Hazardous earth climate

Question 1

circulation

Answer 1

movement to and from or around something

Question 2

atmosphere

Answer 2

gases surrounding the earth or another planet

Question 3

global atmospheric circulation

Answer 3

creates winds across the planet and leads to areas of high rainfall, like the tropical rainforests, and areas of dry, sinking air that create deserts

Question 4

Why is the equator so important?

Answer 4

The equator receives more energy from the sun as radiation from the sun as it’s rays have a smaller distance to travel.

Question 5

why different latitudes (e.g. the equator) receive different amounts of sun energy.

Answer 5

As latitude increases (as you move away from the equator) the distance also increases which reduces the amount of energy transferred.

Question 6

What are the main features of the Earth’s energy balance?

Answer 6

The two main features of the Earth’s energy balance are that:
There is a net gain of solar energy in the tropical latitudes and a net loss towards the poles
Tropical latitudes receive more of the Sun’s energy than polar regions
As the Equator is closest to the sun, the air here is warm and the air at the North & South Pole is cold.

Question 7

difference between high and low pressure

Answer 7

High pressure; air is forced downwards

Low pressure; air is forced upwards – resulting in condensation, cloud formation and precipitation

high pressure air forced down , heavy, heavy sinks

low pressure , light, air rises

Question 8

The Global Atmospheric Circulation Model

Answer 8

This model explains how the atmosphere operates and moves in three cells either side of the equator. Wind is really important in distributing heat. Without it the earth would not be habitable – the equator would be unbearably hot and the poles would become even colder! The global circulation can be described as the world-wide system of winds by which the transport of heat from tropical to polar latitudes is accomplished.

Question 9

Hadley Cell.

Answer 9

Temperatures at the equator are high because incoming solar radiation is more intense as the sun’s energy is more concentrated.

2. Due to high temperatures at the equator, the air rises up into the atmosphere. This creates low pressure (as the air is rising it puts less pressure on the Earth’s surface). This is called the ITCZ – The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.
3. As the air rises it becomes colder, causing condensation (forming clouds) that leads to rainfall. Thisis why tropical rainforests are found along the equator.
4. When the air reaches the top of the atmosphere -18km - it needs somewhere to go. Some of the air travels north and some south of the equator.
5. As the air moves away it cools, becomes more dense and then sinks at around 30° north and south of the equator. As the air is sinking this creates high pressure. As any moisture in the air fell at the equator it is dry so few clouds form here. This is why deserts are found along 30° north and south of the equator.

Question 10

1. The 3 cells (in order) that make up the Atmospheric Circulation Model are?

Answer 10

Hadley, Ferrel and Polar

Question 11

What type of pressure is found at the Equator?

Answer 11

Low pressure; warm air rises so it puts less pressure on the Earth, rising air cools and condenses so precipitation occurs

Question 12

Where the trade winds move towards the Equator and the air rises, it is called the _____ ________ ___________ zone?

Answer 12

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) trade winds move towards the Equator

Question 13

The top of the atmosphere is how many km high? What happens here?

Answer 13

18km, rising air from the equator heads north and south

Question 14

Why are the deserts at 30°N and S of the Equator?

Answer 14

Dry, more dense air sinks – high pressure. It has no moisture left in it so precipitation is low.

Question 15

Annotate your model to explain how the Global Atmospheric Circulation Model work

Answer 15

Air cools and sinks, creating a belt of high pressure and a cold, dry climate.
At about 60°N and S, cold polar air mixes with warmer air and rises, creating a belt of low pressure.
Cool air sinks, creating a belt of high pressure. As the sinks it becomes warmer and drier.
Warm air rises, creating a belt of low pressure. As the air rises, it cools. Clouds form and then release precipitation. Above, the air will eventually separate and move to higher latitudes.
Sun’s heat is concentrated.
Sun’s heat is spread out.

