Climate change Flashcards
1
Q
6 PHYSICAL CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
A
- Sun spots - we don’t always receive the same amount of heat from the sun, the number of sun spots changes all the time and peaks on average every 11 years. More sun spots on the sun means more heat. Sun spot activity has doubled over the last century.
- Tilt of the earth - the east is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun. Changes in the tilt are thought to result in either an increase or decrease in the temperature on the earths surface. There is thought to be a change in tilt every 41,000 years which is thought to be why the ice ages ended.
- Volcanic eruptions - during a volcanic eruption, gases such as sulphur dioxide, ash and dust are released which can reflect heat and lead to the cooling of the earth. This is because the particles absorb some of the heat energy from the sun preventing it from reaching the earths surface.
- Ocean currents - oceans transfer heat all around the world. Ocean currents flowing from the tropics to the poles transfer warm water northwards ( vise versa). Overtime, ocean currents can change direction or become stronger or weaker resulting in the climate changing of the place the flow past. The North atlantic drift suddenly stopped around 11,000 years ago triggering a short return of the ice age.
- Ice caps and ice sheets melting - when ice caps melt, it releases fresh water into the oceans which results in a decrease of the earths albedo (how reflective the earths surface is) as light colours (ice sheets) reflect heat whilst dark colours (water) absorbs heat. This has lead to an increase in temperatures in the Poles.
- Melting permafrost - This means that in arctic areas, frozen organic material has began to decay after thousands of years. This means large quantities of carbon dioxide and methane is released into the atmosphere which results in heat being trapped in as methane is a very strong greenhouse gas which results in an increase in global temperatures.
2
Q
6 HUMAN CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
A
- Burning fossil fuels - Although coal isn’t used as much anymore in the devloped world, fossil fuels such as coal are still burned in power stations to produce electricity. This means that carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and traps heat resulting in the earth heating up leading to global warming.
- There is more cars on the earths world than there ever has been. Over one billion cars were recorded on the roads in 2011. Most cars run on petrol which is a fossil fuel. When it is burned, CO2 is released into the atmosphere trapping heat and leading to global warming.
- Deforestation - This is a worldwide problem which contributes to climate change. Trees are known as ‘the lungs of the planet’ as they take in Carbon dioxide and release Oxygen. If there are fewer trees to take in carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide levels go up which traps heat and increases global temperatures.
- Increased methane - decaying organic material in paddy fields released large amounts of methane. Methan is 20 times more effective in trapping heat than co2. This is because rice absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. If the plant is not able to use the carbon, it is dispersed into the soil where it converts to methane and is released into the atmosphere trapping heat and leading to climate change.
- Animal manure and belching cows - on average one cow releases 100kg of methane each year. There is atleast 1.5 billion cows on the planet thus there is a lot of methane being released and trapping heat.
- Landfill sites - Lanfill sites are huge areas of land which have been dug up for domestic and industrial waste to be burried. As the waste decomposes, it releases methane which goes into the atmosphere trapping heat.
- into the atmosphere.
3
Q
7 EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
A
- Increasing temperatures in areas such as Antartica and Greenland means that ice caps are melting and polar bear habits are being lost. It is predicted that the North Pole will be ice free for the first time ever recorded in 2050.
- As water temperatures increase, the water expands and can lead to floods.
- In Tundra areas such as Alaska, the permafrost layer is melting resulting in buildings sinking because the ground that was once hard and stable is now soft.
- As temperatures increase, the period of snow cover shortens in Tundras areas putting some plants at risk of extinction and some species begin to thrive in previously unsuitable conditions.
- Increasing temperatures means less snow in some places and can negatively effect ski resorts such as Aviemore in the scottish highlands or the french alps.
- As temperature increases and precipitation levels fall, wild fire season worsens in areas such as Western USA and parts of Australia.
- As temperatures increase, Growing season for farmers becomes longer. This means food production will improve and there will be a wider variety. The farmers income will also improve if they can produce more food.
4
Q
7 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
A
- Industries are trying out expand on existing ways of renewable energy which are more sustainable than fossil fuels such as solar and wind power to reduce C02 emissions in the air.
- People are encouraged to walk or use cycle lanes to prevent the use of petrol driven cars and reduce C02 emissions.
- Bus lanes and cycle lanes have been introduced in Glasgow and Edinburgh to encourage people not to use their cars. It is meant to be only electrics cars in the UK after 2035.
- London congestion charge has been introduced so that drivers need to pay if they drive in the congestion charge zone to cut pollution from exhaust fumes.
- Low emission zones were introduced in glasgow in june 2023 in order to prevent vehicle pollution and clean the air.
- People are encouraged to holiday at home in order to reduce the number of flights being made and there tored reduce the C02 emissions in the air.
- People are encouraged to switch off plug sockets, TVs, chargers and lights when not in use to save energy and prevent greenhouse emissions from power stations.
