Extreme Weather Flashcards

1
Q

Why is the globe hotter at the equator?

A

The sun is at a right angle so the energy is more concentrated and heats up the area surrounding the equator

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2
Q

Which two ocean currents make the weather in the U.K. quite mild for most of the year?

A

Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift

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3
Q

How is a global climate zone of low pressure caused?

A

When air at the equator is heated strongly so becomes less dense and rises to a air altitude. When the air rises away it creates low pressure

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4
Q

What is dew point?

A

When less dense, rising air cools to a certain temperature at a certain altitude - when condensation starts

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5
Q

What creates a band of cloud around the equator?

A

The process of condensation that happens at dew point

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6
Q

What happens after air rises reaches dew point?

A

The parcels of air cool and become the same temperature as the surrounding air.

This is the top of the lower atmosphere - air here diverges both north and south towards the poles

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7
Q

What happens to air at the top of the lower atmosphere?

A

It diverges (spreads out) towards the north and south poles

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8
Q

What are sub-tropical anticyclones?

A

When air descends after diverging between latitudes 30 and 40* north and south to form areas of high pressure - as it falls it’s heated

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9
Q

What are trade winds?

A

When warm air picks up moisture as water vapour as it crosses seas or oceans

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10
Q

What are the cells of convection at closest latitudes to the equator?

A

Hadley cells

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11
Q

What happens to air fallen air if it doesn’t go back to the equator?

A

It moves towards the poles - air is warm and less dense so it rises when meets colder air = Polar front

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12
Q

When air rises at the polar front, what convection cell is formed?

A

Air diverges so a second cell - the Ferrel cell is formed

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13
Q

What happens to remaining air that doesn’t form the Ferrel cell?

A

Continues towards the poles where it cools and sinks - polar regions have high pressure - and forms a polar cell

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14
Q

What are prevailing winds?

A

Winds that are always there

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15
Q

How are winds named?

A

By the direction they are coming from

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16
Q

What is convectional rain?

A

Rain caused by warm air rising and cooling

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17
Q

How to global pressure and surface winds influence precipitation?

A
  • convectional rain - high and constant at equator
  • low pressure zone around equator (ITCZ) where air rises and triggers bursts of torrential rain
  • above polar front - differences in air temp. create jet stream which can pull up more warm air and becomes a depression
  • rainfall is low around tropics - dry air descends as part of Hadley and Ferrel cells = arid
  • precipitation low in polar regions and usually falls as snow
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18
Q

What is frontal rain?

A

Rain due to warm air and cold air meeting at the polar front with the warm air being forced to rise

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19
Q

What is an inter-tropical convergence zone?

A

Between tropics, the trade winds come together

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20
Q

Why does air rise at the equator?

A

It is warmed as the equator is at a right angle to the sun

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21
Q

What is the global distribution of hurricanes?

A
  • mainly form in seas
  • only affect coastal areas
  • found in the tropics, but not the equator
  • don’t move far inland as friction is too great and lost heat source (the sea)
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22
Q

Which low-income countries are at risk of tropical cyclones?

A
  • Central America (Honduras, Mexico)
  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Burma
  • The Philippines
  • China
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23
Q

Which high-income countries are at risk of tropical cyclones?

A
  • USA
  • Japan
  • Australia
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24
Q

Where are hurricanes found?

A

Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans

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25
Q

Where are typhoons found?

A

West of the North Pacific Ocean

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26
Q

Where are cyclones found?

A

Indian and South Pacific oceans

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27
Q

Where do tropical storms develop?

A
  • between the tropics
  • where sea temperatures are above 26.5*C
  • highest frequency of storms in Atlantic and Pacific
  • majority in northern hemisphere
  • Coriolis effect spins rising air
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28
Q

How do tropical storms form?

A
  • form over oceans with minimum temperature of 26.5*C
  • warm temperatures cause warm air to rise, taking water vapour with it
  • warm air cools to form cumulonimbus clouds
  • rising air creates low pressure at sea level
  • air with higher pressure moves in to replace risen air
  • air does not move straight into low pressure area due to earths circulation - whirls in
  • this air moves upwards with more water vapour so storm clouds are pulled into a spin by incoming wind and the spinning storm is pulled outward leaving the eye in the centre
  • the cold air sinks down to the centre where it is heated ad pulled into the spinning circle of air
  • the spinning circle drifts sideways due to trade winds
  • energy depresses sea level under it, so there is a ridge of sea water giving rise to storm surges
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29
Q

Environmental effects of tropical storms?

