Theme 2 - Climate Change

Question 1

What is global warming?

Answer 1

The warming of the earth due to rising temperatures.

Question 2

Explain how the greenhouse effect works?

Answer 2

Solar radiation from the sun passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface of the earth. Energy from the earth is trapped by carbon dioxide to warm the atmosphere. Some of the earth’s energy is lost to space.

Question 3

Explain why the greenhouse effect is being enhanced.

Answer 3

Human activities are creating more greenhouse gases (eg carbon dioxide) . These gases add to the atmosphere which absorbs the suns heat, trapping it so it does not go back out to space.

Question 4

Name 3 ways that human activity (people’s actions) are affecting the greenhouse effect.

Answer 4

Burning fossil fuels in power stations, deforestation, transport, electricity and heating, farming (agriculture)

Question 5

Name 3 pieces of evidence that supports the idea that climate change is happening.

Answer 5

Ice cores, melting ice-sheets, melting glaciers, tree rings, freak weather events, rising sea levels, migration of animals

Question 6

Name 3 negative impacts of climate change.

Answer 6

coastal flooding, freak weather events, lack of snow in mountains (tourism)

Question 7

Name 3 advantages of climate change on different places.

Answer 7

Farming - new crops could be grown, the development of new tourist resorts, increased tourism, more jobs created, more reliable water supply

Question 8

Name 3 ways that the impact of climate change can be reduced.

Answer 8

Renewable forms of energy e.g. solar panels, wind turbines, car sharing, using public transport, energy saving light bulbs, carbon trading, insulation

Question 9

Name 3 greenhouse gases

Answer 9

Carbon Dioxide, Methane, CFCs, Nitrous Oxide