Climate Change Flashcards
What is the process of the earth gradually warming called?
Climate change
What is believed to be causing climate change?
Human activity strengthening the greenhouse effect
Give examples of greenhouse gases.
Carbon dioxide and methane
What is the greenhouse effect?
When greenhouse gases absorb heat reflected off of the earth from the sun and re-radiate the heat back to the earth
What natural things can change the climate?
Volcanic activity, solar output variation and orbital changes
What is a volcanic winter?
When particles from an eruption reflect the sun’s radiation away from the earth, cooling it down. They only last a few years
What greenhouse gas do volcanic eruptions release?
Carbon dioxide
How do volcanic eruptions affect the climate?
It changes the composition of the atmosphere
Why aren’t volcanoes the main cause of climate change?
They don’t produce enough CO2 to explain global warming over the last 150 years
How does solar output affect the climate?
The sun’s energy output changes in cycles. It’s possible a high output increases the earth’s temperature
How does the earth’s orbit change?
It changes from orbiting circular to elliptical around the sun in a process around 96,000 years long
How is the earth’s orbital changes a reason for climate change?
The closer the earth is to the sun, the more radiation it gets, warming it. This also explains interglacial periods
What ways do humans contribute to climate change?
Through farming, deforestation, cement production and by burning fossil fuels
In what ways does farming contribute to climate change?
Rice paddies and cows digestive systems producing a lot of methane
In what ways does deforestation contribute to climate change?
Less trees to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and CO2 is released when trees are burnt
