Environment

Question 1

Cause of Global Warming:Greenhouse effect

Answer 1

Burning fossil fuels (gas, oil coal) produces carbon dioxide which forms a barrier that stops heat escaping earth. Causes temperatures to rise.Polar ice caps will melt, rain will increase and many places will be flooded.

Question 2

Cause of Global Warming:Natural climate change

Answer 2

Warmest times in the last 10,000 years have come before humans were burning fossil fuels. Nature produces more CO2 than we do e.g. volcanoes and animals.

Question 3

Cause of Global Warming:Solar activity

Answer 3

Radiation from the sun is warming the Earth. Burning fossil fuels does not seem to fit with the theory because the earth got cooler after WW2 when lots of CO2 was produced.

Question 4

Possible solutions to GW

Answer 4

• Make electricity without producing CO2 e.g. wind, solar
• Cars can be powered using biodiesel and electric batteries
• Make things more efficient
• Use public transport

Question 5

Forms of Pollution and possible solutions:Acid rain

Answer 5

Burning fossil fuels releases sulphuric and nitric acid. In the atmosphere this changes the pH of the rain water acidic.
This destroys buildings and forests. Use other energy sources instead of fossil fuels.

Question 6

Forms of Pollution and possible solutions:Human Waste

Answer 6

Sewage and rubbish. Leads to the spread of diseases and attracts rats. Recycle more, use sewage to make
electricity in power stations.

Question 7

Forms of Pollution and possible solutions:Eutrophication

Answer 7

Excess nitrates and phosphates in rivers lead to a lack of oxygen and more plants in the water. These kill fish and
poison the water supply. Caused by fertilisers and sewage. Can cause septicaemia in humans. Have better
sewage treatments. Use less nitrates in farming fertilisers.

Question 8

Forms of Pollution and possible solutions:)Radioactive pollution

Answer 8

Nuclear power stations produced nuclear waste. It takes thousands of years to become safe. We bury it. It causes
cancer. Reprocess nuclear waste e.g. at Sellafield. Means 97% of waste can be re-used.

Question 9

Types of Natural Resources

Answer 9

1) Renewable – can use over and over again. Renew themselves e.g. wind and solar power. Using them causes no problems but expensive to produce electricity using them.
2) Non-renewable – (finite) Disappear once used e.g. coal and oil. Become rare when used and can’t be used as much.

Question 10

Possible solutions to natural resources

Answer 10

• Can now make electricity using renewable energy sources
• Cars being developed to run on water, sugar cane etc
• Recycling will extend the life of finite resources
• Chemicals from plants now being used to make plastics