A
  • wind speeds (primary effect) - damage to buildings, power lines, roads
  • storm surges (primary effect) - low air pressure means that sea levels are high, coastal flooding
  • heavy rainfall (primary effect) - rain cause widespread flooding
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30
Q

Social impacts of tropical storms?

A
  • mudslides and landslides (secondary effect) - unstable slopes become saturated with rain
  • waterborne diseases (secondary effect) - polluted water supplied
  • damaged homes and lack of services (secondary effect) - make shift shelters, services affected as infrastructure awaits repair
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31
Q

Immediate responses to tropical storms?

A
  • emergency services on alert
  • evacuating the area
  • rescuing and treating victims of storm
  • MEDCs - detailed plans in place - people alerted through media services, police and army go street-by-street, so people comply with evacuation orders and have sufficient supplies, find higher ground
  • LEDCs - lack of infrastructure means harder to alert people of danger, find higher ground, receive help from other governments
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32
Q

Long term responses to tropical storms?

A
  • rebuilding damaged housing and infrastructure
  • setting up or improving protective system e.g. levees
  • Rich countries - need less help, buildings built more solidly so minimum damage, government can respond quickly SO infrastructure is repaired quickly
  • LICs - months later things return to previous state, long term health concerns, temporary housing, fewer resources so it takes longer to rebuild and move people back to their home areas
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33
Q

How do long term responses to tropical storms differ between richer countries and LICs?

A
  • richer countries - less help, buildings are more solid to damage is minimum, governments respond quickly to repair infrastructure quickly
  • LICs - long term health concerns, people in temporary housing, fewer resources means it takes longer for infrastructure to be rebuilt
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34
Q

What are the ways to reduce the effects of tropical storms?

A
  • monitoring
  • prediction
  • protection and planning
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35
Q

How is monitoring used to reduce the effects of tropical storms?

A

Satellites identity formation of tropical storms, track their path and strength so they can be classified on the Saffir-Simpson scale and evaluate the damage that they will produce

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36
Q

How is prediction used to reduce the effects of tropical storms?

A

Meteorologists - use monitoring information to provide warning to let local areas prepare - weather agencies update for case and supply them to media channels

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37
Q

How is protection and planning used to reduce the effects of tropical storms?

A
  • school children are taught the dangers of tropical storms and told what to do if a storm hits
  • governments provide posters and leaflets
  • people encouraged to prepare disaster kits
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38
Q

When did typhoon Haiyan hit?

A

8th November 2013 at 4.40am

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39
Q

What category was typhoon Haiyan?

A

Category 5

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40
Q

Where did typhoon Haiyan affect?

A

The Philippines

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41
Q

Where did typhoon Haiyan originate?

A

North West Pacific Ocean

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42
Q

What are the wind speeds of a category 1 tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

119-153km/h

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43
Q

What are the wind speeds of a category 2 tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

154-177km/h

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44
Q

What are the wind speeds of a category 3 tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

178-208km/h

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45
Q

What are the wind speeds of a category 4 tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

209-251km/h

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46
Q

What are the wind speeds of a category 5 tropical storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

252km/h +

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47
Q

Which categories on the Saffir-Simpson scale are major tropical storms?

A

3, 4 and 5

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48
Q

How much damage will a category 1 tropical storm do?

A
  • very dangerous winds - some damage to well constructed houses
  • large branches will snap
  • power outages - damage to power lines
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49
Q

How much damage will a category 2 tropical storm do?

A
  • extremely dangerous winds - extensive damage to houses
  • shallow trees uprooted
  • almost total power loss for several days
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50
Q

How much damage will a category 3 tropical storm do?

A
  • devastating damage to well built houses
  • many trees uprooted blocking roads
  • electricity and water unavailable for days
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51
Q

How much damage will a category 4 tropical storm do?

A
  • catastrophic damage - severe damage to houses

* fallen trees will leave residential areas without power for weeks

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52
Q

How much damage will a category 5 tropical storm do?

