P1- Section A - Weather Hazards Flashcards
What is global circulation caused by
different parts of the world heating up differently .
What does global atmospheric circulation help to explain
it helps to explain the location of world climate zones and the distribution of weather hazards .
What is the most important influence of global climate
latitude , due to the curvature of the earth
Why do different parts of the world receive different amouts of radiation , different climates around the world EXPLAINED
Due to the latitude , because of the curved surface , of the earth , the EQUATOR , recieves much Higher rays of insolation than POLAR latitutdes .
The parallel rays of the sun are spread THINLY when they strike the Earth’s surface at HIGH latitudes .
Whereas at LOW latitudes equator , , sunlight is more highly concentrated .
why is it hotter at the equator than at the poles (more reasons)
Same amount of energy much more concentrated at the equator .
Radiation also travles throgugh a GREATER DEPTH of atmosphere NEAR THE POLES , in comparison to the equator .
So MORE radiation is LOST to SCATTERING AND ABSORPTIOB by gases and particles in the atmosphere .
The tilit of the Earth also means that POLAR regions do nott see daylight during the winter .
what is the weather like at polar regions
snow and cold and ice
why is there snow and ice at the polar regions
snow and ice and thick cloud reflect a lot of the radiaiton back into space (ALBEDO) .
why is the albedo important
it is imortant for determining how much of the sun’s radiation is used for heating the earth ,
what is the radiatin like at the poles
at the poles , the outgoing radiation from the Earth , exceeds the incoming heat radiation from the sun .
what does global circulation do
it redistributes heat (like an aircon )
stopping the EUQATOR from becoming HOTTER and hotter
and the POLES becoming colder and colder .
how do global ciruclation take place and where
in the form of THREE LARGE CELLS which exists in the NOrthern and southern hemispheres .
What is the name of the largest cell
Hadley cell
explain the hadley cell
At the equator , warmer , less dense air rises and irses to a high alititude .
This cerates a global climate zone of LOW PRESSURE , the equatorial zone.
Then the air spreads out underneath the TROPOPAUSE.
Warm air spreds ou towards the POLES
Gradually COOLING +SINKING as it moves before DESCEDNING to the SURFACE anf flwoing back to the EQUATOR .
What is the smallest cell called
polar cells
explain polar cells
At the poles, air is cooled and sinks towards the ground forming high pressure, this known as the Polar high. It then flows towards the lower latitudes. At about 60 degrees N and S, the cold polar air mixes with warmer tropical air and rises upwards, creating a zone of low pressure called the subpolar low.
What is betwene the Hadley and Polar cells ?
The Ferrel cells
t/f ferrel cells are driven by temperature
FALSE
How do ferrel cells flow
oppposite directions to haldey cells andpolar cells - hot air rises from the polar front
What do ferrel cells do
They not only transport heat from the equator to the poles ,
But also result in semi-permanent areas of high and low pressures .
why does ferrel cells result in semi permanent areas of high and low pressure ?
due to the risining nd descedning parts of the cirucaltion giving us climatic zones .
What does air rising mean (2 points) how does it link to rainforests ?
area of low pressurre (the equator ), much more rainfall , why rainforests are found near the equator
What does desceding air mean (2 points ) , link to deserts ?
areas of high pressure , clear skies and little rainfall , which leads to deseert regions .
what is the largest and driest desert
Antrartica
why is the global circulation pattern at an angle
due to the Earth’s rotation
the spin of the earth induces an apparent motion to the right of the …
northern hemisphere
the spin of the earth induces an apparent motion to the left of the …
southern hemisphere
what is the coriolis effect
when the spin of the earth induces an apparen tmotion to the right of the nrothern hemisphere and to the left of the southern hemisphere.
what is they key to the coriolis effect
is that the earths surface roattes faster at the equator than at the poles
why does the earths surface rotatae faster at the equator than at the poles
as the earth is wider at the euqaotr so has further to travel in one day .
