Living With The Physical Environment: Climate Change

Question 1

Climate change

Answer 1

The long-term change in the Earth’s climate, can become hot or cold

Question 2

Evidence for climate change

Answer 2

Rising sea levels

Temperature records

Melting ice - glacial retreat

Historical records - ice cones

Question 3

Global impacts of climate change

Answer 3

Melting mountain glaciers = helps farmers but causes floods

Loss of ice = polar bears endangered

Low-lying islands at risk of flooding, e.g. Maldives

Question 4

Orbital theory (Milankovitch cycle)

Answer 4

Eccentricity - the Earth changes from circular to elliptical (oval) - occurs every, 100,000 years

Axial tilt - the angle of the Earth’s axis changes from 21.5° (colder) to 24.5° (warmer) - occurs every 41,000 years

Precession - the Earth’s natural wobble - occurs every 26,000 years

Question 5

Sunspot theory

Answer 5

Dark patches on the surface of the sun

Occurs every 11 years

When at maximum activity the sun gives out more heat

Question 6

Eruption theory

Answer 6

Produces ashes, gases, and liquids

Blocks the sun reducing the temperature

Fire droplets result in the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulfuric acid (reflects sun rays away from Earth)

Question 7

Greenhouse effect

Answer 7

The retention of heat in the atmosphere given off by from Earth’s surface

Question 8

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 8

The increased effectiveness of the greenhouse effect, believed to be the main cause of global warming

Question 9

CO2

Answer 9

Accounts for 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect

Car exhausts, deforestation, and burning fossil fuels

Question 10

Methane

Answer 10

Effective in absorbing heat

Accounts for 20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect

Farm livestock, burning biomass, rice farming, decaying organic matter

Question 11

Nitrous oxides

Answer 11

300 times more effective at trapping heat

Car exhausts, sewage treatments, agricultural fertilisers, power stations

Question 12

Mitigation

Answer 12

Actions taken to reduce long-term risk of natural hazards

Question 13

Mitigation strategies - alternative energy resources

Answer 13

Renewable energy - hydroelectric, solar

Creates job

Only available in certain areas

Question 14

Mitigation strategies - carbon capture

Answer 14

Trapping CO2 and storing and storing it underground

Less CO2 in the atmosphere

Not enough technology and expensive

Question 15

Mitigation strategies - planting trees

Answer 15

Trees absorb CO2 and release O2

Cheap and creates habitats

Requires land and takes time to grow

Question 16

Mitigation strategies - international agreements

Answer 16

Legally binding contract

Everyone works together

China did not agree

Question 17

Adaptation

Answer 17

Actions taken to adjust to natural events such as climate change

Question 18

Adaptation strategies - agricultural adaptation

Answer 18

Educate farmers in water saving techniques

Introduce a drought-resistant strain of crops

Question 19

Adaptation strategies - managing water supply

Answer 19

Building artificial glaciers in winter so it results in fresh water in spring, e.g. India in the village of Lakadoh

Question 20

Adaptation strategies - reducing risk from rising sea levels

Answer 20

Build houses with stilts

Construction of sea wall

Construction of artifical islands