Climate Change & Biodiversity

Question 1

Define climate change

Answer 1

Climate change is a large-scale, long-term shift in the planet’s weather patterns or average temperatures.

Question 2

What are interglacials?

Answer 2

Warmer periods

Question 3

What does a keeling curve show

Answer 3

Increases in CO2 levels in atmosphere

Question 4

What does a hockey stick graph show

Answer 4

Increase in Earth’s Temps over last 100 years

Question 5

What are 3 natural causes of climate change

Answer 5

• Earth orbital changes
• Solar variation (sun spots)
• Volcanic eruptions

Question 6

What are orbital changes known as?

Answer 6

Milankovitch cycles

Question 7

What are milankovitch cycles?

Answer 7

cyclic movement related to the Earth’s orbit around the sun – it describes the collective effects of changes in the Earth’s movements on its climate over 1000s of years

Question 8

What 3 factors do Milankovitch cycles take into account?

Answer 8

The eccentricity of the Earth’s orbit (from circular to elliptical) - aka the distance from the sun
The angle of the Earth’s tilt
The direction of the tilt

Question 9

How do Milankovitch cycles have an affect on the Earth

Answer 9

Changes the amount of solar radiation reaching earth - affects temperature

Question 10

How do Volcanoes cause climate change?

Answer 10

Large scale eruptions can change earth temps

ash and sulphur gas spread around stratosphere, blocking out sunlight, cooling the Earth

Question 11

How do sunspots affect climate?

Answer 11

sunspots increase solar activity and warmth - increasing temps

Question 12

Name 3 anthropogenic causes of climate change

Answer 12

Any from:

• Greenhouse gases
• Deforestation
• Coal mining
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Industrial processes
• Agriculture

Question 13

Why does deforestation cause climate change?

Answer 13

trees take in Co2 from atmosphere and store it

When burnt/ cut down they release that CO2 into air - adds to greenhouse gases

Question 14

What are the 4 main greenhouse gases

Answer 14

CO2
Nitrous Oxide
CFCs
Methane

Question 15

How do greenhouse gases heat earth?

Answer 15

They trap some outgoing solar radiation

Question 16

Why is adding to Greenhouse gases bad?

Answer 16

It exacerbate’s their effect
Traps more solar radiation
Heats Earth too much

Question 17

What are 3 pieces of evidence for climate change?

Answer 17

• Ice cores = compacted layers give info on past temp. and CO2 levels
• Tree rings = info, on moisture and temperature via growth
• Melting ice sheets and glaciers
• Changing weather (e.g. hottest summer on records for Iceland = 26.20C)
• Current temperature and weather records
• Sea level rise

Question 18

Name 4 impacts of climate change

Answer 18

• Rise in temperature
• Rise in sea levels e.g. coastal squeeze
• Changes in weather
• Increase in hurricanes
• Increase in El Niño’s
• Decline in crop productivity
• Impact on species and ecosystems
• CO2 acidifying the oceans
• Increase in diseases - pathogens more likely to survive in warmer climates
• more bush fires
• habitat degradation (snow thawing, ice melting)

Question 19

How does climate change cause an increase in diseases?

Answer 19

Pathogens are more likely to survive in warmer climates

Question 20

Name 3 ways climate change will impact ecological systems

Answer 20

• Earlier plant flowering and longer growing season in Europe
• Poleward migration of plants, insects and animals
• Earlier bird arrival and egg laying
• Coral bleaching

Question 21

How are green turtles affected by climate change?

Answer 21

Their sex ratio is determined by temperatures