Question 16

The ITCZ

Answer 16

The point at which the Hadley Cells converge (meet, along the equator) the ITCZ is formed.
This is the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone, and it is a band of low pressure.
The air at the equator is being heated by the overhead sun and therefore rises, (hence it is described as a band of low pressure). This is where lots of storms occur.
It shifts during the year and where it is affects which places get monsoon rains or dry seasons…

Question 17

explain one way in which global atmospheric circulation determines the location of high rainfall (low pressure ) areas - 3 marks

Answer 17

Award one mark for Identification of one legitimate area of low pressure and high rainfall e.g. ITCZ (accept equator) or Ferrell/Polar cell boundary at 60 degrees N/S (1).
Award one mark for the mechanism for air rising e.g. ‘hot air at tropics’ or warm/cold air convergence at Ferrell/polar boundary (1).
Award one mark for the mechanism that creates rain - rising air = condensation, cloud (1).
The ITCZ/equator is a low pressure area with high rainfall totals (1). Here, warm air rises (1), cools and clouds are created (1).
A further area of low pressure is found at around 60°N and S of the equator (1). Warmer air rises as it meets colder air (1), and water vapour condenses (1).
At the equator (1), less dense air rises (1), cools and condenses giving rain (1).
Give credit to diagrams taking care not to double credit.

Question 18

Solar Insolation

Answer 18

Sunlight/ energy from the sun that travels to Earth

Question 19

• Thermal expansion

Answer 19

sea levels are rising as water particles expand due to being warmer
• 10 hottest years on record have been since 1980
• By 2012 floating sea ice in the arctic had shrunk to less than have the amount from 1973
• Over 90% of the world’s valley glaciers are shrinking

Question 20

Explain how volcanic eruptions cause

the earth’s climate to cool.

Answer 20

Volcanic eruptions (1) cause cooling as incoming solar
radiation is blocked by volcanic dust. (1)
• Asteroid collisions (1) can cause cooling as large
quantities of ash and dust to be kicked up into the
atmosphere. (1)
• Increased/decreased sunspots/solar flare activity (1)
cause warmer/cooler periods as more/less solar energy
is released towards the earth. (1)
• Changes in the earth’s orbit / Milankovitch cycles (1)
can cause cooling or warming of the earth as the
amount of solar radiation received by earth varies. (1)
• Volcanic eruptions (1) can lead to a warming of the
earth as more carbon dioxide is released. (1)

Question 21

What impacts could climate change bring?

Answer 21

more frequent floods, droughts, heatwaves

stronger storms and hurricanes

changes to farming, as farmers have to adapt to warmer weather

climate refugees as people from low lying places evacuate places that are no longer habitable

Question 22

Explain; are the causes of PAST CLIMATE CHANGE and CURRENT GLOBAL
WARMING the same?

Answer 22

YES
Natural causes are still occurring an changing the
climate over time, but this is very gradual
The Earth has always experienced periods of warming
an cooling
NO
Human activity is causing the planet to warm up at a
faster rate than ever before.

Question 23

The UK is located at

Answer 23

60°N where warm, moist air (part of the Ferrel Cell) meets colder air (part of the Polar Cell). Similar to the ITCZ, warmer air is forced to rise by the colder air creating clouds and precipitation.

Question 24

Why are ocean currents important?

Answer 24

Just like the Global Atmospheric Circulation Model, ocean currents redistribute heat!
Like atmospheric circulation, ocean currents help to redistribute energy across the earth
Warm water is taken to the Poles and in return cold water moves towards the Equator.
Oceans cover 67% of the earth’s surface
Oceans receive 67% of the sun’s energy that reaches earth
The worlds oceans hold on to this heat for longer than the land does and the ocean currents move this heat around, from the tropics to higher latitudes (Artic)
In total, ocean currents transfer about 25% of the global heat.

Question 25

If the earth continually received too much insolation at the tropics and too little insolation at the poles the tropics would overheat and the poles would get colder and colder. Rather, ocean currents redistribute the energy

Answer 25

around the world.

Question 26

oceanic circulation.