how does windflow in the nothern hemsphere (2 points )
low pressure and anticlockwise
how does windflow in the southern hemisphere (2 points)
clockwise nd in highpressure
does the magntud eof the coriolis efect increase or decerase at the poles
increase
where does the subtropical jet sream occur
high in the atmopshere 12-15km
where does the polar jet fron occur
11-13km stroger in winter thna in summer
why is rainfall high and constant throughout the year near the equtator
as hot air rises , it cools slightlu , water vapour is converted into droplets of convectional rain
low-preassure zones around the equator are called what
INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONES
why is rainfall high in coastal areas in western europe
due to the movment of jet stream over the atlantic . Rain bearing wethering systems called cyclones follow the jet stream often bringing stormy conditions to the UK’s west coast .
why is rainfall low around the tropics of capricorn and caner
dry aisr descends there as part of the hadley cell resulting in arid condtions .
meaning of arid conditions
extremely dry
why is preciiptiation low in polar regions , why does it mostly fall as snow
the cold air has limted bility to hold water vapour .
what is the meaning of tropical storms
an area of low pressure with winds moving in a spiral around the calm central point called the ‘eye’ of the storm . Winds are powerful and rains are heavy .
what are the three names for tropical storms
hurricanes
typhoons
cyclones
what are tropical stroms called in the west of the north pacific ocean
typhoons
what are tropical stroms called in indian and osuth pacific ocean
cyclones
what are tropical storms called in the atlantic and eatsern pacfic ocean
hurricanes
where do tropical storms occur
in the tropics (mainly in the ITCZ zone) broadly on the south of the Tropics
of Cancer
North of the tropics of Capricorn
What are the conditions of a cyclone
1.Large still wwarm , ocean area above 26.5degrres.c to a dpeth of approximately 60-70km .
2.Low latitude winds 5-30.c north and south of the equator
Why should a cyclone have Large still wwarm , ocean area above 26.5degrres.c to a dpeth of approximately 60-70km ?
this provided heat and moisture that causes the warm air to rise rapidly in this low pressure region .Latent heat is then released which powers a tropical storm .
why should a cyclone have .Low latitude winds between 5-30.c north and osuth of the equaor
A higher insolation means temperatures are higher at the poles .
what seasosn do most tropical storms develop in and why
between summer and autumn as they are the warmest seasons .
There is also a low wind sheer so tropicl storms can rise to high levels without being torn apart .
Why don’t tropical storms not develop along the equaotr
due to the coriolis effect
how does a tropical storm form
- air is heated above the surface of warm tropical oceans . The wrm air rises rapidly under low pressure conditions .
2.The rising air draws up more air and large volumes of moisture from the ocean , causing strong winds.
3.The Coriolis effect causes the air to spin upwards around a calm central eye of the storm .
4.As the ir rises , it cools and condenses to from lalrge , towering cumulonimbus clouds , which generate torrential rainfll . The heat given off when the air cools powers the tropical storm .
5.Cold air sinks in the eye , thereofre there is no cloud , so it is drier and much calmer .
6.Te tropical storm travels across the ocean in the prevailing wind .
7.When the tropical storm meets land it is no longer fuelled by the source of moisture and heat from the ocean so it looses it power and weakens .
Describe the temperature and air pressure thoroughout the formation of a tropical storm .
At the strat of a tropical storm , the temperature and air pressure fall . Air rises and clouds being to form .It becomes windy .
2.s the tropical storm continues , the air pressure dalls more rapidly , winds ncrease , cumulonibus cloud froms and there is heavy rainfall .
3.There is a period of calm with no wind or rainaat theeye of the storm . The sun appears , so it gets warmer , air pressure is very low
4.wind and heavy rainfall increases dramartically agan , the temperature drops and air pressure bings to ris e.
As the tropical storm ends , air pressure and temperature rise , wind and rainfall subsides ..
What direction do tropical storms travel and why
East to West due to the direction in which the Earth spins .
why do tropical stos loose thier energy when they hit land
as when they pass over land , they loose their energy source from the sea that powered them .
As they pass over lnd , friction also slows them down .As they loose energy they change direction .
What does it men by the frequency of tropical storms
how often tropical storms occur
what does it mean by the distribution of tropical storms
where tropical storms occur .
what does it mean by the intensity of tropical storms
how strong tropical storms are .
