluctuates
When have most of the warmest years occurred?
16 out of the 17 warmest years in the last 136 years have all occurred since 2001
What has been in decline since the 1980s?
Sea ice
What are examples of causes of natural/physical climate change?
-Volcanic eruptions
-Sun spots
-Orbital change
What is an example of a volcanic eruption?
On June 15 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted, sending 17 million tonnes of ash into the atmosphere
How can volcanic eruptions cause a change in the climate?
- Lots of material is released into the
atmosphere during a volcanic
eruption. - This reflects the sun rays back out
(so they do not reach the Earth). - This leads to cooling e.g. after the
Mt Pinatubo eruption (1991), global
temperature fell.
How can sun spots cause a change in the climate?
The sun can give out more energy due to an increase in sun spots.
1. These are dark spots that appear
on the surface of the sun.
2. The more the sunspots, the
greater the heat produced.
3. They come and go in 11-year
cycles.
4. This is known as the sunspot cycle
How can orbital change cause a change in the climate?
- Orbital change is about how close the
Earth is to the sun. Every 100,000 years the
proximity of the Earth’s orbit will move
from circular to elliptical (oval). - The further the Earth is from the sun,
the colder the temperature. A more
eccentric (elliptical) orbit makes the
distance from the Earth to the sun fluctuate
Human induced climate change
-Greenhouse effect
-Greenhouse gases
-Transport
-Farming
-Energy
-Deforestation
What is the greenhouse effect?
The way that gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. Like glass in a greenhouse, they let heat in but prevent most from escaping
How do greenhouse gases affect the climate?
Gases like CO2 and methane that trap heat around the earth, leading to climate change
How does transport affect the climate?
Transport burns fossil fuel increasing CO2 into the atmosphere
How does farming affect the climate?
Farming livestock produces methane, this is a greenhouse gas
How does energy affect the climate?
Coal and gas power plants give off CO2 whilst burning fossil fuels to make electricity
How does deforestation affect the climate?
Fewer trees to absorb CO2
Which countries are the biggest contributors to the greenhouse effect?
Developed countries are the biggest contributors to climate change as they have more technology and money to do things.
State the steps of the enhanced greenhouse effect
- Sun rays travel
through the atmosphere
to Earth. - As they reflect off the
Earth, some of the
outgoing rays escape
back out of the
atmosphere. - Some are trapped.
- This balance is needed
to keep the Earth warm
enough for life. - The atmosphere is made up of many gases, two important gases are carbon
dioxide (CO₂) and methane. - Human activity e.g. driving cars and using electricity often requires the
burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal, which give off CO₂. - These greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere and they trap more
and more rays that would normally escape into space. - So, the global temperature increases.
What are some environmental impacts of climate change?
1) Warmer climate means glaciers an ice sheets melt (e.g Greenland) so sea levels will rise
2) Sea ice shrinking means lost habitats e.g polar bears risk extinction
3) Rising sea levels mean coastal ares flood with destroys habitats e.g. Norfolk Broads
4) Sea temperatures rise so coral reefs are bleached and habitats are lost e.g. the Great Barrier Reef
What are some social impacts of climate change?
1) Temperature rise so there are more droughts & deaths from dirty water in places like the Sahel
2) Rising sea levels means coastal areas are flooded, leading to migration. For example, Shanghai is at risk with 24.5 million people
3) Lower yields of crops (e.g. maize) due to warmer temperatures means farmers go bankrupt
4) Droughts cause crop failure, which can cause famine and starvation
5) Sea temperatures increase, causing more tropical storms, causing death/homelessness
Human factors causing climate change:
-Cars (and other transport)
-Coal and gas power plants
-Building factories
-An increase in the standard of living -Increased farming
-Deforestation
How does an increased standard of living cause climate change?
electricity used in homes so more CO₂ is released.
How do ice cores help us find out what the climate was like in the past?
- Ice sheets are huge blocks of ice made
up of layers. A new layer forms each year. - Gases trapped in the ice give
information about the temperature when
they were trapped. - One ice core from Antarctica shows the
temperature change over 400,000 years.
How do tree rings help us find out what the climate was like in the past?
- As a tree grows, a new outer layer
(or ring) is formed each year. - These are thicker in warm, wet
conditions. - Tree rings can go back 10,000 years
How do temperature records help us find out what the climate was like in the past?
- Since the 1850s, global
temperature has been
measured. - Thermometers are used to
measure temperature and are very accurate
Mitigation- dealing with climate change
-International agreements
-Alternative energies
-Carbon capture
How are international agreements helping to reduce climate change?
Countries agree to reduce their carbon emissions (carbon footprint) by setting
emission targets.
1. Good – reduces CO₂, so stops the negative impacts e.g. flooding
2. Bad – not all countries agree to this e.g. USA pulled out of the Paris Acord.
China has not engaged = CO₂ still increases as these are the biggest contributors.
How are alternative energies helping to reduce climate change?
Using wind farms, solar energy, nuclear and tidal.
1. Good – reduced CO₂ and associated effects, also they will not run out (infinite).
2. Bad – unreliable so will need to use fossil fuels when they are not working. Also, expensive initially, so higher bills.
How does carbon capture help reduce climate change?
Some power plants are designed to capture the CO₂ they create when they burn
fossil fuels. Once caught, it is stored underground.
1. Good – reduces CO₂, so reduces consequences e.g. flooding.
2. Bad – expensive = higher bills. The ground could crack causing CO₂ to escape.
Adaptation- dealing with climate change
-Coping with rising sea levels
-Changing agricultural systems
-Managing water supply
How is coping with sea levels helping to reduce the effects of climate change?
Sea levels are predicted to rise by 82cm by 2100. Physical barriers – flood
embankments (levees) could be built e.g. The Thames Barrier.
1. Good – these will hold the water back.
2. Bad – very expensive, so developing countries will unlikely be able to prevent
floods and the people will be forced to move.
How is changing agricultural systems helping to reduce the effects of climate change?
Crop patterns are charging. In Kenya drought resistant crops are being used to
provide food even when rainfall is low.
1. Good – reduces the risk of starvation.
2. Bad – can be expensive, so the cost of food increases, resulting in the poor going without
How is managing water supply helping to reduce the effects of climate change?
Areas will get drier, so adding water meters may reduce use. Also, using water
storage facilities.
1. Good – people will have clean water during times of low rainfall.
2. Bad – water meters may not change usage in wealthy countries. Both have
little impact if there is not enough rain, so the impacts of droughts e.g. drinking
dirty water will remain.
