The Challenge Of Natural Hazards - Climate Change Flashcards
Quaternary
A period of time stretching from 2.6 million years ago
Glacial period
A period lasting approximately 100,000 years in which global climate is colder - thick ice sheets accumulate
Climate change
Long term shifts in weather patterns
Interglacial Period
Period of warmer global climate lasting 100,000 years where ice sheets retreat to poles
Evidence for climate change
Rise in sea/atmospheric temperatures
Ice retreating
Forest fires
Decline species
Rise in sea levels
Methods to finding evidence of climate change
Instrumental record
Ice cores
Historical Recors
Tree rings
Instrumental record
Measuring temperature of Earth’s surface to the exact degree in a specific location
Ice cores
Ice sheets reveal layers - record snowfall
Directly correlates with climate change
Tree rings
High temperature = trees grow quicker meaning thicker tree rings
Indicates change in temperature
Historical records
Paintings, poems, books, diaries
Indicates past climate
Compare to current climate
3 Natural causes of climate change
Solar activity
Orbital Changes
Volcanic activity
Solar activity
Sun spots - areas of more intense energy
Increase temperature of earth
Orbital Changes
Axial tilt - back and forth between 21-24 degrees
Procession - wobble of the earth - long days, long nights
Eccentricity - Path or earths orbit - circa to oval shape
Volcanic activity
Ash clouds block sunlight - reduces temperature
Fine droplets of sulphur dioxide and sulphur acid reflect radiation - increase temperature
Human causes of climate change
Fossil Fuels
Agriculture
Deforestation
Fossil Fuels
Population increases, energy demand increases
Amount of CO2 released increases
Agriculture
Release of methane
Contributes to 20% of greenhouse gases
Deforestation
Less photosynthesis
More CO2
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Thicker layer of greenhouse gases due to HUMAN ACTIVITY
Less heat is able to escape
More heat is reflected back onto earth - Increases temperature
Effects of climate change on people
Crop production decreases - income decreases
More diseases spread - e.g malaria
Artic may benefit - reduced heating costs, sailing and fishing is easier
Effects of climate change on the environment
Forest fires - reduce biodiversity
Polar regions melting - less survival of polar bears
Coral reefs destroyed
Mitigation
Strategies to reduce the causes of climate change
Adaptation
Strategies to respond to the new conditions created by climate change
Mitigation examples
Alternative energy production - renewable sources
Carbon capture - takes CO2 emissions and stores them safely underground - unclear if it remains captured
Planting trees - Removes atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis
International agreements - Encourage companies to reduce CO2 emissions - legally binding
Adaptation examples
Changes in agricultural systems - Production moves location, irrigation may be needed
Managing water supplies - Reduce demand while increasing supply
Reducing Risk - Flood defences, Renewables become less expensive, Business go green
