Global Climate

Question 1

What is earths atmosphere made up of

Answer 1

• 78% nitrogen
• 21% oxygen
• 0.9% argon

Question 2

Troposphere

Answer 2

• 0-15km
• most weather takes place here
• fall in temperature with height

Question 3

Stratosphere

Answer 3

• 15-50km
• lacks dust and water vapour
• increase in temperature with heat

Question 4

Mesophere

Answer 4

• 50-80km
• temperature decreases because decreasing density prevents absorption of energy

Question 5

Thermosphere

Answer 5

• 80-100km
• virtually a vacuum
• rise in absorbed energy

Question 6

radiation

Answer 6

the emission of electromagnetic waves such as X rays, short waves and long waves

Question 7

convection

Answer 7

the transfer of heat by the movement of a gas or liquid

Question 8

conduction

Answer 8

the transfer of heat by contact

Question 9

atmospheric energy budget

Answer 9

the balance in between the amount of energy incoming to the earth from the sun and amount of energy outgoing from earth back to space

Question 10

short wave radiation

Answer 10

• the main energy input
• affected by latitude, season and cloud cover

Question 11

long wave radiation

Answer 11

• radiation of energy from the earth into the atmosphere
• during the day outgoing is higher, meaning there is a net loss

Question 12

positive feedback loop

Answer 12

• melting of polar ice caps results in less ice and lowers albedo
• lowering albedo increases solar energy absorbed and leads to an increase in temperature

Question 13

negative feedback loop

Answer 13

• increased evaporation in low latitudes can lead to increased snowfall on ice caps, reducing mean temperature

Question 14

implications of climate change

Answer 14

• sea levels will rise, causing flooding in low lying areas
• storm activity will increase
• agricultural patterns will change
• up to 40% of wildlife species will become extinct

Question 15

changes to the hydrosphere

Answer 15

• a rise in sea levels causing flooding could displace up to 200 million people
• floods from melting glaciers threaten 4 million km of land, home to 5% of worlds population

Question 16

changes in ocean carbon level

Answer 16

• increasing carbon acidifies the water, endangering marine life
• about 30% of carbon dioxide put into atmosphere diffused into oceans

Question 17

changes in biosphere carbon level

Answer 17

• terrestrial plants have absorbed approximately 25% of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere

Question 18

changes in biomes

Answer 18

• low level biomes such as mangroves may be lost as a result of changes in sea level
• current increases in temperature happen rapidly, meaning organisms have very little time to adapt
• some species will be able to migrate but others with obstacles will become extinct

Question 19

impact of climate change on people

Answer 19

• global warming can lead to increased human migration due to rising sea levels
• national resource bases will change leading to economic, social and cultural change
• climate change can lead to more extreme weather events and unpredictable weather patterns

Question 20

three factors associated with vulnerability

Answer 20

exposure - the degree to which people are exposed to climate change

sensitivity - the degree to which they could be harmed by exposure to climate change

adaptive capacity - the degree to which they could mitigate the potential harm

Question 21

disparities in exposure

Answer 21

• population groups such as the very young, the elderly, those with disabilities are more vulnerable
• locations such as low lying islands, river mouths and valleys are more vulnerable

Question 22

kyoto protocol

Answer 22

• 183 countries called for stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions at safe levels
• aimed to cut emissions by 5%
• came into force by 2005
• within the agreement, countries had an allocated amount of CO2 they could emit

Question 23

mitigation strategies

Answer 23

• reducing energy consumption
• reducing emissions of nitrous oxides and methane
• using alternatives to fossil fuels
• protecting and enhancing carbon sinks through land management

Question 24

pollution management

Answer 24

• controlling the amount of atmospheric pollution
• stopping forest clearance
• improving public transport
• recycling programme

Question 25

carbon capture

Answer 25

trapping carbon from where it is produced and then store underground in a geologic deposit

Question 26

sequestration

Answer 26

allow CO2 to enter atmosphere but then remove using designed removal processes

Question 27

adaptation strategies

Answer 27

• flood defences
• vaccination programmes
• desalinisation plants
• planting of crops in previously unsuitable places