Natural hazards Flashcards
What is the volcanic eruption theory? and what affect does it have on the earth
big volcanic eruptions create so much ash and gas that is blankets over the earth. this means solar energy is reflected back and lowers the earths average temperature.
What are the Milankovitch cycles?
- Eccentricity (orbital theory)
- Axial Tilt/ obliquity
- Precession (direction of the Earth’s Axis)
What is eccentricity? (orbital theory)
Describes the path of the Earth as it orbits the sun. The earths orbit is not fixed- changes from being circular to elliptical, a full cycle takes 100,00 years. This means when the orbit shape is elliptical the Earth is much further away from the sun and so gets much less heat, this cools the earths average temperature.
What is axial precession? (Earth’s wobble)
- Describes a natural ‘wobble’ rather like a spinning top.
- A complete wobble cycle takes about 26,000 years
- This wobble accounts for change in season, and why regions such as Norway experience very long days and very long nights at certain times of the year.
What is the axial tilt? (obliquity)
- The earth spins on its axis causing day and night. C
- Currently the Earths axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. However over a period of 41,000 years, the tilt moves back and forth between two extremes- 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees.
- This means that the Earth’s seasons could be shortened or extended
What are the human factors that increase global warming?
- burning fossil fuels
- deforestation
- dumping waste in landfill
- agriculture
How does dumping waste in landfill increase global warming?
When the waste is decomposed it produces methane
How does agriculture increase global warming ?
Agricultural practices lead to the release a nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere
How does burning fossil fuels increase global warming ?
Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
How does deforestation increase global warming?
Trees absorb Carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Is they are cut down, there will be higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
What are the impacts of climate change in the UK ?
- sea levels could rise
- droughts + floods become more likely as extreme weather increases
- increased demand for water in hotter summers puts pressure on water supplies
- industry may be impacted e.g. Scottish ski resorts may have to close due to lack of snow.
Impacts of climate change around the world
- Sea level rise will affect 80 million people
- tropical storms will increase in magnitude (strength)
- species affected areas (egartic) may become extinct
- diseases such as malaria increase, in additional 280 million people may be affected
What are the mitigation strategies of climate change?
- Alternative energy
- Carbon and capture
- Planting trees
- International Agreements
How does alternative energy mitigate climate change?
Renewable resources such as solar or wind, reduces amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
How does carbon capture mitigate climate change?
Removal of Carbon dioxide from waste gases + storing in old oil or gas fields, this reduces amounts of emissions in the atmosphere