A
  • catastrophic damage - widespread destruction
  • lots of infrastructure and homes destroyed
  • most of area uninhabitable for weeks or months
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53
Q

What were the primary effects of typhoon Haiyan?

A
  • 5m storm surge in Tacloban
  • 400mm heavy rainfall - widespread flooding
  • 90% of Tacloban was destroyed
  • 6000 people killed
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54
Q

What were the secondary effects of typhoon Haiyan?

A
  • winds battered home so people were made homeless
  • people lost their source of income
  • power supplies cut off for a month
  • shortages of water and food
  • violence broke out in Tacloban
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55
Q

What were the immediate responses to typhoon Haiyan?

A
  • international governments provided food, water, temporary shelter
  • helicopters assisted with search and delivery of aid
  • 1200 evacuation centres set up
  • Red Cross delivered food
  • UK government sent shelter kits
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56
Q

What were the long term responses to typhoon Haiyan?

A
  • UN donated financial aid, supplies and medical support
  • rebuilding of roads
  • rice farming and fishing re-established
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57
Q

How can the effects of tropical storms be reduced?

A
  • planning
  • monitoring
  • protection
  • prediction
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58
Q

What advice is given to people so they can plan for tropical storms?

A
  • preparing a disaster kit
  • putting fuel in their vehicles
  • storing loose objects
  • knowing where evacuation shelters are
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59
Q

What devices are used to monitor tropical storms?

A
  • satellites

* aircraft

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60
Q

How are satellites used to monitor tropical storms?

A

Monitors precipitation between latitudes 65* north and south of the equator to identify high altitude rain clouds

61
Q

How is aircraft used to monitor tropical storms?

A

Collect air pressure, rainfall and wind speed data

62
Q

What does the federal emergency management agency advise to protect from tropical storms?

A
  • install hurricane straps and storm shutters
  • tie down wind bourn objects
  • remove trees close to buildings
63
Q

What devices are used to predict tropical storms?

A
  • supercomputers
  • track cones
  • evacuation
64
Q

How are supercomputers used to predict tropical storms?

A

Give 5 days warning and accurate location within 400km

65
Q

How are track cones used to predict tropical storms?

A
  • allows for error with unpredictable behaviour of storms

* predicts a storm path and intensity for up to 7 days

66
Q

What is the Global Hawk Drone?

A
  • monitor storms by using radar and microwaves

* help scientists understand more about the formation of tropical storms to improve forecasting models

67
Q

Advantages of track forecast cones?

A

It can allow citizens to evacuate their homes in advance of the storm

68
Q

Disadvantages of track forecast cones?

A

70% of storms occur in the predicted cone - so some people may be evacuated unnecessarily = costly and time consuming

69
Q

What is weather?

A

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place with respect to variables e.g. wind speed and air pressure

70
Q

What is climate?

A

The average weather in a region over a long period of time

71
Q

What is the difference between weather and climate?

A
  • weather: state of the atmosphere at a given time and place

* climate: average weather in a region over a long period of time

72
Q

Why was there record rainfall and flooding in Cumbria in 2009?

A
  • they had already received a months worth of rain - ground already wet and new rain could not soak in
  • the river was ten metres wider than normal
73
Q

What were the social impacts of the flooding in Cumbria?

A
  • police officer killed when a bridge collapsed
  • others people injured
  • homes flooded
  • contaminated rain water brought health risks
74
Q

What were the economic impacts of the flooding in Cumbria?

A
  • business closed and didn’t reopen

* debris transported by the river destroyed bridges

75
Q

What were the environmental impacts of the flooding in Cumbria?

A
  • water erosion triggered landslides along River Derwent

* river carried away hundreds of trees - damaging habitats

76
Q

Which flood measures were taken for the flooding in Cumbria in 2009?

A
  • thick glass screens
  • flood defence windows
  • high walls
  • 4m wide gates so EA can get equipment to river
  • self closing barrier - automatic
77
Q

What was the total cost for the flood protection measures taken in Cumbria?

A

£4.4 million

78
Q

What type of flood protection methods were taken in Cumbria?

A

Hard engineering

79
Q

What is a hydro-meteorological hazard?

