Section A - Climate Change

Question 1

What are the 6 pieces of evidence for Climate Change?

Answer 1

Instrumental Readings, Retreating glaciers and shrinking ice sheets, Ice Cores, Earlier Spring Arrival in the UK, Ocean Sediments, Paintings and Diaries

Question 2

Explain Instrumental Readings in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 2

It has been shown that over the last 100 years, Earth’s average surface temperature increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F) and the rate of temperature increase sped up towards the end of that time frame. Scientists are more than 90% certain most of it is caused by human activities which have increased concentrations of greenhouse gases such as deforestation and burning fossil fuels.

Question 3

Explain Retreating Glaciers and Shrinking Ice Sheets in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 3

The World Glacier Monitoring Service collects information every year on the sizes of glaciers around the world. Data shows that glaciers are shrinking significantly all around the world. The Arctic ice sheet has also thinned to half its thickness over the past 30 years, and we have seen the breakup of huge Ice Shelves in Antarctica.

Question 4

Explain Ice Cores in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 4

Scientists have drilled out a huge core of ice in Antarctica. The air trapped in bubbles in the ice can be analysed and this has shown that the Earth is normally cooler than it is now and that Ice ages are common. It also shows a very strong link between CO2 concentrations and temperature.

Question 5

Explain Earlier Spring Arrival in the UK in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 5

Birds are nesting earlier and bulbs such as daffodils are flowering earlier. The Telegraph reported that spring now arrives 11 days earlier than in the 19th century.

Question 6

Explain Ocean Sediments in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 6

Sediment at the bottom of the sea has been put down in layers. The layers deeper are older, so it gives a timeline and provides evidence of climate change. Organisms and remains of plankton reveal information such as past surface temperatures, and levels of oxygen and nutrients.

Question 7

Explain Paintings and Diaries in terms of Climate Change Evidence

Answer 7

During 1300–1870, parts of Europe and North America experienced much colder winters than today. Written observations suggest evidence of climate change such as crops failing, sea ice preventing ships from landing in Iceland and ‘frost fairs’ held on the frozen River Thames.

Question 8

What are the 6 causes of Climate Change split into Natural and Human Causes?

Answer 8

Natural Causes- Volcanic Activity, Sunspots, Variation in the way the Earth orbits the Sun over time
Human Causes- Fossil Fuels, Agriculture, Deforestation

Question 9

Explain Volcanic Activity in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 9

Volcanic activity can reduce global temperatures because of the dust and ash that goes into the atmosphere and sulphur dioxide that creates aerosols. These volcanic materials reflect incoming radiation back out to space cooling the Earth. The Mount Pinatubo eruption of 1991 resulted in a cooling of 0.4°C.

Question 10

Explain Sunspots in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 10

Sunspots are storms on the sun’s surface that are marked by intense magnetic activity and play host to solar flares and hot gassy ejections from the sun. Increased sunspot activity has been noted at times of increased temperatures, and decreased activity in cooler times.

Question 11

Explain Variation in the way the EArth orbits the Sun over time in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 11

95,000 years stretch- Orbits change from elliptical to circular and back again. Circular Orbit favours glacials while Ellipitical favours interglacials.
42,000 years tilt- Earth is currently at a tilt of 23.5 degrees but can reduce to 21 degrees promoting glacials or increase to 24 degrees promoting interglacials
21,000 years wobble- Earth wobbles on its axis meaning seasons change for both spheres. Currently, the N hemisphere is closest to Sun in winter and furthest in summer promoting glacials but 12,000 years ago it was reversed thus causing the current interglacial period.

Question 12

Explain Fossil Fuels in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 12

We use fossil fuels (including coal, oil and gas) in power stations across the world to generate energy. Coal is the remains of ancient plants and trees that grew over 200 million years ago. Oil and gas are made up of the remains of microscopic plankton. Over millions of years these remains become the carbon-rich coal, oil and gas we can use as fuel. When fossil fuels are burned they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which contributes to global warming. Using fossil fuels to generate energy also releases pollutants into the atmosphere - such as sulphur dioxide.

