Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

geography > climate change - natural hazards > Flashcards

climate change - natural hazards Flashcards

causes, adaptations, mitigation

1
Q

climate change definition

A

a long-term shift in the average weather patterns of the Earth, such as changes in temperature, precipitation, wind, and ocean currents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

global warming definition

A

the gradual increase in the average surface temperature of the Earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ice cores

A

-geological, long-term
-drill into ice sheets, analyse gases trapped within, oxygen isotopes are used to estimate temperature: higher ratio of O-18 to O-16 when warmer
-800,000 years back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

sediment core/pollen analysis

A

-long-term, geological
-core trap information: organisms, sediment, pollen
-types give data on past temperatures, oxygen levels + nutrients

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

historical records

A

-medium-term, imprecise
-paintings, diaries, newspaper, culture can tell us climate in the past e.g. painting of the Thames frozen over

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

tree rings

A

-medium-term, indirect
-dendrochronology
-thicker ring = warm, wet
-thin ring = cold, dry
-ring per year of growth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

retreating glaciers

A

-medium-term
-warming, melting glaciers
-measure how fast ice melts, provide visible changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

weather records

A

-short-term, instrumental
-measured data from weather stations provides lots of information: wind, rain, temp etc
-only goes back to 1850s

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

polar ice melt

A

-short-term
-can take data from satellites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

ecosystem changes

A

-short/long-term
-extinctions/migrations/
adaptations of organisms due to climate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

3 natural causes of climate change

A

orbital changes (Milankovitch Cycle), solar output, volcanic activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is solar output + how does it contribute to CC

A

-sunspots are magnetic storms on the sun’s surface
-no. + size of sunspots show cyclical patterns
-minimal change over last 50yrs
-during low amplitude, sun’s output of radiation is reduced, cold earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is eccentricity + how does it contribute to CC

A

-change in shape of orbit (circular to elliptical) over 100,000 yrs
-elliptical = ice age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is precession + how does it contribute to CC

A

-as the earth rotates it wobbles over 26,000 yrs
-impacts the seasonal contrasts between hemispheres + timing of seasons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is obliquity + how does it contribute to CC

A

-variation in earth’s tilt (22.5°-24.5°)
-When the angle increases the summers become warmer and the winters become colder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

how do volcanic eruptions contribute to CC

A

-eruptions eject sulfur dioxide, can stay in atmosphere for 3yrs
-reacts w/water vapor, forming volcanic aerosol that’s optically dense layer that reflects sunlight + reduces sun’s heat energy entering earth’s atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

3 human causes of climate change

A

fossil fuels, agriculture, deforestation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the greenhouse effect

A

CO2, methane + water vapour trap infrared heat from the sun. this is natural + without it, it would be 33°C colder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

how do fossil fuels contribute to CC

A

-accounts for >1/2 of gg emissions
-burning releases CO2 enhancing gh effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

how does agriculture contribute to CC

A

-accounts for 20% of gg emissions
-methane produced by cattle, microbes in paddy fields

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

how does deforestation contribute to CC

A

-accounts for 10% of gg emissions
-during photosynthesis trees sequester carbon
-when trees are slash + burnt CO2 is released + there are less trees to absorb it

22
Q

impacts of climate change in UK

A

-sea levels could rise, flood low lying areas, e.g. east England
-droughts + floods are more likely as extreme weather increases
-increased need for water in hot summers pressures water supplies
-Industry impacted e.g. Scottish ski resorts have to close due to no snow

23
Q

Impacts of climate change globally

A

-sea level rise will affect 80mil people
-tropical storms will increase in magnitude
-species in affected areas (Arctic) become extinct
-diseases such as malaria increase, an additional 280 mil people may be affected

24
Q

mitigation definition

A

actions to limit the magnitude/rate of global warming + its effects

25
Q

4 mitigation strategies

A

-alternative energy resources
-afforestation
-carbon capture + storage
-international agreements

26
Q

examples of renewable energy sources (4)

A

wind, solar, nuclear, hydroelectricity

27
Q

how do renewable energy sources reduce CO2 emissions (2)

A

they produce little to no CO2 and replace fossil fuels (which contribute 87% of human emissions)

28
Q

5 advantages of alternative energy sources

A

✔reduced carbon footprint
✔improved public health
✔more jobs
✔secure energy supply
✔economic benefits

29
Q

5 disadvantages of alternative energy sources

A

✘expensive
✘potentially dangerous
✘disrupt wildlife
✘intermittent
✘NIMBYism

30
Q

what is afforestation

A

planting trees

31
Q

how does afforestation reduce CO2 emissions

A

plant photosynthesise + sequester CO2 - 1 trillion new trees could absorb 1/3 of emissions made by humans

32
Q

5 advantages of afforestation

A

✓accessible
✓easy
✓reduces habitat loss
✓flood control
✓CO2 sequestration

33
Q

5 disadvantages of afforestation

A

✘loss of agricultural land
✘increased fire risk
✘land degradation
✘loss of biodiversity
✘hard to maintain

34
Q

what is CCS

A

Carbon Capture + Storage is compressing + transporting CO2 underground

35
Q

how does CCS reduce CO2 emissions

A

CCS machines can be placed near factories to limit the effects on the atmosphere and environment of the CO2 they release

36
Q

4 advantages of CCS

A

✓reduces emissions
✓once captured can be used productively
✓buys time to change
✓creates job

37
Q

5 disadvantages of CCS

A

✘expensive
✘political tensions
✘temporary
✘environmental risks
✘requires a lot of energy

38
Q

example of an international agreement

A

Paris Climate Change Agreement

39
Q

how do international agreements reduce CO2 emissions

A

multiple countries make a joint effort to implement aims + rules regarding gg emissions

40
Q

5 advantages of international agreements

A

✓effective
✓awareness
✓higher chance of finding solutions
✓framework for action
✓support from private companies

41
Q

5 disadvantages of international agreements

A

✘political differences
✘unequal burden
✘hard to enforce repercussions
✘insufficient ambition
✘mistrust

42
Q

adaptation definition

A

process of adjusting to current/expected climate change + effects

43
Q

3 methods of adaptation

A

changes to agricultural systems, managing water supply, reducing risk from rising sea levels

44
Q

how do changes to agricultural systems respond to climate change (4)

A

-move production to another location due to changing temp + extreme weather
-increase irrigation
-change crops grown (GM) + time of the year planted
-prevents famine + health problems

45
Q

3 advantages of changes to agricultural systems

A

✓keeps food cost down
✓reduces potential effects
✓more carbon friendly

46
Q

3 disadvantages of changes to agricultural systems

A

✘expensive
✘loss of biodiversity
✘increase global divide

47
Q

how does managing water supply respond to climate change (2)

A

-reduce demand, increase supply
-due to rising temperatures precipitation in many regions has decreased causing drought

48
Q

3 advantages of managing water supply

A

✓prevents drought
✓less water wasted - increased security
✓easy to implement at low level

49
Q

3 disadvantages of managing water supply

A

✘needs funds
✘takes time
✘lots of energy required

50
Q

how does reducing risk from rising sea levels respond to climate change (2)

A

-build coastal barriers to prevent tidal surge-induced floods
-migrate further inland/to more mountainous regions ( build away from shore )

51
Q

3 advantages of reducing risk from rising sea levels

A

✓decrease risk of floods
✓protects ecosystems
✓prevents social + economic damage

52
Q

3 disadvantages of reducing risk from rising sea levels

A

✘defences could be overcome
✘unrealistic/expensive
✘political unrest

geography (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions