Climate Change

Question 1

What is the green house effect?

Answer 1

A natural process where the atmosphere traps heat from the sun

Question 2

How does the green house effect work?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is global warming and what causes it?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What is climate?

Answer 4

Weather readings are taken over a long period of time ( at least 30 years) and an average is taken.

Question 5

What is the evidence for global warming?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Why do some scientists not agree that global warming is the result of human action?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are some positive effects of climate change for the UK?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are some negative effects of climate change for the UK?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

How can we reduce the impact of global warming?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What is the Kyoto protocol?

Answer 10

An international agreement which sets targets to reduce green house gas emissions.

Question 11

What is the albedo effect?

Answer 11

Less ice is reflecting sunlight, so ocean heats quicker

Question 12

case study for impacts of climate change LEDC

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Case study- how can lifestyle reduce impact of climate change?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How can government reduce the impact of climate change?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

How can people reduce the impact of climate change?

Answer 15

Energy saving appliances

Public transport/walk

Use renewable energy sources

Recycling

Insulation- reduces enemy costs

Question 16

What are some energy alternatives to fossil fuels?

Answer 16

Wind power

Solar power

Nuclear power

Hydroelectric power

Question 17

Why has the total amount of carbon dioxide changed over time?

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Why is climate change more likely to have a bigger impact on LEDCs than MEDCs?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What is climate change?

Answer 19

Changes in regional climate characteristics, including temperature, humidity, rainfall and severe weather events

Question 20

What are 5 causes of climate change?

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

Describe the carbon cycle

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Describe climate change in the Arctic

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What are some advantages and disadvantages of wind power?

Answer 23

renewable, wind is free, UK is the windiest country in Europe

wind turbines look unattractive, unreliable, creates noise pollution

Question 24

What are some advantages and disadvantages of solar power?

Answer 24

renewable, no harming polluting gases are produced

unreliable, solar cells are expensive, do not produce energy at night

Question 25

What are some advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power?

Answer 25

produces no harmful carbon emissions, produces small amounts of waste

some consider nuclear power dangerous, expensive to deal with waste, potential terrorist target, waste has to be burried

Question 26

What are some advantages and disadvantages of tidal power?

Answer 26

Renewable, reliable, creates no pollution

Ruins landscape, only provides power when the tide is moving in or out

Question 27

Case study for renewable energy

Answer 27

North Hoyle wind farm- North Wales

30 offshore wind turbines

reduces carbon emissions

created jobs

cables damage fish life

noise/visual pollution

Question 28

Describe the changes in carbon dioxide levels since 1960

Answer 28

consistent rise

fluctuates

Question 29

Suggest reasons to explain why the total amount of carbon dioxide has changed over time

Answer 29

increase use of fossil fuels- eg using car more

Deforestation- reduces the rate is which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere

Question 30

Explain why climate change is likely to have a greater impact on the lives of people who live in LEDCs rather than people who live in MEDCs

Answer 30

• Lack of technology in LEDCs and finance for adaptive strategies
• Hence, LEDCs will not be able to build effective flood defences
• Many LEDCs (eg Egypt) already have water shortages and these are likely to become more severe
• The importance of agriculture to the economy in LEDCs means that they will be affected to a greater extent (crop yield are expected to fall)
• There will be a greater risk of insect borne and water borne diseases eg Malaria and Cholera
• LEDCs do not have medical equipment and supplies to combat this