paper 1 natural hazards climate change Flashcards
what is mitigation
reducing the causes of climate change
4 mitigation methods
- alternative energy production
- carbon capture and storage
- international agreements
- planting trees
alternative energy production
using power sources such as nuclear power, hydroelectric and solar power as they release much less greenhouse gas than burning fossil fuels
alternative energy production example fact (EU R…
EU renewable energy directive set a target of 20% of energy consumption to come from renewables.
carbon capture and storage
capturing co2 releases by industry and burning ffs and storing it safely underground, reducing co2 in the atmosphere.
carbon capture and storage facts
can provide 20% of the carbon cuts needed by 2050
international agreements
countries agree to common policies such as reducing greenhouse gases by a certain amount by a certain date
example of international agreements
paris agreement was signed by more than 170 countries
planting trees
Reforestation: more trees planted means more co2 is removed from the atmosphere.
example of planting trees
conservation international aimed to restore 75 million trees in the amazon by 2023
what is adaptation
limiting the negative effects (of climate change)
3 adaptation ideas
- changing agricultural systems
- managing water supply
- adjusting to rising sea levels
changing agricultural systems
why is it needed?
agricultural practices will have to be modified in the future to account for changing temperatures and rainfall patterns
changing agricultural systems
adaptation ideas
farmers may need to change the crops they grow or when they grow them
(eg. grow more drought-resistant crops)
managing water supply
why is it needed?
water must be managed sustainably, especially with many areas expected to get drier
managing water supply
ideas- save water, increase supply
water meters and water efficient devices can be installed to encourage reduced water use
desalination and recycling of rain water can also be used to increase water supply
adjusting to rising sea levels
why is it needed?
sea levels have risen by 200mm since 1870 and are set to continue rising
adjusting to rising sea levels
ideas
physical defences such as sea walls and barriers reduce flood risk but are expensive
in LICs, homes built in high risk areas are often built on stilts
how does pollen analysis provide evidence for climate change?
- pollen is preserved in sediment
- scientists can identify and date the preserved pollen
- they can then compare plant species then vs now, showing climate similarities
how do tree rings provide evidence for climate change
- as a tree grows it forms a new ring each year
- the thickness of each ring shows what the climate was like (thicker in warm, wet conditions)
- they can show up to the past 10,000 years
how do ice cores provide evidence for climate change?
- analysing gas trapped in the layers of ice can tell scientists the composition of air and temperature from that year
how do temperature records provide evidence for climate change?
- met office has data from as early as the 1850s
- gives a short term but reliable record of climate change
human causes of climate change (3)
- fossil fuels
- agriculture
- deforestation
how have fossil fuels caused climate change
- they are burnt to generate energy for transport, manufacturing etc
- they releases co2 into the atmosphere and are a main source of greenhouse gas emissions