A

A hazard which is weather induced

80
Q

What were the environment agencies’s approaches to the flooding in Cumbria in 2009?

A
  • flood warnings - a system that is easy to follow

* text messages

81
Q

How do the UK respond to the risk of droughts?

A
  • hosepipe bans can be put in place in affected regions - offenders fined
  • water companies apply to government for an official Drought Order - water supply to houses turned off - public queue in the street for water
  • water companies can encourage public to have a water meter finished (to stop people running taps) and repair old water pipes
82
Q

How do the UK respond to the risk of storms?

A
  • Met Office - improving their ability to make predictions
  • severe weather warnings in the media
  • airlines and rail companies cancel services to minimise risk to customers
83
Q

How do the UK respond to the risk of floods?

A
  • Thames barrier to prevent future storm surges
  • environment agency monitors ground moisture levels to make accurate flood predictions and therefore give evacuation orders
  • Flood Re - agreement between U.K. insurance companies and the government - new housing on floodplains faces higher insurance bills
84
Q

How do the UK respond to the risk of cold weather?

A
  • local councils clear roads of snow and ice
  • public health england make announcements in the media for people to take care
  • charities for the elderly raise (public) awareness of health risks for old people during these conditions
85
Q

Which organisations play a part in tackling the risks posed by extreme weather?

A
  • Environment Agency (GOVT)
  • Government e.g. Minister for Droughts
  • Met Office (GOVT funded)
  • Public Health England
  • Water companies
  • Insurance Companies
86
Q

Why could global warming make some places cooler?

A

If a Gulf Stream changes direction due to melting of northern ice caps so there is more cool polar water e.g. U.K.

87
Q

What does interglacial mean?

A

Between two ice ages

88
Q

How will climate change affect the British Isles?

A
  • annual precipitation - increase by 5% by 2020s and by 10% by 2050s
  • increase in timber yields (+ve)
  • temperatures increase 0.2*C per decade
  • enhanced potential for tourism - increased temperatures and decreased precipitation (+ve)
  • decreased crop yields in south of Britain (-ve)
89
Q

Evidence to show climate change?

A
  • between 2003-2009 most glacier ice was lost from Alaska, the Canadian Arctic, the Southern Andes and the Asian Mountains
  • annual Arctic sea ice extent has decreased 1979 and 2012 by about 4% per decade
90
Q

What is solar radiation?

A

Energy coming into the earth from the sun

91
Q

What is solar radiation also known as?

A

insolation or short wave radiation

92
Q

What is invisible infrared radiation?

A

Energy leaving the earth to outer space

93
Q

What is invisible infrared radiation also known as?

A

Outgoing long wave radiation

94
Q

What is the temperature of the earth a result of?

A

The balance between solar radiation and invisible infrared radiation

95
Q

What is the IPCC?

A

Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change

96
Q

What evidence is there that the temperature has changed since the Pleistocene (ice age)?

A
  • glacial erratics - rocks in the wrong place - only glaciers could have carried rocks like this
  • ice cores - past atmosphere evidence by looking at gas bubbles in the ice
  • sedimentary evidence - lake sediments and checking thickness of each band
  • thickness of tree ring shows length of growing season
97
Q

How do glacial erratics provide evidence that the temperature has changed since the ice age?

A

Rocks are deposited in the wrong place - only glaciers could have carried rocks like this - evidence of a colder climate

98
Q

How do ice cores provide evidence that the temperature has changed since the ice age?

A

Past atmosphere evidence by looking at gas bubbles in the ice

99
Q

What is the Pleistocene?

A

The ice age

100
Q

How does sedimentary evidence prove that the temperature has changed since the ice age?

A

• lake sediments - fine layers deposited when lake froze in winter, suspended (floating) land dropped and formed layers

^layers with courser sediment (summer) - when glacier melts and flows into unfrozen lake

• by checking thickness of each band you can see if winters are getting longer/shorter = longer means ice age ??

101
Q

How does dendrochronology provide evidence that the temperature has changed since the ice age?

A

Thickness of tree rings says about length of growing season

102
Q

What is dendrochronology?

A

Tree rings

103
Q

What is a problem of using dendrochronology to provide evidence that the temperature has changed since the ice age?

