Climate Change

Question 1

Define global warming

Answer 1

The rapid increase in global temperature aiding climate changes such as rainfall patterns and seasonal cycles

Question 2

What are the 3 types of evidence for climate change

Answer 2

1. Temperature records
2. Dendrochronolgy
3. Pollen in peat bogs

Question 3

Describe temperature records

Answer 3

1. Temp measured around the world song thermometers

2. Gives reliable but short term record of global temp change

Question 4

Describe dendrochromolgy

Answer 4

1. How old a tree is using tree rings
2. One ring within a trunk a year
3. Warmer climate means thicker rings
4. Can date trees by looking are cores and counting backwards
5. Can see what climate was like each year in

Question 5

Describe pollen in peat bogs

Answer 5

1. Can show temp change over 1000s of years
2. Pollen preserved in peat bogs (acidic wetland areas)
3. Accumulates in layers do age of pollen increases with depth
4. Identify species of pollen from cores of peat
5. Only fully grown plants produce pollen so shows which were successful
6. Plant species vary with climate so pollen will vary with climate
7. Increase in pollen from plant more successful in warmer climate show rise in temp

Question 6

What causes climate change

Answer 6

1. Anthropogenic
2. Enhance greenhouse effect, GH gassed absorb outgoing energy so less is lost to space
3. Co2 and methane

Question 7

How is Co2 increasing

Answer 7

1. Fossil fuels being burnt
2. Destruction of natural sinks (store Co2)
3. When trees are burnt or decomposers break down organic compounds and respite them

Question 8

How is methane increasing

Answer 8

1. More fossil fuels being extracted
2. More decaying waste
3. Cattle give off methane as waste
4. Melting of permafrost

Question 9

What can data about climate change be used for?

Answer 9

Make models

Question 10

What are limitations of models

Answer 10

1. Can’t tell how much emissions will change
2. Can’t tell which scenario I’ll cause temp to rise by
3. Unforeseeable management of wmmsions
4. Don’t know effect on climate

Question 11

Why might climate change affect life cycles

Answer 11

1. Metabolism controlled by enzymes
2. More collisions
3. Speed up growth rate
4. Eggs have optimum temperatures

Question 12

How might climate change affect distribution

Answer 12

1. Ideal conditions change

2. If they can’t move they die

Question 13

What are the 2 main affect global warming will have

Answer 13

1. Changing rainfall patterns (affect distribution)
2. Seasonal cycles
   (Changing time of season affects availability of food)

Question 14

Outline the carbon cycle

Answer 14

1. Co2 absorbed for photosynthesis
2. Passed to animals and decomposers when they eat
3. CO2 respired to atmosphere
4. If dead organic matter ends up where no decomposers it’s turned into fossil fuels, released when burnt