How has climate change affected the distribution of tropical storrms
the distribution will change , signigificant areas around the globe will experience stronger storms , some of these areas are outside the areas where CURRENT tropcal storms occur where ocean tepmerature will go above 27.c
How was climate change-temperture affected the inensity of tropial storms
As the temperature increases sea leves rise due to thermal expansion .The impact of rising sea levels mean strorm surgers are expected to become higher.
A warmer atmosphere will mean that air can hodl more moisture .Heavy rainfall is expected to increase , therefore , flooding during tropical storm is expected to becoe destructive .
how has climate change affected the intensity of a tropical storm
warmer oceans means more intense tropical storms .
how has climate change affected the frequency of tropical storms
frequency of tropical storms is expected to remian the same or decrease as a result of limate change . However , the number of MORE SVERE TROPICAL STORMS is said to increase.
What makes the link between tropical storms and climate change uncertian ?
Rate and impact of Climate Change in the future is uncertain .
What benefits do tropical storms have on the planet ?
They bring rainfalls to areas of drought .
They help balance heat in the oceans , due to rainfall .
What are the impacts of a tropical storm
strong winds , torrential tainfall and storm surges. Landslides and tornadoes can also be caused by tropcial storms .
what is a storm surge
when the sea level rises rapildy and particularly high due to the storm
what are wind speeds at least in a tropical storm , what is the impact of this , state some primary effects .
at least 199 km/h - They can demolish houses across whole towns and villages destroy infrastrucutre such as electricity powerlines and wipe out crops
what does the destruction of a tropical storm depend on?
how well people and property are protected .
explain flooding and it its impacts in a tropcal storm
flooding is caused by the heavy rain and storm surges . Storm surges can be up to 5m high and are driven by the wind pushing seawater onto the coastline . Heavy rainfall can be up to 500mm falling within 24 hours . The cause of death for the majority of victims is due to flooding .
what are some secondary effects of tropical storms
Aid is hampered as roads are flooded . Torrential rain can also trigger landslides , causing further devastation . Furthermore , water supplies can be contaminated with seawater , sewage and industrial waste , which increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera .
How are tropical storm measured and a brief explanation on how it works.
Tropical storms are mwasured using the Saffir-Simpson hurricane windscape . The higher the category scale , the higher the intensty of the tropical storm .
prediciction of a tropical storm - its correlation to responses to a tropical storm
tropical storms can generally be predicted , warning systems provide crucial information regarding strong winds , heavy rain and strom surges , which are broadcast to the public - which gives vital time to prepare and protect property .
responses to tropical storms
-evacuation to highter growund , or emergency storm shelters
-tents porvided when homes are damaged /destroed
-distribuiting emergency food and water essential for surviviors n the aftermath of the a tropical sotrm .
-(Hics usually have resources ,
what may be the extensive effects of a large scale tropical storm
-international aid may be necessary
-aid may be hindered by roads have become blocked by debris or fallen trees .
-large scale may mean longer for aid to reach where it is needed , especially in more remote locations .
what is sustainable development
development that meets the needs of the present wihout limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs .
What could be the long term responses of a tropical storm
Governments , NGOs and charties aum for sustainable development , this includes ;
-repairing damage to exisiting builinds
-infrastructure and businesses to ensure the country is capable of managaing a future hazard by INVESTING METHOFDS OF PROTECTIOND AND PREDICITION OF TROPICAL STORMS THIS INCLUDES;
-neaw erly warning system or new sea defences .
what does the speed to start and complete a long term response depend on
-how much destruction was caused
-the wealth of the country - to pay for the work
-the help available from other countries organisiations and charities .
when and where did typhoon Haiyan occur
On the 8th November 2013 at 4:40 am local time , a category 5 typhoon struck the Philippines .
what were the windspeeds for Typhoon Haiyann
314kmph
where did typhoon Haiyan cause the most damage and why
In Tacloban - beause of the storm surge .
bief explanaiton of the storm cause
low pressure and high tempertrues allow sea level to rise and it is then blown inland by the storm .
