Y9 Test One - Climate Change

Question 1

what is climate change?

Answer 1

any change in global temperatures and precipitation (rainfall) over time, due to natural or human activity

Question 2

what is global warming?

Answer 2

the gradual warming of the Earth’s atmosphere

Question 3

what is carbon dioxide?

Answer 3

CO2; a gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere; a greenhouse gas

Question 4

what is the natural greenhouse effect?

Answer 4

Sun’s rays pass through atmosphere > greenhouse gases trap some of the heat > rest of heat is reflected into space

Question 5

GHG stands for…

Answer 5

greenhouse gases

Question 6

what are the main greenhouse gases?

Answer 6

water vapour; carbon dioxide; methane; nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas)

Question 7

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 7

Sun’s rays pass through atmosphere >
human activity causes more GHG to be produced > they trap more heat than is needed; damaging to the Earth (also known as global warming)

Question 8

what are some key facts about methane?

Answer 8

20% stronger than carbon dioxide

comes from organisms that have died and changed into fossils; rises to the surface when fossil fuels are mined

Question 9

what is the difference between climate change and global warming?

Answer 9

climate change: change in climate/precipitation over time (can become colder, more dry, etc)
global warming: steady rise in Earth’s temperatures

Question 10

what is some evidence for climate change?

Answer 10

evidence from tree rings; changing weather; evidence from ice cores; sea level rise; warning signs from nature; evidence from artwork; glacial retreat; melting ice sheets; paintings

Question 11

what are the greenhouse gases?

Answer 11

natural insulators for the Earth

Question 12

what are some effects of global warming?

Answer 12

seas warm, undergoing thermal expansion
sea level rise
heavy flooding, especially in low-lying areas (such as the Maldives)
animals, plants, etc dying out due to environmental changes
ice-free summers
environmental refugees (fleeing due to homes being ruined because of climate change)

Question 13

what is adaptation?

Answer 13

action to manage the risks of climate change impacts

Question 14

what is mitigation?

Answer 14

action to reduce emissions that cause climate change

Question 15

what are some solutions for adapting to climate change?

Answer 15

agriculture; water supply; reducing risk from sea level rise

Question 16

what are some solutions for mitigating climate change?

Answer 16

alternative energy; carbon capture; international agreements; replanting trees

Question 17

what is alternative energy?

Answer 17

using alternative energy such as solar, wind or tidal can reduce the use of fossil fuels. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

Question 18

what is carbon capture?

Answer 18

this is the removal of carbon dioxide from waste gases from power stations and then storing it in old oil and gas fields or coal mines underground. This reduces the amount of emissions into the atmosphere.

Question 19

what is reducing risk from sea level risk?

Answer 19

areas at risk from sea level rise may use sea defences to protect the land from being eroded away

Question 20

what is agriculture (adaptation)?

Answer 20

farmers will have to adapt as some crops may not be able to grow in a warmer climate. However, other crops (eg oranges and grapes) will be able to be planted.

Question 21

what are water supply schemes?

Answer 21

water transfer schemes could be used. This is where water is transferred from an area of water surplus to an area of water shortage.

Question 22

what do international agreements do to help?

Answer 22

2005; Kyoto Protocol > countries that signed up to the treaty pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
2016; Paris Agreement > united all the world’s nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally no more than 1.5°C

Question 23

what are orbital changes?

Answer 23

the Earth has natural cooling and warming periods, caused by the Milankovitch Cycles, a theory that describes the effects of the Earth’s movements on its climate
changes due to orbit; axial tilt, apehelion, perihelion, etc

Question 24

what does volcanic activity do?

Answer 24

during a volcanic eruption carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere

Question 25

what does solar output do?

Answer 25

there can be fluctuations in the amount of radiation from the sun. If there is high amount emitted there will be an increase in Earth’s temperatures

Question 26

what is apehelion?

Answer 26

point in Earth’s orbit that is closest to the Sun

Question 27

what is perihelion?

Answer 27

point in Earth’s orbit that is furthest away from the Sun

Question 28

what is precession?

Answer 28

change in axial tilt of the Earth

Question 29

natural causes for climate change

Answer 29

orbital changes
volcanic activity
solar output