A

Limited because few trees exist that are older than 4000 y/b/p

104
Q

What is paleoclimate proxy data?

A

Records that can be used to infer atmospheric properties e.g. temperature, precipitation

105
Q

What are the 4 main types of paleoclimate proxy data?

A
  • biological
  • cryological
  • geological
  • historical
106
Q

What are some examples of biological paleoclimate proxy data?

A
  • tree rings
  • pollen
  • corals
  • fossils of plants, insects and microscopic creatures
107
Q

What is an example of cryological paleoclimate proxy data?

A

ice cores

108
Q

How are ice cores collected?

A

By drilling through deep ice sheets to find trapped air bubbles and trapped dust

109
Q

What are some examples of geological paleoclimate proxy data?

A
  • rocks
  • sand dunes
  • ocean sediments
  • glacial debris
  • stalactites
  • volcanic rocks
110
Q

What is historical paleoclimate proxy data?

A

Written records of atmospheric condition and biological events e.g. timing of spring blooms for a tree

111
Q

How long ago did the quaternary period start?

A

2.6 million years ago until the present day

112
Q

How many epochs were in the quaternary period?

A

Two; the Pleistocene and the Holocene

113
Q

How can volcanic eruptions cause climate change?

A
  • throwing an ash cloud and sulphur dioxide 40km vertically in the stratosphere
  • sulphur dioxide + water -> volcanic aerosol, which reflects sunlight away from earth
  • LOWERS temperatures by 0.5*C
114
Q

Why are natural causes of climate change not as important as human causes?

A
  • solar output has not changed much since 1970s
  • orbital change affects climate over a longer time period - could be 30,000 years before another ice age
  • volcanoes affect climate for a short period of time after an eruption - often cooling climate
115
Q

What is the relationship between temperature and carbon dioxide emissions?

A

As carbon dioxide increases, over time (1000 years) the temperature also increases

116
Q

How does the greenhouse effect cause climate change?

A
  • suns infrared enters the earths atmosphere
  • heat is reflected from earths surface
  • natural layer of greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2, methane) allows some heat to be reflected out of atmosphere, but some is trapped
  • this makes the earth warm enough for life to survive
  • human activity like burning fossil fuels increases layer of greenhouse gases
  • even less heat escapes from earth and the earth therefore warms up
117
Q

What are some social effects of climate change?

A
  • skiing tourist resorts may close or have shorter seasons
  • agriculture may be affected in South Asia
  • health in Southern Africa may decline - malaria would increase in hot humid regions
  • health in Europe may decline - heat waves can increase deaths
  • less ice in Arctic Ocean would allow more extraction of gas and oil reserves
118
Q

What are some environmental effect of climate change?

A
  • flood risk in the U.K. - heavy rain
  • Mediterranean region may see increased drought
  • wildlife declines as polar bears and seal disappear with loss of habitat (ice melts)
  • the amazon rainforests - high levels of extinction
  • South America - decrease in maize and what crop yields
119
Q

What is mitigation of climate change?

A

Dealing with the causes of climate change

120
Q

What is adaption to climate change?

A

Responding to the impacts of climate change

121
Q

What are the ways of mitigating climate change?

A
  • alternative energy production
  • international agreements
  • carbon capture and storage (CCS)
  • planting trees
122
Q

How can alternative energy production be used to mitigate climate change?

A
  • using renewable energy resources
  • renewable energy resources are more expressive than fossil fuels
  • but becoming cheaper and more competitive as they don’t produce CO2
123
Q

An example of alternative energy production being used to mitigate climate change?

A

A new nuclear reactor being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset

124
Q

How can international agreements be used to mitigate climate change?

A
  • UN negotiated a climate change agreement for all countries in Paris in 2015 - 105 countries
  • EU’s vision -> reduce global emissions 40% below 2010 levels by 2030
125
Q

What are the aims of the Paris agreement?

A
  • to peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible
  • to keep global temperature increase below 2*C
  • to review progress every 5 years
  • US $100 billion a year to support change initiatives in developing countries by 2020
126
Q

What is carbon capture?

A

Technological advances that can replicate the way earth stores carbon dioxide

127
Q

How does carbon capture work?