List a few primary effects of Typhoon Haiyan
-6300 killed - most drowned becasue of the storm surge .
-600,000 people displaced
-90% of Tacloban city destroyed
-400mm of rain led to flooding across the whole country .
List a few secondary effects of typhoon Haiayn .
-The flooding (from primary effect) caused landslides hampering aid to remote communities .
-6 million lost their source of income .
-power supplies cut off in some areas for over a mponth .
-food shortage , water and homelessness caused spread of disease .
-Looting and violence .
Immediate responses of typhoon Haiyan
Government , agencies aid - in the form of food , water and temporary shelters .
-US aircrafts and helicpoters assisted with search and rescue as well as delivery of aid .
Field hospitals set up .
What were the long term responses of Typhoon Haiayan
-Cash for work progammes were set up to encourage people to clear debris and help rebuild their city .
-A new storm surge warning sytem .
-A ‘no build zone’ along the cast of Eastern Visayas .
what does it mean to monitor a tropical stom
using scietific methods to watch storms
how do we monitor tropical storms
satellites - monitor percipitation every three hours between latituded 65degrees north and south of the equator to dientfy high altitude clouds .
A plane - releases dropsondes (sensors) which send measurements by radio back to the aircraft .
Global hawk zones - on board radar and microwaves help scientists with the fomration of tropical storms .
what does it mean to predict a tropical storm
deciding , based on histroical evidece , what tropical storms will do next ..
how do we predict tropical storms
2013 NASA developed two new super computers m show the location of the tropical and cn now give five days warning and more accurate location withing 400km .
Track cone- track cone shape allows for error with the unpredictable behaviour of the tropical storm especially if it hits land .
what does mean to protect ourselves from a tropical storm
ensuring areas can withstand storms
how do protect ourselves from tropicl storms
-install hurricane straps (galvanised metal ) between the roofs and walls .
-Install storm shutters on windows
-Remove trees close to buildings
what does mean to plan before a tropical storm
making sure people know what to do
how do we plan before a tropical storm
preparing disaster supply kits .
-Having fuel in vehicles .
-Knowign where offical evacuation shelters are .
what is the meaning of weather
day to day conditions of the atmosphere
what is the meaning of climate
30 yr average of weather in an area
what is the Uk’s climate
temperate - moderate and mild
cool summers
mild winters
rain throughout the whole year
what is extreme weather
this is when a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual pattern and is especially severe or unseasonal .
give some examples of extreme weather
droughts
storms
flooding
cold weather
what type of hazards does the UK experience
hydro-meteorologial hazards
What are hydro-meteorological hazards
natrual hazards caused by atmospheric processes and any associated flooding . (droughts , flooding extreme cold weather)
what do depressions do in the uk
they bring heavy rainfall and trigger flooding .
Give an example of a significant storm event in the uk
-2013 28 October , cluster of depressions responsble or wind damage
-during st jude storm five were killed and toppled lorries .
what are depressions
Depressions are low pressure weather systems that produce cloudy and rainy weather conditions.
what causes flooding
heavy rainfall or strong dwaves brought by a depression .
what secondary hazard can flooding trigger
landslides
give an example of a significant flooding event in the uk
2013 Ockley Southern England , 40m away from railway an emankment collapsed due to heavy rainfall , which brought weeks of disruption to London commuters and financial costs for the employers .
what is drought
extended period of low or absent rainfall relative to the expected average region .
In the Uk , when is it considered a drought ?
15 consecutive days with less than 0.2mm of rain on any one day .
In the uk , what could be beyond 0.2mm of rain
insufficent mositure for avergae crop production , especially if low water reserves in reservoirs.
Example of significant drought in the UK
1975+1976 drought in the UK occured over 18 month period ,
-Cheltenham the temperature exceeded 32 degrees for 7 consecutive days .
example of extreme cold weather in the uk
wintes of 1946 and 1947 exceptionnal cold .
how do extreme cold weather condtions occur
extreme cold conditions take over if depressions are not passing over the Uk as usual .
what are the weather risks of exrteme cold weather
Frost - co=rops and cattle may not survive extremes of -10degrees .
