Documentary: The Truth About Climate Change Flashcards
Compared to any other animals, humans have an unprecedented control of the w______.
Compared to any other animals, humans have an unprecedented control of the world.
Compared to any other animals, humans have an unprecedented ______ of the world.
Compared to any other animals, humans have an unprecedented control of the world.
Scientists think there is a link between increased temperatures and what effect on the climate?
Scientists think there is a link between increased temperatures and climate change.
There is now more what in the atmosphere than at any time in the past 650 000 years?
There is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at any time in the past 650 000 years.
There is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at any time in the past how many years? .
There is now more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at any time in the past 650 000 years.
What is happening to polar bear numbers due to global warming?
Polar bear numbers are declining.
What is happening to polar bear cub survival due to global warming?
There is a reduction in polar bear cub survival?
Why are polar bears affected?
Earlier ice-melt means it is harder for polar bears to catch seals after hibernation.
What is happening to the ice-melt in the Arctic?
The ice is melting earlier in the Arctic.
What is happening to glaciers?
Worldwide, most glaciers are in retreat (they are getting smaller).
What will be the effect of Greenland’s ice melting?
An increase in Greenland’s ice-melt would lead to an increase in sea levels.
What is one place already affected by increasing sea levels?
Tuvalu in the Pacific is already experiencing problems due to increased sea levels.
What kind of problems is Tuvalu facing due to increased sea levels?
In Tuvalu, there is already flooding of homes, damaged gardens and health problems due to very high tides.
What is the link between increased temperatures and hurricanes?
Hurricanes are a direct result of water temperatures above 26 degrees.
What will happen to hurricanes due to global warming?
Warmer sea temperatures will lead to stronger and more frequent hurricanes.
Is climate change a new event?
Climate change has always been a part of the earth’s history. However, climate change due to human activity is a new event.
How has the earth’s temperature been different in the past?
During the time of dinosaurs, the earth was much hotter. At other times, the earth has been very cold.
What is the link between CO2 and climate change?
CO2 traps energy and acts like a “blanket” and so stops the sun’s energy from escaping back into space.
Is the greenhouse effect bad?
We need the greenhouse effect. Without it, the earth’s temperature would be about -19 degrees celsius.
What are the two main benefits CO2 brings us?
CO2 promotes plant growth and keeps the earth warm via the greenhouse effect.
What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels come from decayed plants and animals that were converted to fuels due to heat and pressure.
What is the effect of forests on the climate?
Forests help cool the climate.
What is the effect of forests on the CO2 levels?
Forests absorb CO2 and store it.
What happened when we burn forests - or fossil fuels?
The stored carbon is released into the atmosphere.
What does the burning of fossil fuels do to the CO2 “blanket” around the earth?
Burning fossil fuels thickens the CO2 “blanket” around the earth and so could lead to global warming.
What is happening to the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere?
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing.
What gas in the atmosphere is increasing?
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing.
In ____, CO2 levels in the atmosphere were 300 parts per million. This had risen to 400 parts per million by 2013.
In 1930, CO2 levels in the atmosphere were 300 parts per million. This had risen to 382 parts per million by 2010.
How do scientists know there is now more CO2 in the atmosphere than in the past?
Scientists use ice-core samples to find out how much CO2 was in the atmosphere in the past.
Until 1950, the amount of ____ in the atmosphere had never been above 300 ppm.
http://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/24/
Until 1950, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere had never been above 300 ppm.
Until 1950, the amount of CO2 in the __________ had never been above 300 ppm.
Until 1950, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere had never been above 300 ppm.
Until ____, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere had never been above 300 ppm.
Until 1950, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere had never been above 300 ppm.
What do scientists believe is causing climate change?
Scientists believe human activity is causing climate change.
What happened to the Amazon during the 2005 drought?
In the 2005 drought, the Amazon river levels dropped leading to a massive drop in fish numbers. Also, hundreds of thousands of square km of forests were damaged.
What do scientists think caused the 2005 drought in the Amazon?
Scientists think the 2005 Amazon drought was due to higher Atlantic sea temperatures.
Scientists think the 2005 Amazon _______ was due to higher Atlantic sea temperatures.
Scientists think the 2005 Amazon drought was due to higher Atlantic sea temperatures.
What is happening to coral reefs around the world?
Coral reefs around the world are experiencing “coral bleaching”.
How does coral bleaching occur?
Higher sea temperatures lead to lower algae growth. This leads to coral death.
Why do higher temperatures affect algae growth?
Heat and increased light damage algae (which are needed for the reefs to grow).
