Geography End Of Topic Test: Climate Change Flashcards
What can we analyse from the graphs?
Graph 1: The global temperature has fluctuated up and down over the past 1 million years.
Graph 2: The global temperature has fluctuated up and down over the past 1000 years.
Graph 3: The temperature and the CO2 has risen and fluctuated over the last 1000 years.
What can tree rings tell us about climate change?
Each ring shows a year of growth. Changes in shape and size of tree rings can show conditions during that year.
What can ice cores tell us about climate change?
The ice contains bubbles of the air from each year which scientists analyse in each layer to see how much CO2 they contain. Scientists can also learn about the temperatures for each year by measuring relative amounts of different types of oxygen atoms in the water.
What can historical sources tell us about climate change?
Old photos, drawings, written records, diaries and the records of dates at regular intervals e.g. the harvests, the arrival of migrating birds and tree blossom.
However they are not always very reliable.
What are the current pieces of evidence that our climate is changing?
Glacial retreat
Glacial change
Vanishing islands
warming up
Death of species
Extreme weather around the world: Drought, fire, flooding…
Declining Arctic sea ice
How does the natural enhanced greenhouse effect operate?
The sun’s rays pass through the atmosphere to earth
The Earth’s surface is warmed
Heat is reflected from the Earth back out to the atmosphere
Some heat escapes into space
Some heat is trapped by CO2 and other greenhouse gases
How does the human enhanced greenhouse effect work?
Burning fossil fuels and cutting forests increase CO2 levels
So the atmosphere gets warmer because much less heat can escape
How are humans changing the carbon cycle?
We are now digging up lots of fossil fuels and burning them for quick and cheap energy
This emitting large amounts of carbon
We are also cutting down trees which absorb carbon
The atmosphere is now filling up with carbon quicker than the oceans and plants can absorb it
The layer of greenhouse gases (including carbon) is becoming thicker and trapping heat
Which countries are most to blame for climate change?
China - 26.6%
USA - 13.1%
India - 7.1%
Russia - 4.6%
Which industries are most to blame?
Energy supply - 26%
Industry - 19%
Forestry - 17%
Agriculture - 14%
Transport - 13%
How will the UK be impacted by climate change?
Flooding because of increase in rainfall
People are becoming ill because of the heat
Bugs eating plants because they can survive in the UK because of the heat
Forest fires because it is so hot
Vineyards are growing grapes because of the heat
Hosepipe bans because the resevoires are drying up because of the heat
Sea erosion is eroding cliffs because of rising sea levels
Mosquitos living in the UK because they can survive in the new heat
How will the Maldives be impacted by climate change? Social, economic, environmental
Less freshwater available - clean water is being polluted with salty water because of flooding
Loss of tourism - main airport might flood
Disrupted fishing industry - fish processing plants might be damaged due to flooding
Malivian government asked Japan for $60 million to build 3m high wall to protect from flooding
Loss of traditional way of life - locals may be forced to leave their homes for safer places
Loss of beaches - coastal flodding is wearing away beaches
Long-term plans - the government is thinking about buying land in other countries and moving locals there before they can’t live in the Maldives
Loss of soil - the soil is only 20cm deep so flooding could wash the soil layer away preventing things form growing
How is London an unsustainable city?
London is about 250miles2 in size
The ecological footprint in London is about 80,000 miles2
This is about 125 times its geographical area
How is BedZed sustainable?
The homes have 300mm insulation in the walls.
52% of all materials to build the homes are found within 35 miles of the development
Building are south facing with large, triple glazed windows to maximise solar gain and
warmth and reduce the amount of heating needed
Balconies with space to grow plants
Low energy lighting and appliances are used through the homes
Roofs are fitted with sedum (small plants) to collect rain water and be used for grey water
harvesting (used to flush toilets, water plants etc.)
They have a ventilation system to keep homes cool in summer which is a large colour vent on the roof
Solar panel are fitted on the roof and on top of balconies
Green transport plan in place with walking and cycling activity promoted and built close to
bus, rail and tram links so residents can use public transport
Different examples of renewable energies?
Solar energy: used to charge battery cells and create electricity
Wind energy: turbines use wind to create energy
Hydroelectric Power (HEP): water is trapped by a dam and turns a turbine and creates electricity
They are all clean, renewable energy sources but are expensive, take up lots of space including habitats and aren’t a very nice view