Answer 26

The process of ocean currents re-distributing the energy

Question 27

Warm water is transferred from the

Answer 27

tropics

Question 28

Cold water is transferred from the

Answer 28

poles

Question 29

Flowing away from the Equator:

Answer 29

Ocean currents flowingawayfrom the equator are called warm currents. The water in these currents is not necessarily warm, but it’s warm compared to what you would expect for that latitude.
Example Gulf Stream

Question 30

Flowing towards the Equator:

Answer 30

If a current flowstowardsthe equator it is a cold current Example the Canaries current

Question 31

Continents deflect the currents to create

Answer 31

gyres

Question 32

The coriolis force deflects the ocean currents what way

Answer 32

clockwise in the north and anti-clockwise in the southc

Question 33

In the North Atlantic a clockwise loop or gyre is formed

Answer 33

with warm water from the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Stream) travelling northwards. Prevailing south westerlies drag the current further North East . Colder water moves southwards e.g. the Canaries Current.

Question 34

the South Atlantic, water moves the opposite way than from the North. Water moves Southwards as the Brazilian current and is

Answer 34

deflected left by the Coriolis force . This movement of warm and cold water helps to maintain the energy balance.

Question 35

explain how ocean currents distribute heat.

Answer 35

Cold, salty water is heavy and sinks in the North Atlantic

This sets up a convection current which drags water down

The current then draws warmer, salty water over the ocean surface from areas near the Equator like the Gulf of Mexico to replace it.

Over time this then cools and sinks in the Labrador and Greenland Seas and will flow south to be warmer again.

Question 36

How do ocean currents work?

Answer 36

The prevailing winds on the surface create friction with the surface water, setting up the ocean currents.
Ocean currents don’t flow due north or due south because of the Coriolis effect caused by the earth’s rotation.
The Coriolis effect deflects the currents to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.
Cold dense polar water sinks, then spreads towards the equator where it pushes up the less dense warmer water which moves off towards the polar areas.

Question 37

1. Ocean currents are large scale movements of water that transfer heat energy from __________ to _________ regions.
2. S__________ ocean currents are created by the wind and again transfer heat away from the ___________ to the _______. A well-known example is the G__________ S________ which brings warm water from the Caribbean and keeps W___________ E_________ warmer than it should be for its latitude
3. There are also d_______ ocean currents driven by differences in water d____________. When water freezes at the Poles, the surrounding water gets saltier increasing its d____________. As it gets more _________, it sinks causing __________ water to flow in at the surface. This creates a current. The warmer water will then be cooled, sinks and continues the cycle. This cycle of cooling and sinking moves water in a big loop round the Earth known as the T__________________ C_________________(T_________ for heat and H___________ for salt content.

Answer 37

1. Ocean currents are large scale movements of water that transfer heat energy from warmer to colder regions.

2 Surface ocean currents are created by the wind and again transfer heat away from the Equator to the Poles. A well-known example is the Gulf Stream which brings warm water from the Caribbean and keeps Western Europe warmer than it should be for its latitude

3. There are also deep ocean currents driven by differences in water density. When water freezes at the Poles, the surrounding water gets saltier increasing its density. As it gets more dense, it sinks causing warmer water to flow in at the surface. This creates a current. The warmer water will then be cooled, sinks and continues the cycle. This cycle of cooling and sinking moves water in a big loop round the Earth known as the Thermohaline Circulation (Thermo for heat and Saline for salt content.

Question 38

explain one role of ocean currents 2 marks

Answer 38

Award 1 mark for identifying a role (1) and a further mark for development or exemplification (1)
Movement / redistribution of heat energy (1) to regulate uneven global temperatures / high temperatures at the equator / moderate colder temperatures away from the Equator (UK / North Atlantic Drift) (1)
Counteract extreme temperatures at the equator (1) due to uneven distribution of solar radiation at the Earth’s surface (1)

Question 39

explain one natural cause of climate change

Answer 39

Volcanic eruptions (1) cause cooling as incoming solar radiation is blocked by volcanic dust. (1) 
Asteroid collisions (1) can cause cooling as large quantities of ash and dust to be kicked up into the atmosphere. (1) 
Increased/decreased sunspots/solar flare activity (1) cause warmer/cooler periods as more/less solar energy is released towards the earth. (1) 
Changes in the earth’s orbit / Milankovitch cycles (1) can cause cooling or warming of the earth as the amount of solar radiation received by earth varies. (1) 
Volcanic eruptions (1) can lead to a warming of the earth as more carbon dioxide is released. (1)

Question 40

What is the greatest natural cause of climate change

Answer 40

Choose from:
Volcanic eruptions
Asteroid collisions
Sunspots
Orbital geometry

Explain your point of view with detail

Question 41

enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 41

The Earth needs the Greenhouse Effect to be habitable.

