L4 - An Inconvenient Truth? Flashcards
What is the greenhouse effect?
Solar radiation hits the Earth
Most absorbed by Earth heating it up, GHGs trap radiated heat to keep the average temperature of the Earth up.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Human activity has lead to a large increase in GHG production, leading to global warming.
Give 4 examples of human activity which have affected climate change.
Energy, industry, transport and farming
How does energy affect climate change?
Electricity demand is increasing due to increasing population and technologies.
Most of our energy is produced via fossil fuel burning (coal, oil and natural gas), producing GHGs.
How does the industry affect climate change?
Similar to energy, disposable income levels rise, increasing production demand of consumer goods, factories work harder so more energy is needed = more fossil fuel burning.
How has transport affected climate change?
Lots of fuel used due to long haul flights, cars and public transportation usage. Again use of fossil fuels, burning = more GHGs
How does farming affect climate change?
Population growth has led to an increasing demand in food
Mechanisation means more fuel, intensive farming means more fuel, increased cattle farming means more methane.
What has global warming led to?
Steep rise in global temperature from 1950s, associated with carbon dioxide levels
Sea levels risen 20cm since 1900 due to thermal expansion of polar ice caps and glaciers melting.
Arctic sea ice decreased.
What are possible consequences of climate change?
- Frequent heavier precipitation
- More droughts
- Pests and disease spread
