Climate Change Flashcards
What is climate change
Average weather experienced by a location
Global climate is changing
Physical causes
Solar energy - output of sun, sunspots
Volcanic Eruptions - ash, dust, greenhouse gases
Milankovitch theroy - tilt of Earth affects amount of insulation received
Changes in ocean circulation - Changing winds can change oceans temp
Melting of icecaps and permafrost - release more fresh water, alters oceanic circulation, reduces albedo, permafrost melts releasing methane
Human causes of climate change
Burning fossil fuels
Deforestation
CFCs found in aerosols
Methane emmitted from rice fields, cattle and landfills
Rising food demand, more fertilizers nitrogen oxide
Production of polystyrene packaging emmitts CFCs
Local effects
Agriculture and forests - improve growing conditions
Soils - altered in changes in rainfall patterns and increased temp affect bio diversity, agriculture and forestry
Water supply - increased
Coasts - sea levels rising
Pests and disease -
