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Physical Questions Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain how urban growth can result in more people being at risk from flooding (5) June13

A

Expansion of impermeable surfaces - decreased through flow

Decreased vegetation cover so reduced interception

Drainpipes accelerate water flow towards rivers - increased risk of flash flooding

Developing cities - increased risks due to slums on flood plains

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2
Q

Explain why some evidence for past climate change is incomplete and unreliable (5) June13

A

Data sourced from proxy records such as painting are subjective and the artists impersonation

Tree ring records are regional not global and only date back about 8000 years

Scientific methods may be have been inaccurate e.g. The early telescope for sunspots

There could be bias and alterations of scientific data

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3
Q

Using located examples suggest how hazards caused by El Niño events can lead to food shortages (4) June13

A

Drought in Australia leads to crop failures

Heavy rain in Peru leads to flooding and landslides which could destroy crops and reduce ground availability to grow crops

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4
Q

Suggest how global warming could affect food supplies in Africa (3) June13

A

Increased drought could cause crop failure - particular vulnerability of subsistence farmers

Increased rainfall in some areas - could increase crop yield

Coastal inundation could cause crop failure due to salinisation

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5
Q

Suggest how global warming could affect ecosystems in the Arctic (3) June13

A

Northwards migration of Arctic tundra

Melting ice affecting ice dependant species such as polar bear

Alien insect species invade causing tree death

Food chains modified - phytoplankton at base of food chain destroyed due to increased UV

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6
Q

Explain how tropical cyclones contribute to the risk of living in the Philippines disaster hotspot (4) Jan10

A

Philippines are found in a major cyclone belt

Can trigger other hazards e.g. Mudslides

Also suffer from earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis

Vulnerability of population adds to disaster element

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7
Q

Describe two recent environmental changes that provide evidence for global warming (4) Jan10

A

Sea ice melting as a result of both higher surface and ocean temperatures

Sea level rise as a result of on land ice melt

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8
Q

Explain why the majority of scientists believe humans are responsible for today’s high level of CO2 (4) Jan10

A

Human activity know to produce CO2 - burning fossil fuels, deforestation

Current CO2 spike coincides with start of industrial revolution

Acceleration particularly over last century - in line with growth emerging economies such as China

Current levels are unprecedented

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9
Q

Suggest how the use of renewable energy sources can help tackle climate change (2) Jan10

A

Reduces rate of use of fossil fuels

Thus less enhanced greenhouse effect

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10
Q

Suggest why progress towards meeting renewable energy targets is so slow (3) Jan10

A

Costs of building turbines/installing solar panels etc

Some governments may feel less need to act

Lack of large scale alternatives/greater innovation needed

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11
Q

Using examples, explain how adaptation strategies can help people cope with the impacts of climate change (5) Jan10

A

Adaptation is adjusting to climate change but not reducing emissions

Managed retreat of UK coastline

Migration away from low lying places

Flood walls

Changing agriculture as biomes may shift

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12
Q

Describe the natural hazards that threaten a named local area you have studied (5) Jan13

A

California:

Conservative plate boundary made up of North American and guandafuca plate

Friction caused by plate movements cause earthquakes

These can trigger landslides

If earthquakes occurs under the sea they can cause a tsunami which can cause flooding

They also experience El Niño which can cause flooding and La Niña which can cause drought

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13
Q

Suggest why data uncertainty decreases over time (3) Jan13

A

Modern technology increasing accuracy of data

Some data from past based on proxy records

Early data likely to be less comprehensive

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14
Q

Explain the processes involved in the natural greenhouse effect (5) Jan13

A

Greenhouses gases are methane, water vapour, CO2, nitrous oxides, sulphur dioxides, CFCs

Incoming energy from sun absorbed by land

Outgoing energy heads back to space but not all lost because of greenhouse gases

Incoming - shortwave, outgoing - longwave

Earth would otherwise be 33 degrees cooler

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15
Q

Explain how afforestation may help tackle global warming (3) Jan13

A

Tress act as a carbon sink

CO2 locked up in trees - conc. falls if more trees

Lower flood risk due to increased interception

Offsets deforestation

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16
Q

Explain why some climate change mitigation strategies are often unpopular (5) Jan13