A
  • capture carbon dioxide from emission sources
  • can remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere by converting it to a liquid
  • ‘supercritical carbon dioxide’ - liquid. injected into sedimentary rock
  • impermeable ‘cap rock’ stops it from escaping
128
Q

Disadvantages of carbon capture?

A
  • expensive
  • unclear weather carbon dioxide will remain trapped long term
  • doesn’t promote renewable energy
  • basalt isn’t found everywhere
129
Q

How can planting trees be used to mitigate climate change?

A
  • trees act as carbon sinks, removing CO2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
  • also release moisture into atmosphere -> cooling it by producing more cloud
130
Q

What are the ways of adapting to climate change in agriculture?

A
  • drought resistant stains of crops
  • new irrigation systems
  • shade trees planted to protect seedlings from sun
  • educating farmers in water harvesting techniques
131
Q

What is irrigation?

A

The supply of water to land or crops to help growth e.g. channels

132
Q

How will an increase in climate affect agriculture?

A
  • tropics - greatest change - South Africa and Asia fall between 10-30% by 2030
  • Europe and North America - increase in crops because of warmer climate
133
Q

What are the ways of adapting to climate change in terms of rising sea level?

A
  • Thames flood barrier - protects London by stopping tidal surges
  • Maldives - construction of sea walls, building homes on stilts, relocate population, constitution of artificial islands
134
Q

How will climate change affect the Maldives?

A

Due to rising sea levels, may be inhabitable by 2030, submerged by 2070

135
Q

What are the ways of adapting to climate change in terms of water supply?

A
  • REDUCING DEMAND - retrofit package of efficient water devices in all London homes by 2030
  • INCREASING SUPPLY - desalination plant in Beckton in 2010 - water taken from Thames can produce drinking water for 400,000 homes
136
Q

Limitations of the desalination plant in Beckton?

A
  • needs a lot of energy

* therefore carbon emissions need to be offset by a biodiesel electricity plant

137
Q

What is desalination?

A

The process of removing salts and minerals from sea water

138
Q

What is biodiesel?

A

Alternative energy, produced by plant material so is carbon neutral

139
Q

How can rising sea levels be managed in the Maldives?

A
  • construction of sea walls - 3m wall around capital, and sandbags elsewhere
  • building houses on stilts
  • restoration of mangrove forests - so roots trap sediment and offer protection from storm waves
  • entire population relocated to Sri Lanka or India
  • construction of artificial islands so people relocated
140
Q

What will be the social effects of climate change in Europe?

A
  • UK - flood risk from heavy rain
  • UK- temperatures likely to increase with risk of skin cancer and stroke
  • crop yields will increase but need more irrigation
  • Alps - ski resorts may have shorter seasons
141
Q

What will be the environmental effects of climate change in Europe?

A
  • UK - rise in sea level putting coastal defences under strain
  • UK - extreme weather likely to increase
  • Mediterranean - increased drought
142
Q

What will be the social effects of climate change in the Americas?

A

• South America - decrease in maize, soybeans and wheat crop yields

143
Q

What will be the environmental effects of climate change in the Americas?

A
  • North America - forests affected by more pests, disease and fires
  • amazon rainforests - high levels of extinction
144
Q

What will be the social effects of climate change in Africa?

A
  • drought - put pressure on food and water supplies

* health decline - malaria increase in hot humid regions

145
Q

What will be the environmental effects of climate change in Asia and Australia?

A
  • marine wildlife - change in food supply decrease numbers of wildlife
  • less rainfall affecting wildlife - causing food shortages for organisms
  • Asia - increased risk of flooding
  • coral reefs - biodiversity lost and warmer acidic water could cause coral bleaching
146
Q

What will be the social effects of climate change in Asia and Australia?

A
  • South Asia - decrease in wheat and maize yield

* East Asia - fishing industry decline - more acidic sea

147
Q

What will be the environmental effects of climate change in the Arctic and Antarctic?

A
  • wildlife declines - loss of habitat
  • less ice would allow more extraction of gas and oil reserves
  • tree line of sub-arctic forests retreat north
148
Q

How might climate change affect tropical storms?

A

temperature rises, sea levels rise due to thermal expansion:

  • storm surges will be higher
  • more moisture in atmosphere - heavier rainfall