Freezing condiitons - causing transportation issues (117,000 teians cancelled Jan 2014 due to this )
-blizzard conditions also as above and also creates costly airline delays .
when was the Cumbrian floods
19th November 2009
where was the Cumbrian floods
On the North West of England , in COKERMOUTH , near the West coast and is on the river Cocker and River Derwen.
How is urbanisation a cause of the cumbrian floods , what type of inflicted cause is it .
It is a human inflicted cause , In Cockermouth , there is an increase in the amount of impermeable surfaces which increases run off which then , increases the discharge into rivers .
How is blocked sewers a cause of the cumbrian floods , what type of inflicted cause is it .
It is a human inflicted cause , blocked sewers causes water to rise , causing flooding incidents e.g Elliot Park in Keswich .
How is dredging a cause of the cumbrian floods , what type of inflicted cause is it .
The rivers had not be dredged for many years , decreasing the rivers capacity which then increases the chance of floods .
How is rain a cause of the cumbrian floods , what type of inflicted change is it .
It is a physical cause There was a very high volume of rain - 31.4cm in 24 hours
What caused the heavy rain in Cockermouth ?
-Warm conveyor - warm air from the mid-Atlantic common in the UK during Autumn and Winter-warm air holds more moisture .
-Orographic rainfall - air forced to rise over highland Cumbrian Mountains .
What are some additional caused to Cumbrian Floods
-Cumbria already received a months worth of rain already before the extreme event on the 17-20 November . So THE GROUND WAS ALREADY SATURATED , so runoff was straight into the rivers .
Steep slopes - rapid run offs
What were the social impacts of the Cumbrian Floods
-Police officer Bill Barker was killed when a bridge in Workington collapsed .
-1,500 homes were flooded
-Many injured
-river contaminated with sewage brought health risks .
what were the economic impacts of the Cumbrian Flood
The regional economy was instantly hit .
-Many businesses closed and did not reopen until long afterwards .
-Debris transported by the rivver destroyed six important regional bridges .
what were the environmental impacts of the Cumbrian flood
-At its peak flow , water erosion by the Riverr Derwent triggered landslides along its banks . The river tore loose nd carried away hundreds of trees , damaging local ecosytems and habitats
What were the Uk Governments responses to the flood
-Provided £1 million to help with clean up and repairs . In ten days .
-Agreed to pay for road and bridge repairs in Cumbria .
- Network rail opened temppoary railway station in Workington .
How did Cockeremouth’s management of future floods at Cockermouth :
-£4.4 million management scheme .
-New flood defence walls will halt the spread of the river .
-Funding from Goverment and local contributors .
-River dredged more regularly to deepen the channel .
-New embankments - raise the channel height to reduce the likelihood of extrafloods .
What leads to drought and heavy rian in the UK
When the weather system , crossing from West to East, althought it fluctuates North and South , it can become stuck thus bringing longer period of extreme weather . From drought to heavy rain .
how has rainflal been since the 1980s?
Since the 1980s extreme winter rianfall has increased becuse the Atlantic Ocean is warmer causing depressions with more energy and moisture .
How is the Earth’s climate and why ?
A variety of data from mutliple researchers suggest that the Earth’s climate at current is warming and changing due to human activitiy .
according to weather experts at the Uk hadley center for Climate predicition and Reearch , is increase in winte rainfall linked with global climate change prediction
yes
what is causing droughts in the UK
In the UK , temoeratrues are on the rise (1degree) this together with unreliable rainfall has caused droughts.
what does the rainfall graph show in textbook ,page 42-43
rainfall has stayed the same .
what does the temperature graph show in textbook page 42-43
that temperatures have increased since the 1960 .
what will happen if the temperature rises by 2-3 degrees in the Uk
The UK may be faced with warmer nd wetter winters , which leads to more stroms and flooding in the whole of the UK .
what is the cycle of the atlantic ocean
That the Atlantic Ocean’s temperature goes in a cycle from warm to cold repeating every 600 years .
what will happen if the global temperature was to rise by 4-5 degrees
polarised capsules will melt effecting air and water current
what will happen to the temperature in 100 years .