But Scientists believe that the build-up of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere acts like a thick blanket or greenhouse around the planet

More heat is trapped inside the earth’s atmosphere than is needed.

This is the enhanced greenhouse effect, and the resulting increase in global temperatures is called global warming. It is a type of Climate Change.

Question 42

The main cause of recent climate change is thought to be human activity though – this explains why climate change in recent times is unprecedented (unlike before)
There appears to be a trend in the amount of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere and the rise in global temperature..
We are supposed to be in a period of warming (an interglacial) BUT we are warming more rapidly and this could be because humans are burning fossil fuels, like carbon dioxide, adding these to the atmosphere, causing the enhanced greenhouse effect and therefore our climate to change.

Answer 42

read

Question 43

How do we know that our climate has changed

Answer 43

urrent data suggests climate change is unprecedented – and therefore anthropogenic
Satellite observations since 1993 suggest an annual rise in sea level of 3.1mm, and a decline in Arctic sea ice of 2.7% per decade.
The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is far above the ‘natural’ level and continues to rise.
The three warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998 and 19 of the warmest 20 years since 1980.
Temperature rises have been recorded on all continents since 1970.

Question 44

What are the greenhouse gases? Where do they come from

Answer 44

Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Halocarbons
Nitrous Oxide

Question 45

The trouble with Methane

Answer 45

Methane is 84 times more powerful in trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and has caused about 30% of global heating to date. But it breaks down in the atmosphere within about a decade, unlike CO2, which remains in the air for centuries.……..42% of human-caused methane emissions come from agriculture, mostly from burping livestock, its manure, and paddy fields. Intentional and unintentional leaks of methane from fossil fuel drilling sites, coalmines and pipelines produce 36% of the total and waste dumps cause another 18%.

Question 46

TASK
You need to explain how human activities lead to the release of these gases, which in turn create the enhanced greenhouse effect and cause our climate to change.
You must link to exactly how they contribute to the enhanced greenhouse gas effect.

Answer 46

Industrial Revolution
Intensified carbon emitting processes since 1760. Increases greenhouse gas emissions. We have already passed the tipping point (we can no longer stop an increase in temperature in the future). Continuing industrialisation means the use of fossil fuels which emit carbon into the atmosphere.
Massive population growth
More people living in cities, meaning more wealth (affluence) and demand for consumer goods and also more industry – leading to more greenhouse gases from factories/cars. Link to emerging nations too.
Deforestation
Trees act as a carbon sink as they take in CO2 and emit O2. By removing them we remove a carbon sink. Also, as we burn forests to clear areas, this releases carbon too.
Agriculture
Massive driver of methane from cattle ranching adding to greenhouse gases. NB: cows are animals but this reason is not natural (a common misconception amongst students!)
Transportation
Cars but especially aviation (airplanes) emit CO2. ​Twenty-seven percent of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is from transportation.

Question 47

TASK - For the following points: write in your books
What does this factor mean?
Explain how does this affect climate change
AIM HIGH (9) - What are the short and long term implications of this within climate change?

The Industrial Revolution and continued industrialisation
Massive global population growth and Increasing affluence especially in emerging nations
Deforestation
Agriculture
Transportation

Answer 47

What evidence exists for ANTHROPOGENIC (human caused) Climate Change?

Here are some ideas:

1. Melting ice/glaciers - rising sea levels and thermal expansion of our seas
2. Arctic Amplification – the Arctic is warming faster. Methane will be released from permafrost and less snow/ice means less albedo so heat is absorbed not reflected causing further warming of the planet (a positive feedback loop)
3. Increased temperatures means more evaporation and therefore wetter areas will get wetter and drier areas will get drier. This means more flooding, droughts and extreme weather like hurricanes.
4. Increased forest fires as seen in California and Australia.

Question 48

TASK - Create an exam plan for the below 8 mark answer. Use the hint box to help you.
‘Most global warming is caused by carbon dioxide emissions from a few rich, developed countries’. Assess this statement.(8 Marks)

Answer 48

do it