The Challenges of Natural hazards - climate change

Question 1

Adaption

Answer 1

Local or global strategies respond to change created by climate change to make populations less vulnerable to their negative impacts

Question 2

Climate change

Answer 2

A long-term change in the Earth’s average temperature and weather patterns.

Question 3

Mitigation

Answer 3

Action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards

Question 4

Orbital changes

Answer 4

Changes in the pathway of the Earth around the sun.

Question 5

Quaternary period

Answer 5

a period of time stretching from 2.6 million years ago

Question 6

Glacial period

Answer 6

a period lasting approximately 100,000 years in which global climate is colder
thick ice sheets accumulate over much of continental areas

Question 7

Possible natural causes of climate change

Answer 7

Solar activity
-sunspots –> areas of more intense energy

Volcanic activity
- volcanic ash can block out the sun –> reduce temperature on earth –> short term impact

Orbital changes
- axal hilt –> over 41,000 years earth moves back and forth between 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees
- precession –> earths ‘wobble’ –> complete wobble cycle takes 26,00 years –> gives areas such as Norway long days and long nights at certain times of the year

Question 8

Possible human causes of climate change

Answer 8

Factorisation
- population growth –> more houses, cars, petrol
- urbanisation –> more buildings, less countryside
- factories –> support population growth

Agriculture
- cattle produce methane
- nitrous dioxide from fertilizers
- increase in wealth leads to an increase in demand for meat

Deforestation
- less CO2 taken in for photosynthesis
- burning trees releases CO2
- logging for wood and paper

Question 9

Mitigation detailed example

Answer 9

Tax cars that produce more CO2 - UK road tax/London Congestion charge

• these become more expensive to run
• therefore lower CO2 emissions reducing EGE and climate change
• fewer polluting cars on the road over time
• fewer people buy them –> switch to electric cars

Question 10

adaptation detailed example

Answer 10

climate change leads to changing temperatures and weather patterns so..

• farmers change to crops which are more suited to new conditions or resistant to drought
• negative impacts of climate change, such as economic damage and famine reduced
• these crops can cope with new conditions
• farmer can survive and still sell crops for money

Question 11

mitigation examples

Answer 11

• planning zoning
• relocation
• floodplain protection
• alternative energy production
• carbon capture
• planting trees
• international agreements

Question 12

adaption examples

Answer 12

• individuals using less water
• more households and businesses buying food insurance
• farmers planting crops that are better suited to the changing climate
• change in agricultural systems
• reducing risk from rising sea levels

Question 13

effects of climate change on people

Answer 13

displacement and migration
food security and agriculture - reduced crop yields, water scarcity
health impacts - spread of diseases, air pollution, increased temperature and heat waves
economic impacts - tourism decline, increased costs
social impacts - loss of livelihoods, increased inequality

Question 14

effects of climate change on the environment

Answer 14

melting glaciers and ice sheet
rising sea levels
changes in weather patterns - extreme weather
shifts in ecosystems - habitat loss, species distribution and extinction, coral reef bleaching