In 100 years , the Earth’s temperature will increase by 3-5 degrees, hwoever , if we’re environmentally friendly , burn less fossil fuels , it will only increase by 0.25 degrees to 1.25 degrees.
What has already happened (actual change) ? to precipitation
No change in annual UK total . But more winter rain has fallen in heavy events since the 1980s.
What is predicted to happen to the preicipttion in the UK ?
Precipitation will become even more seasonal . But the annual UK total will stay the same .
What has already happened to river flow in the UK?
The freqeuncy and mamgnitude of winter river flooding has increased since the 1980s.
What is predicted to happen next to river flow in the uk .
Some scientists predic that certain UK rivers will flood more in future winters .
What has already happend to evaporation in the UK ?
We are not sure if evaporation has increased or not , but we do know temperaturess havre risen by 1 degree
what is predicted that will happen to evporation in the uk >
Evporation wil increase due to higher air temperatures causing more drought .
What is climate change
clmate change is a long term change in the Earth’s climate especially a change due to an increase in the average atomospheric temperature
What are four ways we can see evidence for climate change in ?
-Temperature records
-Ice cores
-Tree rings
-Ocean sediment
How are icecores used as evidence for climate change ?
-Ice cores can be obtaied y drilling into ice sheets .
-Every year , one layer of ice forms on the top of ice sheets .
-Analysis of the gases in the core allows scientists to determine the tempeerature for each of the last 400,00 years . Good evidnce as it is long term so lots of data .
What is the problem with using icecores as evidence for climate change ?
Most data is collected from Antartica , so not necessarily representing temperature around the globe .
-Air bubbles in the ice can move around , confusing the results for .
How are tree rings used as evidence for climate change?
Every year , a new ring forms in the trunk of trees .
-By taking trunks and counting the mumber of rings , scientists can work out a tress age .
What does it mean if a tree ring is thicker ?
warmer and wetter climate .
What does it mean if a tree ring is thinner ?
Colder and drier climate /
What is the problem with using tree rings as evidence for climate change ?
Most trees only go back hundreds ofy ears not 10,000 years , so is 50/50 reliable ,
-non-climatic factors like disease and pest and soil quality can effect the size of tree rings .
How are temperature records used to show evidence of climae change ?
-Temperatures have been measured and recorded globally using thermometers since the 1895s , so it is highly accurate .
what is the problem with using temperatgure records as evidence for climate change ?
As this collection methood , only started recenlty , we don;t have data for millions of years so beter for short-term rather than longterm .
How does ocean sediment show evidence for climate change ?
Scientists study the layers of sediments , by analysising the remains of organisms in cores to lengthen the gtemperature record back to 5 mil years ago , so very reliable as lots of data and long-term .
what is the prolem with using ocean sediment to show evidence for climate change ?
Not easy to acess ocean sediment , so to get full data or yearly data is more difficult .
What is proxy data ?
natural recordings used to estimate what conditions were like .
What is the quarternary period ?
the period of geological time from about 2.6 m years ago , to the present . It is characterised by the apperance and development of humans and is split into two epochs .
What two epochs is quarternary period split into ?
-The Pleistocene epoch
-Holocene epoch .
Describe the quarternary period :
The quartneary period is often called an ice age due to the presence of a permanent ice sheet on Antartica .
Describe the Pleistocene epoch :
During the Pleistocene epoch there were cold glacial epsidoes lasting approximately ,100,000 years . Thick ice would expand , covering vast areas of contientns , but then retreat , as each glacial epsiode was followed by a warmer interglacial epsiode .
What is a glacial episode ?
A colder period of time , with ice expansion , lasting approximately 100,000 years .
What is an interglacial episode ?
A warmer period of ime , with less ice , lasting for only around 10,000 years between twp glacial periods .
Describe the Holocene epoch :
-The holocene epoch began when the last glacial expansion ended , and the current interglacial epsiode started . This is what we live in today , There are still sheets of ice covering Greenland and Antartica , but our climate has remained relatively stable .
Why do natural recorders (proxy data) have to be used to show evidence of climate change ?
