Yr9 Climate Change, Rainforests And Cold Environments

Question 1

Evidence of climate change?

Answer 1

• historical records
• Ice cores
• pollen analysis
• instrumental records
• dendrochronology (studying tree rings)
• glacial retreat and sea ice
• extreme weather
• changing sea levels
• natural warning signs

Question 2

Define mitigation

Answer 2

Preventing/limiting something from happening

Question 3

Define adaptation

Answer 3

Changing to make something work with a problem

Question 4

What are food miles?

Answer 4

How far your food has come from to you

Question 5

How much water can a pair of jeans use in production?

Answer 5

15,500

Question 6

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 6

Greenhouse gases trap radiation from sun in the earth’s atmosphere, slowly warming up the earth

Question 7

What are examples of greenhouse gases?

Answer 7

• CO² (carbon dioxide)
• CH⁴ (methane)
• H²O ( water vapour)

Question 8

What activities release greenhouse gases?

Answer 8

• burning Fossil fuels
• agriculture
• industry
• deforestation

Question 9

How does agriculture release greenhouse gases?

Answer 9

• growing and rearing crops/animals releases greenhouse gases, particularly CH⁴ from cattle
• shipping food products releases lots of greenhouse gases
• food waste releases lots of methane
• also agriculture quickly renders soil infertile due to lack of nutrients, and no new litter to keep cycle continuing

Question 10

Did you know?

Answer 10

Concrete releases ~5% of all greenhouse gases in the world

Question 11

How does deforestation release greenhouse gases?

Answer 11

• deforestation relied on for agricultural expansion
• burning down trees releases stored CO² and other greenhouse gases
• also deforestation means less trees to extract CO² from the air

Question 12

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Answer 12

• short wave solar radiation from the sun enters atmosphere
  • some is reflected straight back into space
  • some hits earth and is reflected off as long wave radiation escapes
  • some long wave radiation is reflected off earth, but then trapped in atmosphere by greenhouse gases, warming earth

Question 13

How does deforestation erode soils?

Answer 13

• soil takes a long time to form, but can be washed away very quickly if tree roots can’t bind together soil any more

Question 14

Deforestation destroys habitats of biodiversity

Answer 14

Yeah

Question 15

How does deforestation contribute to climate change?

Answer 15

• trees absorb CO² and release O², so destroying trees releases stored CO² and means less CO² can be stored
• trees give off moisture by transpiration, which keeps climate wetter and regulates temperature, and deforestation causes a drier climate and hotter temps.

Question 16

How does deforestation affect the economy?

Answer 16

Can increase short term profits from logging, agriculture and mining, and can also improve infrastructure, but means medicinal plants will be lost, tourism could decrease and they have to adapt to a warmer world

Question 17

Did you know?

Answer 17

25% of all medicine comes from rainforest plants

Question 18

Features of polar environments?

Answer 18

• temp can get down to -50°c in winter
• permafrost soils
• some mosses and lichens and a few adapted animals

Question 19

Features of a tundra environment?

Answer 19

• can get down to -20°c in winter, but up to 5 ot 10°c in summer
• frozen soils, but top part melts in summer
• waterlogged and infertile soils due to permafrost trapping water, and infertile as water removes the nutrients
• low flowering plants, some small bushes and trees in warmer parts
• more animals

Question 20

Causes of deforestation?

Answer 20

• cattle farming
• arable farming
• subsistence farming
• logging
• mining
• roads
• hydroelectric power
• urban growth

Question 21

What is subsistence farming?

Answer 21

Growing crops just to feed your own family

Question 22

Why do plants grow close to the ground and close together in cold environments?

Answer 22

Reduce damage by wind and ice

Question 23

Why do plants have small leaves in cold environments?

Answer 23

Limit water loss via transpiration?

Question 24

Why do plants have shallow root systems in cold environments?

Answer 24

Allows plant to grow in the active layer and avoid the permafrost

Question 25

Why do polar bears have a small SA:V ratio and large feet?

Answer 25

To prevent heat loss, and to grip snow better

Question 26

Why do trees have buttress roots in rainforests?

Answer 26

For stability

Question 27

Why are leaves in the shrub layer of the rainforest very dark green?

Answer 27

Large amount of chlorophyll to maximise photosynthesis in darker conditions

Question 28

Opportunities for development in cold environments?

Answer 28

• tourism
• energy production
• fishing
• mineral extraction

Question 29

Effects of coal mining?

Answer 29

• slope deformation
• pollution of air, water and soil with heavy metals
• change snow melting patterns
• coal dust particles affect heliotropism capabilities of flowers

Question 30

Effects of tourism in cold environments?

Answer 30

• oil spills
• underwater noise disturbs marine life
• litter
• off road vehicles can damage vegetation, cause nutrient leaching, further permafrost melting and soil erosion WHEN SOIL IS NOT FROZEN

Question 31

How ro manage cold environments?

Answer 31

• stilts to lift pipes to prevent melting permafrost
• relocate houses in avalanche risk zones
• steel piling to strengthen houses built on melting permafrost
• strict tourism rules
• reducing emissions and banning heavy fuel

Question 32

What is the antarctic treaty?

Answer 32

A treaty signed in 1959 to control tourism and prevent territorial disputes there.
Bans nuclear waste and explosions there
No military use
Freedom of scientific investigation there