climate change 1 ✓

Question 1

what are the cells in atmospheric circulation called ?

Answer 1

• polar cells
• ferrel cells
• Hadley cells

Question 2

how is low and high pressure created in atmospheric circulation ?

Answer 2

• air rises at equator leading to low pressure
• when air reaches edge of atmosphere it cannot go any further
• so travels north and south
• air becomes colder and denser and falls creating high pressure

Question 3

how is heat distributed by atmospheric circulation ?

Answer 3

global atmospheric circulation creates winds which distributes heat

Question 4

how is heat distributed by ocean current ?

Answer 4

• each ocean has its own circular pattern of currents
• heat is transferred by warm ocean currents
• heat is transferred from low to high latitudes
• ocean currents are set in motion by the prevailing winds

Question 5

how has climate changed since the last ice age ?

Answer 5

• conditions have got warmer
• thermometers have shown a clear warming on the earths surface
• global warming has helped raise the average global temperature and the temperatures are continuing to rid e

Question 6

how did the usual climates vary during the Glacial periods ?

Answer 6

• time with large ice sheets
• much colder than usual temperatures
• colder, drier and dustier than interglacial periods
• recent glacial period occurred between about 120,000 and 11,500 years ago

Question 7

how did the usual climates vary during the Interglacial periods ?

Answer 7

• time without large ice sheets

- the climate is warmer than usual

Question 8

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is eccentricity and what does it have to do with climate change ?

Answer 8

earth encounters more in energy it receives from sun when earths orbit is elongated than when earth’s orbit is more circular

Question 9

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is earths tilt and what does it have to do with climate change ?

Answer 9

• tilt varies between 22.5° and 24.5°

- greater the tilt the more solar energy the poles get

Question 10

in Milankovitch’s cycles what is precession and what does it have to do with climate change ?

Answer 10

• gradual change or wobble in orientation of earth’s axis

- affects relationship between earth’s tilt and eccentricity

Question 11

what is solar variation ?

Answer 11

• amount of radiation the sun produces varies overtime
• periods of lower solar activity are more likely to lead to glacial periods
• higher activity lead to interglacial periods

Question 12

why dos volcanism affect climate ?

Answer 12

• large volcanic eruptions eject huge volumes of dust and ash which can partially block out solar radiation
• reducing temperatures and causing glacial periods

Question 13

how do tree rings (dendrochronology) help investigate historic climates ?

Answer 13

• medium term evidence
• each year growth of tree is shown by a single ring
• narrow ring = cooler and drier
• thicker ring = warmer and wetter

Question 14

how do historical sources help investigate historic climates ?

Answer 14

• medium term evidence

- cave paintings, diaries and documentary evidence

Question 15

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect ?

Answer 15

impact t on global climate of increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that humans have released into the earth’s atmosphere since the industrial revolution

Question 16

how has industry created greenhouse gases ?

Answer 16

• emit large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane

- occurs during production processes (iron and steel, chemicals and cement)

Question 17

how has farming created greenhouse gases ?

Answer 17

• livestock especially cattle produce methane
• represents almost one thirds of the emissions from agriculture sector
• increase in rice production due to growing populations in Asia has also increased production of methane

Question 18

how has energy created greenhouse gases ?

Answer 18

• generation of power = 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions
• mains rouge is the use of coal and natural gas to produce electricity

Question 19

how has transport created greenhouse gases ?

Answer 19

• transport use fossil fuels to power them

- when fossil fuels are burnt gases like carbon dioxide are reduced

Question 20

why has there been an increase in greenhouse gas production through farming, energy, transport and industry ?

Answer 20

• population growth and industrial revolution
• increased demand for farming, energy, industry and transport
• creating more greenhouse gases

Question 21

what are the negative effects of climate change on crop yield ?

Answer 21

• photosynthesis can be negatively affected by increases in temperature or decreases in sunlight
• dramatic changes will lead to a decrease in crop yield

Question 22

where are rising sea levels a problem ?

Answer 22

Antarctica, Greenland and the Maldives

Question 23

why are rising sea levels a problem ?

Answer 23

• rise in global temperatures causes oceans to expands
• lose crops
• low lying coastal areas can be lost
• affects tourism and therefore industry

Question 24

why are glaciers retreating ?

Answer 24

melted ice adds more water to oceans leading to sea levels to rise

Question 25

what is the UK climate like ?

Answer 25

- warm summers - cool winters - temperate maritime - temperatures not much lower than 0°C in winter and not much higher than 32° in summer

Question 26

how does the UK climate differ from North to South and East to West ?

Answer 26

North West - Cool summers, mild winters, heavy rain all year North East - Cool summers, cold winters, steady rain all year South East - Warm summers, mild winters, light rain all year, especially summer South West - Warm summers, mild winters, heavy rain all year, especially winter

Question 27

why are there differences in temperature, rain and wind ?

Answer 27

``` temperature depends on: - air - water - land rain depends on: - sun heating up - ground wind depends on: - atmospheric pressure ```

Question 28

what is relief rainfall ?

Answer 28

- moist warm air from sea rises - warm air forced to rise, cools and condenses and then rains - air drops down over high ground losing temperature and increased amount of water it can hold - means there is no or little rain

Question 29

where does relief rainfall occur ?

Answer 29

along coastal areas where lines of hills run along the coast

Question 30

why do the ocean currents affect the UK's climate ?

Answer 30

- ocean currents flow in complex patterns - are affected by wind - Gulf Stream brings warmth to the UK and north-west Europe - it is the reason we have mild winters

Question 31

why does the latitude affect the UK's climate ?

Answer 31

countries that are closer to the equator receive more sunlight and more heat the UK is placed in the Ferrel cell which is why it is not hot but warm

Question 32

why does being the island affect the UK's climate ?

Answer 32

- prevailing winds are dominant temperature of the wind and amount of rainfall partly depends on where it comes from - distance from the sea - coastal areas are most affected by the sea - sea keeps coastal areas warm and in summer, it cools them down

Question 33

how has the UK climate changed over the past 1000 years ?

Answer 33

- between 800 and 1300 AD known as the medieval period the UK experience a warm period around 1°C warmer than average - between 1300 and 1900 AD there was a period known as the 'Little Ice Age' around 1°C cooler than average. The river Thames froze twenty times between 1564 and 1814 and ice fairs were held - in Scotland temperatures were 2°C cooler than average and their were prolonged winters with much snow - between 1690 and 1700 the harvest in Scotland failed seven times causing widespread famine