Climate Change Flashcards
1
Q
Name the physical causes of climate change
A
Sunspots
Eccentricity
Axial obliquely
Melting permafrost
Fumaroles
Volcanos
Melting ice caps
2
Q
Why do sunspots cause climate change
A
- sun has periods where it emits additional energy and times where it is less active, sunspots appear during times of additional energy and can be seen as dark spots on the sun
- periods of high sunspots activity results in increased brightness and therefore more energy being received by the sun
- sunspot activity tends to happen in 11 year cycles
3
Q
Why does eccentricity cause climate change
A
- sometimes the earth orbit becomes more elliptical in shape which means the amount of energy receives by the earth will vary leading to warmer and cooler periods
- when the orbit is more oval it speeds longer periods away from the sun
- this happens on a 90,000 year cycles
4
Q
How axial obliquity cause climate change
A
- axial obliquity is changes in the angle of the earths axis
- this means that the poles are tilted more towards the sun so receive more solar energy
- this happens roughly every 41,000 years
5
Q
How does melting permafrost cause climate change
A
- during the summer months in the arctic, the top layer defrosts and becomes a marshy muskeg due to the permafrost underneath which impedes drainage
- vegetation can therefore decay in the water and as it rots it releases methane as the organic matter decomposes
- the methane contributes to the greenhouse effect
6
Q
How do fumaroles cause climate change
A
- these are vents in the earths surface which release carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphate and hydrogen chloride
- these gases can absorb solar radiation and warm the planet
7
Q
How do volcanos cause climate change
A
- volcanos release carbon dioxide when they erupt
- this is a powerful greenhouse gas which contributes to the greenhouse effect warming the planet
8
Q
How do melting ice caps cause climate change
A
- melting ice releases more fresh water into the oceans which can lead to changes in ocean circulation
- can also reduce the albedo effect so the earth will absorb more energy rather than reflect it
9
Q
Human causes of climate change
A
- burning fossil fuels eg coal and oil, when burning they release CO2 into the atmosphere which traps heat. Coal is being increasingly used to power factories, generate electricity and power homes
- increasing population means more demand for electricity as more people have appliances and electronic devices in homes which need electricity. More fossil fuels are being burned
- increasing population also means an increase in foreign holidays and also international air travel for business meaning more CO2 is released by planes
- deforestation, especially in the Amazon rainforest, has resulted in less carbon dioxide being absorbed by trees meaning there is more in the atmosphere to trap heat
- trees are often burned to clear them quickly after being cut down which releases further CO2 into the atmosphere
- methane is released from landfill sites as waste decomposes, as the population increases more waste will be created leading to more methane being released
- an increase in global population also means there is an increased demand for beef which has resulted in more methane being released due to belching cattle and animal dung
- refrigerators which are not disposed of correctly release CFCs when the foam insulation inside them is shredded
- as global temperatures rise, there is an increasing demand for air conditioning. The cooling used in air conditioning systems also create CFCs when not disposed of correctly
- aerosols such as deodorant and hairspray used to release CFCs when sprayed however these types of aerosols were banned in 1999 and the ones made today are CFC free
10
Q
Local effects of climate change (increased rainfall)
A
- one effect coming from increased rainfall is they more flooding causes damage to houses and can destroy transport links, which can isolate villages
- this can also cause businesses to be destroyed causing a loss of income and also higher insurance prices in the future
- increased rainfall may also reduce tourism as people don’t want to visit an area which is very wet and rainy which can impact on local economy
- disease can be spread quickly around an area if the increased rainfall causes open sewage systems to flood, people can become unwell and may be unable to work to provide for family
11
Q
Local effects of climate change (increased temperatures)
A
- increased temperatures means heatwaves can increase cases of heatstroke and the number of deaths in very elderly and very young people, putting extra pressure on health services
- in areas known for skiing, a smaller amount of snow means the number of visitors will decrease leading to a loss of jobs and a negative impact on the local economy
- increased temperatures also has some positive impacts such as it means a longer growing season which increases yield meaning greater profit for farmers
- tourists are also more attracted to areas that are warmer so increased temperatures may lead to local economy boosts if tourists come to purchase goods such as ice cream
- warmer weather may cause mosquitos to migrate further north which can lead to malaria in new areas and lead to more pressure being put on health services if people become seriously unwell
12
Q
Local effects of climate change (sea level rising)
A
- sea levels rising means that coastal areas can get flooded which may damage homes and can result in people being displaced or homeless
- may result in coastal sea defences needing to be built which can be very expensive which can have a negative impact on the local economy
13
Q
Global effects of climate change
A
- effect that comes from sea levels rising is that low lying areas such as Bangladesh will experience large scale displacement of people, a loss of agricultural land and a huge decrease in food supply due to flooding. Over 250million people would be displaced
- some islands such as the Maldives may eventually become completely uninhabitable which will lead to a loss of homes and farmland. Maldives also has a large tourist industry so will lose a lot of tourist income
- more extreme weather, this is likely to be an increase in intensity and frequency of storms i areas such as the USA where there may be more hurricanes in coastal areas
- this could damage and destroy housing which can have an effect on businesses and people’s livelihoods. May also reduce the tourist industry in places such as Florida as people don’t want to travel to dangerous places
- one positive of more extreme weather is they an increased amount of rainfall leads to a longer growing system meaning more crop yield, more profit for farmers
- climate change can also lead to drought, in areas such as Sahel this could lead to drying up of land and a decrease in crop yield which could cause famine and starvation in many area. May also cause large scale migration
- drought can also lead to an increased risk of forest fires in places such as Australia and California which can lead to a loss of species as well as damage to property
- another impact is more widespread of disease, increased temperature can lead to mosquitos migrating, and more rainfall will create more stagnant areas of water such as puddles for the mosquitoes to breed in
- this can lead to more unwell people and increased pressure on health services. Unwell people may also struggle to work meaning they won’t be able to generate income and provide for their families. If farm work doesn’t get done it may lead to mass starvation in areas due to crops mot being harvested
- one positive impact of global temperatures rising is that it may reduce the demand for central heating in houses which can lead to lower electricity bills. However this may lewd to more demand for air conditioning units which has a negative effect on the rate of climate change
14
Q
Name management strategies for climate change
A
Energy efficient products
Cavity wall insulation
Reduce, reuse, recycle
10p carrier bags
Encouraging people to eat less meat
Promoting vegan lifestyle
Low emission cars and encouragement to use more public transport
Afforestation
15
Q
Solution and effectiveness - promotion of energy efficient products
A
- for example energy efficient light bulbs use less energy so less fossil fuels are burned in generating electricity
- they also last 10-50 times longer then traditional light bulbs so there is less wastage
- these bulbs are often dimmer so some people may opt not to use them
- they are also more expensive so some people can’t afford them
