Climate Change COPY Flashcards
Volcanic activity
Volcanic eruptions cause gases and ash to be released into the atmosphere, this can cause heating or cooling of the Earth.
Orbital geometry
The earth’s orbit of the sun moves from an elliptical (oval) to a circular shape every 100,000 years.
This along with changes in the tilt of the Earth means more of the Sun’s energy reaches Earth, causing temperatures to rise.
Sunspots
Sunspot activity increases/decreases the energy given off by the sun.
The more sunspots the higher the temperature.
Fossil fuels
Burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas to power cars and factories releases carbon dioxide.
Agriculture
Cattle farming leads to the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Deforestation
Deforestation which is the cutting down of trees, leads to more carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere and less taken out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
Warmer oceans
As ocean temperatures rise, the water expands causing sea levels to rise.
Also rising temperatures will cause ice sheets to melt which will also contribute to rising sea levels.
This will lead to flooding of certain areas, causing people to relocate.
Ocean acidification
More carbon dioxide will be dissolved into our oceans causing ocean acidification.
This will damage ocean ecosystems and impact food chains.
Extreme weather
As temperatures rise, more extreme weather events will occur such as severe storms, drought and flooding.
This will impact our ability to grow food.
Trade
Melting sea ice would mean shipping routes will open up allowing Svalbard to trade more with other countries.
Food supply
Increases in temperature would mean different types of plants and crops could grow, meaning Svalbard could grow more of its own food, instead of importing food.
Storms
More extreme weather would mean Svalbard could experience more storms and avalanches which could damage people’s homes, and put people’s lives at risk.
Flooding
As ice caps continue to melt, this means areas of Svalbard may be at risk of flooding. Also animals such as polar bears will lose their habitat.
Carbon dioxide
Climate change mitigation looks at ways we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
There are different ways we can do this including:
Renewable energy
Using renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and hydro power.
Capture
Using carbon capture technology which means taking the carbon dioxide that we emit, out of the atmosphere and storing it underground.
Planting trees
Or by planting more trees as these trees will take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis.
Reduce
We are already seeing the effects of climate change, and need to be able to adapt to reduce the impact. There are different ways we can adapt including:
Infrastructure
Improving our infrastructure such as buildings and roads so they can withstand floods and extreme weather.
Agriculture
Changes in agriculture so that crops that we grow can survive in extreme conditions e.g. drought.
Mangroves
Replanting mangroves as they act as a natural barrier, protecting coastlines.
Alerts
Using emergency alert systems, which warn people if there is a storm or wildfire.
Fossil fuels
When humans burn fossil fuels, they release greenhouse gases.
Trapped
These unnaturally thicken the natural greenhouse layer around our planet, meaning less of the Sun’s heat is reflected back out to Space, and more in trapped in Earth.
Temperature
The Earth’s temperature rises as a result.
