Climate Change

Question 1

When do we enter a new unit of geological time?

Answer 1

When an event occurs that changes the characteristics of the Earth

Question 2

What name do geologists give to an event that has a clear change in our geological unit of time?

Answer 2

Golden spike

Question 3

What is the Anthropocene?

Answer 3

An unofficial new unit of Earth’s history as a result of humans changing the characteristics of the planet

Question 4

What conditions must be met for a Golden spike to occur?

Answer 4

Evidence of long-term changes to the Earth as a global system simultaneously

A ‘marker’ of the event that can be identified and dated from digging down into rocks, the ocean floor or glacial ice

Question 5

What are the main causes of natural climate change?

Answer 5

Small changes to the shape of the Earth’s orbit and angle of it’s tilt

Question 6

How do the main causes of climate change affect natural climate change?

Answer 6

It affects how much solar energy the Earth receives

Question 7

What is the Greenhouse effect?

Answer 7

A natural process that traps shortwave radiation emitted from the sun to the Earth. This heats the Earth’s surface before emitting longwave radiation that is either released back into space or absorbed by the Greenhouse gases and stays in Earth’s atmosphere

Question 8

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse effect?

Answer 8

An unnatural process as a result of human activity. Less longwave radiation is released back into space and is absorbed by the Greenhouse gases, trapped in Earth’s atmosphere and heats the planet

Question 9

What are the four main Greenhouse gases and the strengths of them?

Answer 9

Carbon Dioxide - 1
Fluoro Gases - 10,000
Methane - 30
Nitrous Oxide - 600

Question 10

What is the percentage of emissions that come from Carbon Dioxide and where does it come from?

Answer 10

75% - Burning fossil fuels for electricity & transport, Deforestation

Question 11

What is the percentage of emissions that come from Fluoro-Gases and where does it come from?

Answer 11

2% - Manmade gases used in aerosol cans and refrigerators

Question 12

What is the percentage of emissions that come from Methane and where does it come from?

Answer 12

17% - Agriculture, Melting permafrost

Question 13

What is the percentage of emissions that come from Nitrous Oxide and where does it come from?

Answer 13

6% - Agriculture, Burning fossil fuels

Question 14

What sources of human activity produce Greenhouse gases?

Answer 14

Industry & Transport
Agriculture & Food production
Electricity
Deforestation
High population
Developing Countries

Question 15

Which country produces the most emissions and what is the percentage?

Answer 15

China (32%)

Question 16

What is Carbon Footprint?

Answer 16

The best estimate we can get out of the full climate change impact of something

Question 17

Which country has emitted the most Carbon Dioxide in total, how many tonnes and what historical percentage of global emissions?

Answer 17

US - 400 billion tonnes (25% of Historical global emissions)

Question 18

Why do Carbon emissions per capita tend to be higher in wealthier countries?

Answer 18

Countries of higher wealth tend to be more developed and can invest in projects, buildings and machines that produce high carbon emissions

Question 19

What is a positive feedback loop?

Answer 19

When something happens, it causes itself to happen again more intensely (snowball effect)

Question 20

How have CO2 levels changed over time?

Answer 20

Due to human activity such as pollution and deforestation, there has been a rapid increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere

Question 21

Describe five pieces of evidence that demonstrate that the Earth’s climate and natural systems are changing

Answer 21

Sea ice is shrinking and thinning

Sea level has risen due to melting ice caps

Intense tropical cyclone seasons in recent years

Record breaking temperatures are becoming more frequent

Drought is becoming more frequent and more intense

Question 22

How can governments make policies to mitigate against climate change?

Answer 22

Buy more electric cars (No petrol and diesel cars)
Buy and eat less red meat
Reduce industry emissions
All electricity to come from clean sources