P climate change

Question 1

global warming -> cloral bleaching

Answer 1

GW causes sea temps to rise -> causing corals to become stressed and release algae that normally live inside their cells -> the algae no longer present to provide O2 and nutrients needed for coral growth, leading to coral bleaching and death

Question 2

global warming -> tropical storms

Answer 2

GM leads to more severe and frequent tropical storms -> attributed to a drier environment and more evaporation resulting in moisture-laden air producing more intense precipitation, destroying the corals

Question 3

how does methane and other greenhouse gases cause global warming?

Answer 3

greenhouse gases accumulate and remain in the atmosphere -> layer of gases allow solar radiation from sun to pass through to earth’s surface where it is converted to heat

Question 4

how has human activities changed the balance of CO2?

Answer 4

increased CO2 conc. due to higher emissions from increased industrialisation, use of cars, energy usage through burning of fossil fuels & reduced carbon sinks from deforestation

Question 5

effects of global warming

Answer 5

• melting of polar ice caps leading to destruction of habitats like coral reefs and mangroves
• more frequent extreme weather events like droughts leading to droughts which damage crops and livestock
• migration of fish and insects towards colder regions leading to disruptions to the ecosystem