What is climate modelling?
Climate modelling is predicting the weather in the future.
What extreme weather event happened in Europe in 2003?
In 2003, there was a heatwave in Europe.
The 2003 ________ in Europe was a 1 in 200 year event.
The 2003 heatwave in Europe was a 1 in 200 year event.
Can we blame the heatwave or the Amazon drought on global warming?
We cannot blame a single specific event on global warming. We can, however, say is causes increases in specific types of events - like heatwaves or droughts.
What is the heatwave prediction for Europe by 2080?
Climate modelling tells us Europe will experience heatwaves every two years by 2080.
What would people in 2080 Europe think about the 2003 type of heatwave?
People in 2080 Europe would think the 2003 heatwaves was cool!
In some parts of China, what has happened to the rainfall?
In some parts of China there is very little rainfall. As a results, the desert is smothering villages and towns.
How do rural desert towns in China affect its big cities?
Cities like Beijing can experience terrible sandstorms due to the lack of rain.
How much CO2 do we release into the atmosphere each year?
We release 25 000 000 000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year.
How many people died in the 2003 heatwave in Europe?
More than 20 000 people died in the 2003 heatwave in Europe.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/weather-phenomena/case-studies/heatwave
More than 20 000 people ____ in the 2003 heatwave in Europe.
More than 20 000 people died in the 2003 heatwave in Europe.
What temperature increase in predicted by climate modelling?
Climate modelling predicts temperature changes between 2 and 6 degrees during this century.
Who would be affected by rising sea levels?
Millions of homes are close to sea level worldwide and so all would be affected by rising sea levels.
What kind of extreme weather would be caused by higher temperatures?
Higher temperatures would lead to more flooding, more extreme storms (and so damage), droughts, and fires.
Higher temperatures would lead to more fl_____, more extreme st_____ (and so damage), droughts, and f____
Higher temperatures would lead to more flooding, more extreme storms (and so damage), droughts, and fires
What temperature increase appears to be inevitable?
A one to two degree temperature increase is considered inevitable over the next 25 years.
A one to two degree temperature increase is considered ____________ over the next 25 years.
A one to two degree temperature increase is considered inevitable over the next 25 years.
What percentage of CO2 emissions is caused by domestic activities?
50% of CO2 emissions are caused by domestic activities.
50% of CO2 emissions are _______ by domestic activities.
50% of CO2 emissions are caused by domestic activities.
How many tonnes of CO2 are emitted by our cars each year?
Each family car emits about 20 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Are cars the biggest problem?
Our energy use at home emits just as much CO2 as our cars do.
What is the prediction for the Arctic by 2070?
Scientists predict the Arctic will be completely ice-free in summer by 2070.
What climate problem would an ice-free Arctic create?
White ice reflects sunlight whereas darker sea water absorbs heat. This will lead to more warming of the seas..
White ice ________ sunlight whereas darker sea water absorbs heat. This will lead to more warming of the seas.
White ice reflects sunlight whereas darker sea water absorbs heat. This will lead to more warming of the seas
What do scientists predict may happen to animals with global warming?
Some scientists predict global warming could place up to 50% of all species at risk of extinction.
Arctic animals, for example, have nowhere to go.
What do scientists predict may happen to animals in South Africa with global warming?
South Africa is predicted to be very badly affected. There will be lots of animal deaths and mass migrations of animals.
How does our food contribute to global warming?
10% of family emissions are due to food. A lot of our food crosses continents to get to us. Also, when we put food scraps in the rubbish, they create greenhouse gases as they break down.
10% of family emissions are due to food. A lot of our food crosses _________ to get to us. Also, when we put food scraps in the _______, they create greenhouse gases as they break down.
10% of family emissions are due to food. A lot of our food crosses continents to get to us. Also, when we put food scraps in the rubbish, they create greenhouse gases as they break down.
Global warming could create what new risk in the Amazon?
Global warming could create a fire risk in the Amazon.
If the Amazon was destroyed by fire or simply drought, what two problems would occur?
If the Amazon was destroyed by fire or simply drought, huge amounts of greenhouse gases would be released, and we would lose its cooling mechanism.
How does the Amazon cool the planet?
It absorbs a lot of sunshine which is converted into water vapour, leading to a cooling effect.
What is the fastest growing source of CO2?
Flying is the fastest growing source of CO2.
_______ is the fastest growing source of CO2.
Flying is the fastest growing source of CO2.
Over the next 25 years, flight emissions are expected to ______.
Over the next 25 years, flight emissions are expected to double.
Over the next 25 years, flight ________ are expected to double.
