Theme 5 - Climate change during the Quaternary period

Question 1

Weather?

Answer 1

the atmospheric conditions at a particular place and time.

Question 2

Climate?

Answer 2

the average weather over a long period of time. (at least 30yrs)

Question 3

Climate change?

Answer 3

a large-scale, long-term shift in the Earth’s weather patterns.

Question 4

Glaciation?

Answer 4

the process by which the land is covered by glaciers.

Question 5

What is the evidence that the climate has changed in the past? (5)

Answer 5

.fossils of plants and animals found in places where they could not live today
.ice cores from the Antarctic show that the amounts of carbon dioxide and methane in the atomosphere have changed
.studies of tree rings show that growing seasons have varied in length in the past
.glaciation in places now free of ice
.historical records such as diary extracts, records of crop yields and paintings show evidence

Question 6

What is the recent evidence of climate change? (4)

Answer 6

.increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
.shifting seasons leading to changes in the migration patterns of birds and insects
.glaciers and ice sheets melting and retreating
.average global temps increasing

Question 7

Carbon flows?

Answer 7

the movement of carbon between stores in the carbon cycle.

Question 8

Carbon stores:
1.short term?
2.long term?

Answer 8

1.atmosphere, oceans and biosphere
2.fossil fuels

Question 9

Carbon cycle?

Answer 9

process by which carbon moves from the atmosphere to the Earth and oceans, through various plants and animals, and then back into the atmosphere again.

Question 10

How does human activity affect the carbon cycle? (4)

Answer 10

.burning fossil fuels - releases carbon dioxide
.deforestation - less trees absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
.dumping waste in landfill - waste decomposes and produces methane
.farming - causes release of methane

Question 11

What are the natural causes of climate change? (3)

Answer 11

.changes in the Earth’s tilt and orbit
.changes in the output of solar radiation
.volcanic activity

Question 12

Global cooling?

Answer 12

a decrease in global temperature.

Question 13

How does global cooling occur due to volcanic activity?

Answer 13

.large eruptions eject dust and sulphur dioxide into the lower stratosphere (2nd major layer of Earth’s atmosphere)
.mixture of ash and sulphure dioxide forms tiny droplets that scatter sunlight back into space
.this reduces the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface, causing a global cooling effect