Climate Change

Question 1

Name the 3 theory of climate changes.

Answer 1

Milankovitch (Cycles Eccentricity)

Sunspot theory

Volcanic activity / eruption theory

Question 2

What is Eccentricity?

Answer 2

It describes the path of the earth as it orbits the sun. Over time the earth’s orbit changes from almost circular to slightly elliptical to almost circular again.
(We are in the elliptical cycle)

Question 3

Over how many years does the earth’s orbit change?

Answer 3

100,000 years

Question 4

_____ describes the changes to the earth’s tilt between two extremes of _____ and _____ over a period of ________ years

Answer 4

AXIAL TILT describes the changes to the earth’s tilt between two extremes of 21.5 degrees and 24.5 degrees over a period of 41,000 years

Question 5

Name and describe the proper term and definition of the “wobble”

Answer 5

Precession describes the natural movement of the earth over a period of 26,000 years

Question 6

What is the name of a prolonged period of warmer weather in Earth’s history?

Answer 6

Interglacial period

Question 7

What is the name of a prolonged period of colder weather in Earth’s history?

Answer 7

Glacial period

Question 8

_____ capture describes the capture from the atmosphere and storage underground of what greenhouse gas?

Answer 8

C02

Question 9

Define global warming

Answer 9

The rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface

Question 10

What does greenhouse gas mean?

Answer 10

These gases are responsible for global warming because they absorb the wavelength of the radiation the planet emits.

Question 11

What type of radiation is heat from the sun? (Short-wave, medium-wave, long-wave)

Answer 11

Short-wave radiation

Question 12

Describe how greenhouse gases keeps the planet warm. (4 marks)

Answer 12

(1) Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation from the sun passes through the atmosphere
(1) The earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up
(1) Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorbs long-wave radiation emitted by the earth’s surface.
(1) The atmosphere warms up

Question 13

Which greenhouse gas is mainly emitted through livestock?

Answer 13

Methane

Question 14

What are some benefits of using renewable energy?

Answer 14

Cheaper.
Easier to set up.
Sustainable source of energy.
No greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 15

What are some cons of using renewable energy?

Answer 15

Not a reliable source of energy.
Produces energy slower or in lower amounts.
Only works effectively in certain environments.

Question 16

What is crop rotation?

Answer 16

An agronomic practice whose aim is to alternate different plant species on the same field, within a given time, for example wheat and beans. This is to help retain fertility of the soil.

Question 17

What is some of the evidence for climate change?

Answer 17

Shrinking of global icecaps.
More frequent extreme weather.
Longer and more frequent droughts.
Coral bleaching.
Increasing global temperature.

Question 18

Name 3 international agreements aiming to tackle climate change:

Answer 18

Kyoto Protocol, 2005
Conference of parties, or COP
Paris Agreement, 2016

Question 19

What is grey water?

Answer 19

Waste water from non toilet plumbing systems that can be re-used.

Question 20

Give an example of an adaptation to climate change:

Answer 20

Construction of sand dams in Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Floating crop gardens in Bangladesh.
Growing coffee bushes in the shade in Brazil.
Artificial glaciers in the Himalayas to manage water supply.

Question 21

Define subsistence farming:

Answer 21

Farming to feed self/family.

Question 22

What percentage of Bangladesh lies on a floodplain?

Answer 22

80%

Question 23

Which area in Bangladesh is susceptible to flooding?

Answer 23

The south

Question 24

Which form of extreme weather affects northwest Bangladesh?

Answer 24

Drought

Question 25

By the end of the century, _% of Bangladesh could be flooded

Answer 25

17

Question 26

In 20 years, Dhaka's population is expected to ___, with ____ people arriving per day

Answer 26

Double 2000

Question 27

What percentage of migrants to Dhaka arrived due to climate related events?

Answer 27

75%

Question 28

Bangladesh has an exceptionally high population density, with ____ people per square kilometre.

Answer 28

1350

Question 29

Name one response the people of Bangladesh have created against climate change:

Answer 29

Floating hospital (Friendship) reaching places inaccessible due to flooding. Floating gardens to prevent crop failure due to flooding. Growing salt tolerant rice varieties (can be submerged for 15 days).

Question 30

How many Bangladeshi will be displaced by 2070?

Answer 30

30 million

Question 31

Rice makes up 80% of an average Bangladeshi diet. Why is this an issue?

Answer 31

Due to flooding, many rice paddy fields are being lost, and so this level of consumption of rice will not be sustainable if more land is lost.

Question 32

There is low water quality in south Bangladesh due to increasingly frequent _____.

Answer 32

Cyclones

Question 33

Dhaka is now the fastest growing megacity on Earth. Why?

Answer 33

Due to the amount of climate related migration there as more land is flooded in the south. As traditionally agricultural areas become increasingly unreliable due to floods and droughts, people head to cities to find a more reliable source of income.

Question 34

Bonus point to impress your examiner： Define eustatic sea level change

Answer 34

A eustatic sea level change occurs when there is a global change in the amount of water stored in the oceans, or a change in the geometry of the ocean basins which alters the volume of water they can hold. When the sea level changes in response to the amount of water stored in ice caps this is called glacial-eustasy.

Question 35

Bonus point to impress your examiner： Define isostatic sea level change

Answer 35

The weight of the ice causes the surface of the Earth's crust to deflect downwards. At the end of the glacial period the ice melts and the crust can rebound. This is known as an isostatic sea level change and it causes a relative sea level change as it is the land rising, not the amount of water increasing.

Question 36

Where are the Maldives (ocean, close to which country)

Answer 36

They are an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, some islands are 500km south west of India

Question 37

What risks do global warming pose to the Maldives?

Answer 37

Due to sea level rising, climate model suggests that the islands may be uninhabitable by 2030 and submerged by 2070

Question 38

What evidence is there to suggest UK weather is becoming more extreme?

Answer 38

In the decade 2013-20, UK winters have become 10% wetter than 30 years ago, and 25% wetter than 60 years ago. In the last decade, the UK has had 3 of its hottest years on record. The 2022 heatwave included the hottest temperature in UK history, breaching 40 degrees.