As for the era before there were reliable record , proxy data s the only thing we can sue for climate change eividence .
Quick evidences of climate change ;
-The Earth’s average surface air temperature has increased by approx 1 degree over last 100 years .
-Ocean temperatures are the warmest they have been since the 1850 , and the world’s glaciers and ice sheets are decreasing in size .
-sea levles risenb y 19cm since 1900 and expect to ris e, dut to thermal expansion and ice sheets melting .
What is Thermal expansion ?
When the sea expands and becomes larger as a result of increased temperature .
why is proxy data not reliable ?
As these only indicate climate change rather than providing direct evidence of accurate temperatures .
What is climate change ?
A long term change in the Earth’s climate , especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature .
What are the three Milankovitch cycles
-Eccentricity
-Axial titlt Obliquity
-Precession .
Give a description of Eccentricity .
-The Earth’s orbit changes overtime , from being circular , to elliptical .
- This means the distance between the Earth and Sun changes as the Earth orits .
- As the Earth orbits closer to the Sun , the climate becomes warmer , and the opposite happens as it orbits away .
What is the cycle length of eccentricity ?
The ellipse changes shape every 100,000 years .
Give a description of Axial tilt - Obliquity .
The Earth’s axis is tilted on an angle . The angle of the tilt changes (from 21.5-24.5degrees ) due to the gravitational pull of the Moon .
-When the angle of the tilit increases , this can exaggerate the climate , so summer get warmer and winters get colder .
What is the cycle length of Axial tilt - Obliquity .
The angle of the tilt moves back and forth every 41,000 years .
Give a description of Precession .
-The Earth is not a perect sphere , so as the Earth spins , it wobbles on its axis . (Earth rotates with a gyroscopic wobble .)
-What is the cycle length of Precession ?
It wobbles on its axis in a 20,000 year cycle .
How is the output of the sun measured ?
By observing sunspots .
What are sunspots , how are they caused ?
Sunspots are dark patches on the Sun’s surface , caused by the magnetic activity inside the sun .
What is the cycle for more sunspots ?
More sunspots every 11 years .
Explain sunspots :
The more sunspots the sun has , the greater the energy produced . So Earth will recieve more solar radiation , so will have a warmer climate .
-Fewer Sunspots - less energy produced -Earth has a cooler climate .
Why can’t however , solar output be responsible for the cause of the climate change seen from the 1970s?
Solar output from the sun has barely changed in the last 50 years . In fact , iit has decreased slightly , so therefore it is not responsible for the climate change seen sicne the 1970s.
Overall sumary on orbital changes :
Together these three orbital changes vary the distribution of the Sun’s energy on the Earth .
-This can mean a significant impact on climate change . -However , scientists suggest that orbital changes would not causea n ice age for at least 30,000 years .
Give the first reason why volcanic activity , causes climate change ?
Voclanic activity can tempoarily cause climate change .
-Release of Sulphur dioxide - a gas , when in the atmosphere , helps to cool the planet down . As it reflects sunlight causing the planet to be cooler overall.
Give the second reason why volcanic activity , causes climate change .
Volcanic ash - Blocks sunlight causing the planet to be cooler overall .
Give the third reason why volcanic activity , causes climate change ?
Releases of Carbondioxide - greenhosue gas ; causes the enhanced greenhouse effect as it traps solar energy , causing the Earth to become warmer .
What is the greenhouse effect
The greenhosue effect is a natural phenomenon , a process that occurs when gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap the Sun’s heat . This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmomsphere .
What three gases are involved in the greenhouse effect
Co2 -Carbon Dioxide
CH4-Methane
N20-Nitrous Oxide .
What would happen if we didn’t have the green hosue effect ?
Without the greenhouse effect , the Earth would be approximately 33 degrees colder and thereofre life would not exist as we know today .
How does the Greenhouse effect work ?
-The Sun’s infrared heat rays eneter the Earth’s atmosphere .
-The heat is refe;ected from the Earth’s surface .
-The natural layer of greenhouse gases llow some heat to be reflected out of the Earth’s atmosphere .