Over the next 25 years, flight emissions are expected to double.
Do all families emit a lot of carbon?
In developed countries, all families emit a lot a carbon simply as part of their daily lives.
How much carbon does the average Chinese person emit compared to the average westerner?
The average Chinese person emits 1/7 the amount of carbon compared to the average westerner.
What is expected to happen to emissions by Chinese people?
Emissions by the average Chinese person are expected to increase greatly as their wealth increases.
Emissions by the average Chinese person are expected to increase greatly as their _____ increases.
Emissions by the average Chinese person are expected to increase greatly as their wealth increases.
What fuel source powers a lot of the Chinese economy?
Coal power fuels a lot of the Chinese economy.
Coal power fuels a lot of the Chinese __________.
Coal power fuels a lot of the Chinese economy.
What is wrong with coal power?
Coal power is the biggest CO2 polluter we have.
Coal power is the biggest ____ polluter we have.
Coal power is the biggest CO2 polluter we have.
In 20 years, which country will be the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases?
In 20 years, China will be the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.
By 2050, it is expected CO2 emissions will have _________.
By 2050, it is expected CO2 emissions will have doubled.
By 2050, it is expected CO2 _________ will have doubled.
By 2050, it is expected CO2 emissions will have doubled.
Apart from trees, what else absorbs or stores a lot of carbon?
Apart from trees, the ocean absorbs or stores a lot of carbon.
The ocean absorbs what percentage of CO2?
The ocean absorbs 50% of CO2.
What is the problem caused by the oceans having to absorb so much CO2?
The oceans will become more and more acidic if they absorb too much CO2.
What is wrong with more acidic oceans?
As oceans become more acidic, it can be lethal to animal life.
What are examples of problems caused by increased ocean acidity?
Animals such as sea urchins, starfish and plankton could be seriously affected. Loss of plankton would be a disaster to for the whole food chain in the seas.
Professor Pacal Of Princeton university suggests ___ steps could be taken to freeze emissions at 2006 levels.
Professor Pacal Of Princeton university suggests 7 steps could be taken to freeze emissions at 2006 levels.
Professor Pacal Of Princeton university suggests 7 steps could be taken to freeze emissions at _____ levels.
Professor Pacal Of Princeton university suggests 7 steps could be taken to freeze emissions at 2006 levels.
Professor Pacal of Princeton University says one step is we could change our household ___________ of electricity.
Professor Pacal of Princeton University says one step is we could change our household consumption of electricity.
To reduce household consumption of electricity, we would do what three things?
To reduce household consumption of electricity, we could turn thermostats down in winter, (or up in the summer), turn off all appliances on standby, and compost our food scraps.
To reduce _________ consumption of electricity, we could turn thermostats down in winter, (or up in the summer), turn off all appliances on standby, and _______ our food scraps.
To reduce household consumption of electricity, we could turn thermostats down in winter, (or up in the summer), turn off all appliances on standby, and compost our food scraps.
The three simple steps to reduce household electricity consumption could cut household usage by ___%.
The three simple steps to reduce household electricity consumption could cut household usage by 50%.
Professor Pacal of Princeton University says another step to reduce household consumption would be to drive a more ___. ________ car.
Professor Pacal of Princeton University says another step to reduce household consumption would be to drive a more fuel efficient car.
Another step to reduce household consumption would be to drive 50% less and use _____ ________ instead.
Another step to reduce household consumption would be to drive 50% less and use public transport instead.
To reduce emissions, we could change the types of power we use. Specifically, which highly debated power source emits no carbon?
Nuclear power does not emit any carbon dioxide to produce power.
Why are wind turbines and solar power so good in terms of global warming?
Neither wind turbines nor solar power emit any greenhouse gases when they produce electricity.
One radical possibility is to ______ carbon from the atmosphere and inject it into the ground.
One radical possibility is to remove carbon from the atmosphere and inject it into the ground.
A carbon injection rig can inject ______ of tones of CO2 into the ground every ______.
A carbon injection rig can inject millions of tones of CO2 into the ground every year.
Is doing nothing a solution?
If we do nothing about global warming, scientists say the will be a “catastrophic rise in sea levels.”.
What would be the result of a large rise in sea levels?
Many of the worlds great cities would be under water if there is a medium rise in sea levels.
What will a smaller sea level rise do within the next 50 years?
It is predicted a small sea level rise could displace 150 million people within the next 50 years.
It is predicted a small sea level rise could displace ____ million people within the next 50 years
It is predicted a small sea level rise could displace 150 million people within the next 50 years