A

Mitigation means acting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Some governments unwilling to invest if it won’t benefit them

Lack of trust in climate change science

Lack of faith in viability of proposals e.g. Knows costs of proposals such as nuclear power

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17
Q

Why are earthquakes common in some parts of the world (4) Jan09

A

Associated with plate boundaries where movement is occurring

Constructive, destructive, conservative

Conservative - where tension builds up - e.g. San Andreas fault

Destructive - friction at subduction zone - e.g. Philippines trench

Minor EQs possible wherever deep fault lines occur

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18
Q

With reference to a named example, explain what is meant by a disaster hotspot (4) Jan09

A

Hotspot is a place where two or more hazards occur

E.g. Philippines suffer from volcanoes, earthquakes, typhoons and more

Philippines is on a destructive boundary made up of Philippine and Eurasian plate

The disaster occurs when vulnerable people encounter the hazard and experience losses

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19
Q

Suggest reasons for the loss of ice taking place in most Arctic areas (4) Jan09

A

Climate change is causing ice melt

Global warming more pronounced in arctic areas because higher altitude

As ice melts albedo falls - positive feedback

Melting of permafrost

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20
Q

Describe two ecological impacts of climate change in the Arctic (4) Jan09

A

As the permafrost thaws lakes drain which moves fish habitats such as Arctic char

More uv destroys marine phytoplankton at base of food chain - food webs modified

Northward shift of biomes

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21
Q

State three economic consequences of widespread flooding for a city such as London (3) Jan09

A

Businesses damaged

Transports services/infrastructure damaged - tourism may be reduced

Costs for insurance companies

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22
Q

Suggest reasons why flood defences, such as those in London, have been raised and improved over time (5) Jan09

A

More storms and extreme weather events

Rise in sea level due to ice melt and thermal expansion

Knowledge was imperfect when walls first built

More property at risk so value of possible damage increased

In some places risk has risen due to population growth/urbanisation

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23
Q

Describe some possible impacts of climate change on farming in Africa (3) June10

A

Low lying farming areas may be lost to the sea, e.g. Parts of Nile delta

Desertification so harsh growing conditions e.g. In Sahel

Rain fed farming will suffer, subsistence farmers like to be hit worst

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24
Q

Suggest reasons why increasing numbers of the world’s people are affected by floods (4) June09

A

Global warming - sea level rise because of ice melt - particularly affected in vulnerable areas such as Maldives

Global warming - sea level rise because of thermal expansion

Increased storms due to warmer temperatures

El Niño causes periodic flood increases e.g. In Peru

Deforestation - reduced interception

Urbanisation - more impermeable surfaces

25
Q

Identify some natural causes that have led to past climate change (4) June09

A

Milankovitch cycles - orbit, tilt, wobble

Solar output variation - 11 year sunspot cycle

Major volcanic eruptions - ash and dust in atmosphere so cooling effect

El Niño/La Niña - short term changes

26
Q

Distinguish between a natural hazard and a natural disaster (2) June10

A

A hazard is an event that is potential threat to people/property

A disaster is an event where losses are actually experienced

27
Q

Explain how physical and human factors have made the Philippines a disaster hotspot (5) June10

A

In a tropical cyclone belt

Destructive plate boundary - Philippine plate sub-ducted beneath Eurasian plate - volcanoes and earthquakes

Landslides and tsunamis secondary impacts of earthquakes

Poverty increases vulnerability

High population density (240 per sq. Km)

28
Q

Suggest how the physical geography of some coastal areas makes them more at risk from sea level rise than others (3) June10

A

Low lying land so higher flood risk from even small sea level rise

High erosion risk

Some are physically isolated, e.g. Pacific Islands, no where to flee to as sea levels rise

29
Q

Suggest how the human geography of areas such as the Maldives or Bangladesh makes them especially vulnerable to sea level rise (3) June10

A

Dense/high population

Poor so more vulnerable

Limited coping capacity - can’t afford defences

Political issues, e.g. Government inertia

30
Q

Explain why it is difficult to predict future sea level rise (4) June10

A

Different climate change estimates due to so many variables e.g. can’t predict the rate at which places will develop and produce emissions

