Climate Change Flashcards
What is the green house effect?
A natural process where the atmosphere traps heat from the sun
How does the green house effect work?
Solar energy reaches the earth as SHORT WAVE radiation (sunlight)
The earths surface absorbs and re radiates the solar energy as LONG WAVE radiation (heat)
Green house gases (eg co2) absorb long wave radiation which heats the lower layer of the atmosphere
What is global warming and what causes it?
The way in which temperatures are rising
Scientists think this is the result of people burning more fossil fuels which adds to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
What is climate?
Weather readings are taken over a long period of time ( at least 30 years) and an average is taken.
What is the evidence for global warming?
Average global temperature is rising. (by 1 degree in the last decade)
Glaciers melting and retreating
Ice cores show amounts of co2 and methane have increased
Extreme weather events are more frequent
Birds fish and insect species found in climates of Africa are spreading north to Europe.
Keeling curve shows an increase in CO2
Why do some scientists not agree that global warming is the result of human action?
They point out that due to natural reasons co2 levels have gone up and down throughout history
Also the earths climate has always gone through natural cycles of glaciers and interglacials
What are some positive effects of climate change for the UK?
Oranges and peaches can be grown in southern Britain - enables new crops to be built
Tourism economy will grow
Farmers have a longer growing season - earn more money
Less cold relate deaths
What are some negative effects of climate change for the UK?
Plants and animals may become extinct or migrate
Diseases and insect pests
Extreme weather events may occur more often- flash floods
flooding causes loss of habitat
Elderly or young may not cope with different temperatures
How can we reduce the impact of global warming?
Defend low lying coastal areas from flooding
Improve water supplies and use them more efficiently
Encourage research into crops that withstand drought and disease
Develop more efficient ways of predicting and preparing for extreme weather events
What is the Kyoto protocol?
An international agreement which sets targets to reduce green house gas emissions.
What is the albedo effect?
Less ice is reflecting sunlight, so ocean heats quicker
case study for impacts of climate change LEDC
BANGLADESH
more intense monsoons- cause flooding- damage infrastructure
Warmer ocean temperature will damage shrimp industry- loss of jobs
Extreme weather (eg heavy rain) - crop failure - famine
People migrate inland causing overcrowding and 20 million refugees
75% of mangroves will soon become submerged- no coastal defence
50% of land is less than 1m above sea level- high chance on flooding
Case study- how can lifestyle reduce impact of climate change?
BEDZED
over 80 home
Green spaces
Recycle water
Recycle
Car share
Lots of insulation- no need for heating
Solar panels
energy metres at eye level
How can government reduce the impact of climate change?
Afforestation - plants absorb carbon dioxide
Invest in renewable energy- hydroelectricity
Park and ride schemes
Improve public transport
Join international agreements - Kyoto protocol
Educate people about climate change
How can people reduce the impact of climate change?
Energy saving appliances
Public transport/walk
Use renewable energy sources
Recycling
Insulation- reduces enemy costs
What are some energy alternatives to fossil fuels?
Wind power
Solar power
Nuclear power
Hydroelectric power
Why has the total amount of carbon dioxide changed over time?
Burning more fossil fuels- releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Deforestation- trees take in carbon dioxide- less trees, less carbon dioxide taken out of the atmosphere.
Why is climate change more likely to have a bigger impact on LEDCs than MEDCs?
LEDCs can’t afford sea defences
Many LEDCs are in the tropics- more likely to to get tropical storms
LEDCs often highly populated and over crowded- easier for disease to spread
LEDCs do not have medical equipment to deal with a disease outbreak
They have to rely on MEDCs
What is climate change?
Changes in regional climate characteristics, including temperature, humidity, rainfall and severe weather events
What are 5 causes of climate change?
- volcanoes emit carbon dioxide
- Deforestation means less carbon dioxide is absorbed by photosynthesis
- Grazing cattle create methane
- Traffic increases carbon emissions
- increase use of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide
Describe the carbon cycle
Plants produce carbo dioxide when they respire and absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
Animals produce Carbon dioxide when they respire
When animals and plants die and decay, the carbon dioxide is transferred into the soil
Factories release carbon dioxide as a waste product
Describe climate change in the Arctic
Climate change is faster and more severe in the Arctic
is warming at the rate of almost twice the global average
due to the ALBEDO EFFECT - less ice reflects sunlight so ocean heats quicker
What are some advantages and disadvantages of wind power?
renewable, wind is free, UK is the windiest country in Europe
wind turbines look unattractive, unreliable, creates noise pollution
What are some advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
renewable, no harming polluting gases are produced
unreliable, solar cells are expensive, do not produce energy at night
