Climate Change Flashcards
Name the 3 theory of climate changes.
Milankovitch (Cycles Eccentricity)
Sunspot theory
Volcanic activity / eruption theory
What is Eccentricity?
It describes the path of the earth as it orbits the sun. Over time the earth’s orbit changes from almost circular to slightly elliptical to almost circular again.
(We are in the elliptical cycle)
Over how many years does the earth’s orbit change?
100,000 years
_____ describes the changes to the earth’s tilt between two extremes of _____ and _____ over a period of ________ years
AXIAL TILT describes the changes to the earth’s tilt between two extremes of 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees over a period of 41,000 years
Name and describe the proper term and definition of the “wobble”
Precession describes the natural movement of the earth over a period of 26,000 years
What is the name of a prolonged period of warmer weather in Earth’s history?
Interglacial period
What is the name of a prolonged period of colder weather in Earth’s history?
Glacial period
_____ capture describes the capture from the atmosphere and storage underground of what greenhouse gas?
C02
Define global warming
The rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface
What does greenhouse gas mean?
These gases are responsible for global warming because they absorb the wavelength of the radiation the planet emits.
What type of radiation is heat from the sun? (Short-wave, medium-wave, long-wave)
Short-wave radiation
Describe how greenhouse gases keeps the planet warm. (4 marks)
(1) Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation from the sun passes through the atmosphere
(1) The earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up
(1) Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorbs long-wave radiation emitted by the earth’s surface.
(1) The atmosphere warms up
Which greenhouse gas is mainly emitted through livestock?
Methane
What are some benefits of using renewable energy?
Cheaper.
Easier to set up.
Sustainable source of energy.
No greenhouse gas emissions.
What are some cons of using renewable energy?
Not a reliable source of energy.
Produces energy slower or in lower amounts.
Only works effectively in certain environments.
What is crop rotation?
An agronomic practice whose aim is to alternate different plant species on the same field, within a given time, for example wheat and beans. This is to help retain fertility of the soil.
What is some of the evidence for climate change?
Shrinking of global icecaps.
More frequent extreme weather.
Longer and more frequent droughts.
Coral bleaching.
Increasing global temperature.
Name 3 international agreements aiming to tackle climate change:
Kyoto Protocol, 2005
Conference of parties, or COP
Paris Agreement, 2016
What is grey water?
Waste water from non toilet plumbing systems that can be re-used.
Give an example of an adaptation to climate change:
Construction of sand dams in Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Floating crop gardens in Bangladesh.
Growing coffee bushes in the shade in Brazil.
Artificial glaciers in the Himalayas to manage water supply.
Define subsistence farming:
Farming to feed self/family.
What percentage of Bangladesh lies on a floodplain?
80%
Which area in Bangladesh is susceptible to flooding?
The south
Which form of extreme weather affects northwest Bangladesh?
Drought
By the end of the century, _% of Bangladesh could be flooded
17
In 20 years, Dhaka’s population is expected to ___, with ____ people arriving per day
Double
2000
What percentage of migrants to Dhaka arrived due to climate related events?
75%
Bangladesh has an exceptionally high population density, with ____ people per square kilometre.
1350
Name one response the people of Bangladesh have created against climate change:
Floating hospital (Friendship) reaching places inaccessible due to flooding.
Floating gardens to prevent crop failure due to flooding.
Growing salt tolerant rice varieties (can be submerged for 15 days).
How many Bangladeshi will be displaced by 2070?
30 million
Rice makes up 80% of an average Bangladeshi diet. Why is this an issue?
Due to flooding, many rice paddy fields are being lost, and so this level of consumption of rice will not be sustainable if more land is lost.
There is low water quality in south Bangladesh due to increasingly frequent _____.
Cyclones
Dhaka is now the fastest growing megacity on Earth. Why?
Due to the amount of climate related migration there as more land is flooded in the south.
As traditionally agricultural areas become increasingly unreliable due to floods and droughts, people head to cities to find a more reliable source of income.
Bonus point to impress your examiner：
Define eustatic sea level change
A eustatic sea level change occurs when there is a global change in the amount of water stored in the oceans, or a change in the geometry of the ocean basins which alters the volume of water they can hold. When the sea level changes in response to the amount of water stored in ice caps this is called glacial-eustasy.
Bonus point to impress your examiner：
Define isostatic sea level change
The weight of the ice causes the surface of the Earth’s crust to deflect downwards. At the end of the glacial period the ice melts and the crust can rebound. This is known as an isostatic sea level change and it causes a relative sea level change as it is the land rising, not the amount of water increasing.
Where are the Maldives (ocean, close to which country)
They are an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, some islands are 500km south west of India
What risks do global warming pose to the Maldives?
Due to sea level rising, climate model suggests that the islands may be uninhabitable by 2030 and submerged by 2070
What evidence is there to suggest UK weather is becoming more extreme?
In the decade 2013-20, UK winters have become 10% wetter than 30 years ago, and 25% wetter than 60 years ago.
In the last decade, the UK has had 3 of its hottest years on record. The 2022 heatwave included the hottest temperature in UK history, breaching 40 degrees.
