The Difficulties Monitoring And Predicting Climate Change

Question 1

Why is predicting climate change very difficult

Answer 1

We don’t know how the changes to certain factors will effect others and how quickly this will happen

Question 2

What is short term change in climate

Answer 2

A change that occurs over one year

Question 3

What is an example of s short term change

Answer 3

Having a wetter winter

Question 4

What are long term changes in climate

Answer 4

A change that occurs over a number of years or decades

Question 5

What is an example of a long term effect of climate change in the uk

Answer 5

Winters become wetter and milder

Question 6

What are spatial scales

Answer 6

This looks at the ‘space’ that the change is occurring in

Question 7

What are the three types of spatial scale?

Answer 7

Local
Regional
Global

Question 8

What is an example of a local spatial event

Answer 8

A localised flood event

Question 9

What is an example of a regional spatial event

Answer 9

An area which is now prone to wetter weather and regular flooding due to changed wind direction

Question 10

What is an example of a global spatial event

Answer 10

Increased global temperatures due to increased global warming

Question 11

How might the jet stream have an impact on future weather and climate?

Answer 11

It might shift northwards bringing warmer temperatures from the south

Question 12

How will the NA conveyor be affected

Answer 12

May slow/stop bringing cooler conditions

Question 13

How could the NA conveyor slowing be countered?

Answer 13

Anthropogenic greenhouse gases may warm the climate globally countering the cooling of the NA conveyor

Question 14

What does it mean that climate change has a lag time?

Answer 14

The impacts of climate change take a long time so often we don’t make the connection between events

Question 15

What is historic data?

Answer 15

Data collected in the past

Question 16

What is the problem with historic data?

Answer 16

Often unreliable becuase equipment used wasn’t sophisticated enough
Local scale data collection wasn’t on a large enough scale with enough communication

Question 17

What is proxy data?

Answer 17

Preserved physical characteristics that allow scientists to reconstruct the climate conditions from when data collection wasn’t taking place

Question 18

How can pollen spores be used to predict past climates?

Answer 18

Pollen spores (the resistant outer layer) is very resistant and can survive for thousands of years frozen in soil the type of spore found give and idea of the plants that were living in that area in the past

Question 19

How have pollen spores been used in Antarctica?

Answer 19

Allowed scientist to identify that Antarctica was a swampy forest about 90 million years ago

Question 20

What is dendrochronology

Answer 20

The study of tree rings to predict past climates the thickness of the rings will show if the growing conditions were good for that plant or not. Every 2 rings (light and dark) make a year

Question 21

How can ice cores be used to predict past climates

Answer 21

The gas bubbles can be used to see the gas concentrations in the atmosphere thousands of years ago
Verve light and ark layer make sup 1 year.

Question 22

What is computer modelling (how is it used to predict future climate)?

Answer 22

Computer programmes
Fed PAST climate data
This is used to predict as many outcomes for what could happen in the future

Question 23

What is the positive of computer modelling over time?

Answer 23

It becomes more accurate as more data is inputted

Question 24

How are satellites used to collect data?

Answer 24

Sensors on satellites collect data on factors such as wind speed, temperature, ocean currents, wave activity, ice. Cover and duration, vegetation cover

Question 25

What are LEO satellites

Answer 25

Low orbit satellites

Question 26

What are LEO satellites used for

Answer 26

Used to collect detailed information

Question 27

How long does it take the LEO satellites to encompass earth?

Answer 27

15 days

Question 28

What can be used to monitors the oceans

Answer 28

Satellites and buoys

Question 29

What are the positives/negatives of satellites and buoys

Answer 29

Can track tiny changes in sea levels

Accurate measurements only go back 60 years ago

Question 30

What can be used to measure sea salinity and temperature

Answer 30

Argo floats

Question 31

How do Argo floats work

Answer 31

Sunk to a set depth and left to monitor the conditions signals are set frequently so we are notified of an changes