Can’t predict future international agreements

Uncertainty about impact of feedback and thermal expansion

31
Q

What is meant by the term total greenhouse gas emissions (2) June10

A

The annual GHG output of a country

The greenhouses gases are methane, CO2, water vapour, CFCs, sulphur dioxides, nitrous oxides

32
Q

Explain why some countries lack enthusiasm for implementing global agreements to manage climate change (5) June10

A

Some countries will be less affected e.g. Landlocked not affected by seal level rise so unwilling to invest in strategies that won’t benefit them

Developing countries say developed countries have greater responsibility

Scientific communities in some countries may be more sceptical

A countries business interests are threatened

Public opinion - NIMBY

33
Q

Describe the processes at a conservative boundary that cause earthquakes (3) June11

A

Plates move past each other sliding in different directions/different speeds

E.g. San Andreas fault - North American and guandafuca plate

Build up of fictions - release of energy causes earthquake

34
Q

Explain how global warming leads to rising sea levels (4) June11

A

Warmer temperature heat top layer of ocean - it expands causing sea levels to rise (thermal expansion) - this increases as sea ice melts and more ocean is exposed

Melting of land ice which runs into the sea so adds more volume to them e.g. Greenland ice sheet

35
Q

Explain why some nations will suffer more than others from the impact of predicted sea level rises (5) June11

A

Low lying nations, e.g. Bangladesh - 60% is flood plains

Less affluent nations suffer more because don’t have money to defend themselves

High coastal population/population density

Physically isolated places e.g. Pacific Islands because very low to sea level but have nowhere to flee to

36
Q

Suggests two reasons why cities in California sometimes suffer from flooding (4) Jan12

A

Coastal location - increased flooding from storms and already low to the sea

El Niño - bring heavy rain that can lead to flooding

Big urban areas - impermeability of surfaces so increased overland flow and decreased through flow

37
Q

Explain how changes in the albedo in the Arctic may contribute to accelerated global warming (3) Jan12

A

As ice melts albedo decreases because dark ocean surface reflect less light

More light absorbed so increased water and surface temperatures

So more melting - positive feedback

38
Q

Explain why some people could benefit from climatic change in the Arctic region (5) Jan12

A

Greenlanders - opportunities for agriculture and tourism

Energy companies - access to Arctic oil resources as ice melts

TNCs - easier-quicker transport routes (North-West passage)

Scientists - study opportunities

39
Q

Explain why the costs of climate change adaptation strategies keep rising (5) Jan12

A

Examples of adaptation costs include flood walls, flood barriers etc

Costs are rising as GHG emissions rise - linked to industrialisation of NICs etc

Increasing events require more spending on strategies e.g. as sea levels rise more flood walls need to be put in place

Failure to introduce more mitigation measures means that impacts and costs will be worse

40
Q

Explain how El Niño can lead to drought (5) June12

A

Cycles occur roughly every 3-7 years in the Pacific

Associated with trade winds reversing

Warm water sloshes eastwards

Colder water off Australia - less evaporation - drought conditions on land

Pressure becomes unusually high in Australia

La Niña is the reverse of this, a stronger version of the walker circulation, and can cause drought on the coast of South America

41
Q

Explain how natural changes in the earth’s climate can be caused by changes in solar output (2) June12

A

Increased solar output leads to warming

Magnetic flares lead to warming

More sunspots lead to warming

Sunspots occur in an 11 year cycle

42
Q

Explain how natural changes in the earth’s climate can be caused by volcanic eruptions (2) June12

A

Eruptions have a cooling effect

Fire dust/ash into atmosphere - reflects radiation

E.g. 1991 pinatubo eruption

43
Q

Explain how human activity has led to enhanced greenhouse gas emissions (5) June12

A

GHG concentrations have all increased since 1750

Fossil fuels for industry release CO2

Deforestation causes CO2 rise by loss of carbon sink

Methane increase driven by agriculture, e.g. Cattle ranching

Nitrous oxide increase as a result of use in agriculture

44
Q

Explain how increasing climate risk contributes to rising food insecurity at a global scale (5) June12

A

Less food produced if water availability lessened

Increased hurricane frequency could impact on crops e.g. Bananas in the Caribbean