-But some of the Sun’s Earth infrared heat is trapped , which keeps the Earth warm enough .
What is the human enhanced greenhouse effect ?
The human enhanced greenhouse effect , where human activities have caused the layer of greenhouse gases which naturally exist to increase .
Are humans causing climate change ?
-Scientists have meausured ad provedt hat naturall causes are responsible for climate change , yet natural causes cannot account for the increasing in temperature since the 1970s.
-The link between increasing carbon dioxide levels and increasing global temperatures - co2 levels have increased since the industrial revolution . So reports say that it is very likely that rising levels of crbon dioxide are the main cause of climate change .
How do fossil fuels cause climate change ?
-Fossil fuels account for the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions over 50 %.
-Burnign these release CO2 atmosphere .
What are fossil fuels used for ?
-Transportation
heating homes
-manufacturing industry .
How does Agriculture cause climate change ?
-Agriculutre contributes to almsot 20 percent of global green hosue gas emmisions .
-cattle Produces large volumes of methane during digestion .
-Methane produced in decaying organic matter .
-Under the water of flooded rice paddy fields .
Why is deforestation bad for climate change ?
-During the process of photosynthesis , trees absorb carbon dioxide , which reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere .
-The process of deforestation leaves fewer tree to absorb Carbon dioxide .
-Therefore the enhanced greenhosue hases contribbute to climate change .
-Slash and burn used to clear areas of rainforest release co2 contributing to climate change .
Whya are forests cut down ?
-clearing land for agriculture
-logging for wood
-builidng roads to acess remote areas .
What is a carbon footprint ?
Thre amount of Carbondioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a particular indvidual , organization or community .
A few examples of the effect of climate change
-Wildlife declines as polar bears and seals disappear with the loss of habitat as ice melts .
-Around 70% of Asia at risk of flooding .
-Skiing resorts int he Alps may close or have shorter seasons as their is less snow .
-South America is expected to decrease in maize soybeans and wheat crop yields .
-How does alternative energy production reduce CO2 (mitiagtion strategy )
-By using renewale enrgyr resources that don’t use CO2 such as fossil fuels like (tidal , solar pwoer ,w ind and tidal ).
-Advanatage - dont produce CO2
-Disadvanatage - solar more expensive than burning fossil fuels .
How does CCS alternatve energy production reduce CO2 (mitigation strategy)
-uses technology to capture up to 90 of
the carbon dioxide emitted
when fossil fuels are burnt
-when its aptured it’s then compressed and transported
through pipes to a well
-where it’s injected as a liquid into the
ground
Advan
Advantage of CSS
CCS could provide 10-50 % of the world’s total carbon mitiagtion until 2100 .
Disadvanatge of CSS
CSS process ies eexpenvive .
What is mitiagtion ?
Mitigation means making the impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere.
How does International agreement reduce CO2 ? (Mtigation strategy)
-Countries agreeing on targets that will go far enoguh to manage climate change .
Advantage of Internatinal agreement :
If it foes to plan , it will reduce the global emision by at least 40% below 2010 by 2050 .
Disadavanatage of International agreement :
-Not all countres can afford to mitigate climate or willling to sign the agreement like China one of the biggest contributors to climate change .
How does planting trees reduce CO2 ?(Mitigation strategy )
-Trees absorb Co2 when photosyntheissing .
-Advanatge - could increase forest carbon storage by 28% .
-Planting trees is expensive .
What is adaption
Adaption strategies are local rather than global , to reduce impacts of climate change .
-What adaptions will have to be made in agricultural systems ?
-Moving production to another location due to changing temperatures and extreme weather .
-Increasing irrigation in areas due to changing precipitation .
-Chnaging the crops and varieties gorwn and the time of the year they are planted such as drought resitant crops or siwithiching to live pordution whic has more guaanteedreturns .
What adaptionsmade to water supplies for climate change .
-restoration of mangrove forests to helpa gaint storm waves .
-Houses being built on stilts due to sea levels rising .
-UK-Reducing demand , a free retrofit package or water-efficent devices including aerators .
-Increase supply , Thames opens up desalination plant to increase water supply .
