climate change Flashcards
what is climate change?
unequivocal
what period do we take information from?
[last 2.6 million years]
quaternary period
how much have tmeps raised since 1800
0.85 degrees
evidencde for climate change:
- tree rings [ grow thicker in warm, wet conditions]
- shrinking glaciers
[artic glacier - 65% smaller] = sea levels rise
-** ice cores [proxies]
snow falls and preserved gasses inside it ** - temperature records = increasing
climate change NATURAL causes:
-** volcanic activity**
**- solar acitvity **
- orbital change
climate change human activities:
- burning fossil fuels
- farming
- de forestation
- cement production
climate change effects on the enviroment:
- increased draught
- wild fires
- glaciers shrink & ice sheets melt = sea level rise
- coral reefs bleaching & decrease in biodiversity e.g Great barrier reef
- increased flooding & coastal ereosion e.g Holderness
climate change affect on people:
- deaths due to heat
- smaller crop yeild = less income and food
- drought reduces food and water supplies e,g Africa
- increased chance of skin cancers/stoke
explain the global temp changes in the quaternary period?
- shifts from cold glacial periods and warmer interglacial
[both lasting around 10 000 years]
how does cement production inc climate change?
- cement made from limestone which contains carbon
- cement is produces = release lots of CO2
how does deforestation inc climate change?
- plants = carbon sinks
- when cut down = stop absorbing CO2
- machines to destroy/burning of trees release CO2
how does farming inc climate change?
- cattle & rice = release large amounts of methene
explain the natural cause of climate change : volcanic acitivity
- volcanic eruptions eject large quanties of material into atmosphere
- some particles may reflect sun rays back to space = earth cool
- soot may completely cover sun = tempory cooling of the earth
explain the natural cause of climate change : solar output
[not a major affect on climate change]
- how much energy the sun emits [changes in cycles of 11 years]
- less solar output = cooler
- more solar output = hotter
explain the natural cause of climate change : orbital change
- affects how much solar radiation hits the earth
[more energy = warmer]
variotions: - stretch [eliptical/circular orbit]
- tilt
- wobble
3 adaptations to climate change:
- **managing water supply
- coping w rising sea levels
- changing agricultural systems
explain the adaptation to climate change: managing water supply
- rain water is collected and recycled [water butts]
- water meters installed in homes to discourage excessive use
explain the adaptation of climate change : coping w rising sea levels
- better flood warning systems
- flood barries installed [Thames barrior in London]
LIC = Bangladesh building raised flood shelters 2000
explain the adaptation of climate change : changing agricultural systems
- GM crops which a draught resistant
etc [using bio technology]
mitigation stratgies of climate change:
- planting trees
[absorbs CO2] - carbon capture
[underground, safe] - international agreements [2015 Paris agreement reduce C02 emmisions and limit global warming e.g Brazil promised 37% by 2025]
- using renewable energy