Land lost due to sea level rise from ice melt

Less food grown in one place could impact on availability in another place that trades with them

Loss of income for farmers so can’t buy food

Changing climate could limit growing locations

45
Q

Identify two reasons for deforestation in some developing countries (2) June13

A

Clear space for farming

Logging/timber - resources for export

46
Q

How might global warming increase hurricane disaster risk? (3) Jan11

A

Warmer ocean = more energy/higher wind speed

Ocean temperatures of 26-27 degrees needed

More evaporation = heavier rain

Sea level rise leads to more people at risk

47
Q

Explain how human factors have contributed to the increased reporting of earthquake disasters (5) Jan11

A

Better technology to detect earthquake events that have happened

Greater variety and coverage of media = wider reporting

Population natural increase in risky areas

Migration into risky areas

48
Q

Describe the strengths and weaknesses of adaptation as a way of managing climate change (4) Jan11

A

Strengths:
Property etc saved
May be only option for poor societies - can’t afford to mitigate

Weaknesses:
Does not tackle underlying cause of climate change
Limited scale - have to keep being improved etc
Other losses still occur e.g. Biodiversity

49
Q

Suggest why the economic impacts of climate change in Africa are complex (5) Jan11

A

Animals may die - costs for farmers

Crop change may required - costs farmers

Increase in malaria - strain/costs to healthcare systems

Environmental refugees - pressure on services

Loss of hydroelectric power

Water stress could lead to poverty

50
Q

Explain two ways in which climate change may lead to an increase in river flooding (4) Jan11

A

Torrential rain causes river levels to rise - effects areas such as deltas - e.g. Nile

Storm surges may be driven inland more often e.g. Thames estuary

51
Q

Explain why future changes in global sea level are hard to predict (5) Jan11

A

Can’t predict positive/negative feedback e.g. Albedo changes at Arctic

GHG emissions hard to forecast - can’t predict how much warming so don’t know how much ice will melt

Can’t predict thermal expansion

Difficult to predict speed of post Kyoto political developments so can’t predict what will be done to mitigate

52
Q

Describe how plate tectonics cause volcanic activity in the Philippines (3) June14

A

Destructive plate boundary - Philippine plate subducted beneath Eurasian because more dense

Melting of plate generates rising magma

This can rise up through cracks in rocks to form volcanoes

E.g. 1991 pinatubo eruption

53
Q

Explain why tropical cyclones and flooding both occur frequently in the Philippines (5) June14

A

Located in a tropical cyclone belt

Sea temperatures around 26 degrees allowing warm moist body of air perfect for cyclone formation

Has many low lying areas e.g. Manila so more prone to flooding

Floods can be a secondary hazard following on from cyclones

Destructive boundary - tsunamis - flooding

Low income so limited flood defences

54
Q

Explain two ways in which a warming climate can lead to a rise in global sea level (4) June14

A

Leads to melting of sea ice which exposes more ocean so more thermal expansion

Melting land ice adds volume and changes to albedo can lead to positive feedback

55
Q

Suggest possible economic impacts of rising sea levels on developing countries such as those on the African continent (4) June14

A

Many countries reliant on agriculture so Coastal flooding causes loss of land so reduce crop yield and thus income e.g. In Nile delta

Increased costs of drinking water

Loss of tourist amenities

Losses for the poor who cannot afford sea defences - infrastructure losses e.g. Coastal roads

Reduction in hydroelectric power so money has to be spent dele eloping new energy sources

56
Q

State what is meant by carbon footprint per person (1) June14

A

A measure of carbon dioxide emissions that a person is responsible for

57
Q

Explain how the planting of new forests could assist with climate change mitigation (2) June14

A

New forests increase uptake of CO2 and act as a carbon sink

58
Q

Explain how the planting of new forests could assist with adapting to climate change (2) June14

A

Could help reduce the effects of flooding due to increased interception

59
Q

Suggest one physical reason why the risk of increased coastal flooding is very high for some low lying coastlines (2) June14

A

A lot of land is below sea level, e.g. Island like Tuvalu, so if flooded the water has no way of then being removed

Geography (5 decks)

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