Question 13

Explain Agriculture in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 13

Producing food globally uses a lot of fossil fuels in the production of fertiliser and pesticides and in the transportation of food. Changing forest cover and marshes to farmland also releases greenhouses gases and removes a greenhouse gas store. Some types of agriculture also create a lot of greenhouse gases. Keeping animals in large quantities for meat production or dairy products produces a lot of Methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas. Rice paddies are also known to produce lots of greenhouse gases.

Question 14

Explain Deforestation in terms of Climate Change Causes

Answer 14

Forests have a vital role to play in the fight against global warming. Forests absorb and store carbon in their trees and soil. But if forests are cleared or disturbed, this carbon is released as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Up to a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and forest degradation.

Question 15

Name 3 Climate Change Effects

Answer 15

Skiing tourist resorts such as in the Alps may close or have shorter seasons as there may be less snow. Health in southern and eastern Africa may decline as malaria would increase in hot humid regions that remain hotter for longer in the year. Less ice in the Arctic Ocean would allow more shipping and extraction of gas and oil reserves. Fishing in the Lower Mekong delta would decline, affecting 40 million people, due to reduced water flow and sea-level rise changing the quality of the water. Coral reefs such as the Great Barrier reef could see biodiversity lost, and warmer, more acidic (due to CO2 in the atmosphere) water would cause coral bleaching.

Question 16

Define Climate Change Mitigation and name the 4 methods to mitigate climate change.

Answer 16

reduce or prevent the effects of something from happening. Alternative Energy Production, Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage, Planting Trees, International Agreements.

Question 17

Explain Alternative Energy Production in terms of mitigating climate change.

Answer 17

Using different methods of producing energy without creating pollution, most are renewable so are reliable for the long-term but most rely on certain conditions to produce energy so not so reliable

Question 18

Explain Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage in terms of mitigating climate change.

Answer 18

trapping pollution when burning fossil fuels and storing it deep underground to prevent harm to the environment and prevents pollution whilst using cheap fossil fuels but an expensive treatment to do so

Question 19

Explain Planting Trees in terms of mitigating climate change.

Answer 19

reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere by creating a net sink of carbon, trees can be harvested after a certain while as they don’t contribute much to carbon reduction however careful woodland management is required and takes a lot of time

Question 20

Explain International Agreements in terms of mitigating climate change.

Answer 20

reduce global emissions by 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2050 compared to 2010 levels, implement rules to reduce global emissions but not all countries can afford to mitigate climate change due to their heavy reliance.

Question 21

Climate Change Adaptations- Change in Agriculture Systems(Potato Peru Park)

Answer 21

12,000 hectares reserve with more than 1,300 potato varieties. Moving production to another location due to changing temperatures and extreme weather, increasing irrigation in areas due to changing precipitation, changing crops and varieties grown and time of year they are planted to have more guaranteed returns, improving pest, disease and weed controls as these might change location with climate change

Question 22

Climate Change Adaptations- Managing Water Supply (London)

Answer 22

Reducing Demand: new WAter Strategy to reduce Londons’ water demand by fitting all London Homes with a free retrofit package of water-efficient devices such as aerators by 2030. Increasing Supply: New desalination plant in Beckton 2010 to produce drinking water for 400,000 homes but requires enough energy to power 8,000 homes

Question 23

Climate Change Adaptations- Reducing Risk from Rising Sea Levels (Thames Barrier)

Answer 23

Thames Barrier stops tidal surges and was designed with an expectation to be breached every 1000 years but a 50cm rise in sea level would increase the risk to once every 100 years. Abandon: abandon non-valuable areas at most risks. Plan: Shoreline Management Plants provide strategies for long-term coastal protection. Engineer: build more coastal defences. Thames Barrier would cost £7 billion to be replaced