Climate Change

Question 0

The greenhouse gases

Answer 0

Carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, water vapour.

Question 1

The enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 1

As global temperatures rise, so too does water vapour. Increasing global temperatures leads to greater evaporation of water which then leads to greater levels of condensation. Cloud cover increases which traps heat in the atmosphere.

Question 2

The greenhouse effect

Answer 2

The earth intercepts the suns radiation, about 30% of it is reflected back into space. Some radiation is absorbed by the earths surface and some is re emitted by green house gases which warms up the earths atmosphere

Question 3

Volcanic causes of climate change

Answer 3

Major eruptions eject material into the stratosphere where high level winds distribute it around the earth. Volcanoes eject huge amounts of ash, sulphur dioxide, water vapour and carbon dioxide.

Question 4

The milankovitch cycles

Answer 4

Earths orbit changes from a circular shape to an elliptical shape over 100,000 years which changes the amount of radiation the earth receives.

Question 5

Solar output

Answer 5

The amount of energy emitted by the sun varies as a result of sunspots. Dark spots appear on the surface of the sun as a result of magnetic storms.
More sunspots means more solar radiation towards the earth.

Question 6

The stern review

Answer 6

Focused on the impacts of global warming and the actions need to take. The key features were: environmental impacts, economic impacts, options for change and UK government response.

Question 7

Case study: London’s climate change strategy.

Answer 7

In 2007 plan was to reduce co2 emissions by 30% of 1990 emissions by 2025.
What was proposed?
Green homes programme.
Setting and enforcing new building standards for energy efficiency.
Investing in local renewable energy.
Encouraging “waste to energy” schemes.
Promoting purchase of low carbon goods

Question 8

Case study: BedZED

Answer 8

Housing development which aims to be carbon neutral.
The homes use heat efficient, natural materials.
Has it’s own CHP plant.

Question 9

What long term evidence is there for climate change?

Answer 9

Carbon dioxide levels - sampled from bubbles in ice cores.
Oxygen isotope levels - sampled from ice cores.
Pollen - extracted from peat bogs or lake beds.

Question 10

What medium term evidence is there for climate change?

Answer 10

Historical records - analyse paintings, written accounts etc…
Tree rings - trees are sensitive to changes in temperature, sunlight etc…
Retreating glaciers - valley glaciers grow and shrink in response to climate change.

Question 11

What is short term evidence for climate change?

Answer 11

Instrumental methods - thermometers, satellites etc…

Question 12

Green strategy: afforestation

Answer 12

Planting trees - trees act act carbon sinks.
Destruction of trees releases co2 into the atmosphere.
However in order to plant more trees, land users will have to make way which could disrupt agriculture, jobs etc…

Question 13

Green strategy: renewable energy projects.

Answer 13

Eg. The three gorges dam in China. Provides green energy but causes social problems such as relocation of residents and destruction of cultural sites.
Biofuel crop projects produce renewable energy but take up huge areas of land. Eg. In Brazil.

Question 14

Case study: Community based green strategies in Oxfordshire.

Answer 14

ClimateXchange Oxfordshire has acted as a catalyst in lowering the areas carbon footprint…
Each road has waste champions who organise rubbish swaps.
Information is circulated to the 10 most effective ways in reducing co2.
Green transport is being introduced.
Cloth bags available in order to cut down plastic bag use.

Question 15

Carbon offsetting

Answer 15

“Carbon credits”. It allows companies to pollute but at a cost. Each credit costs money which the polluter has to pay. It encourages companies to look for other means of production.

Question 16

Climate Feedback

Answer 16

Can either amplify a small change and make it larger (positive) or
diminish the change and make it smaller (negative). An example of positive is snow and
ice cover. Small increases in snow and ice raise surface albedo so more solar energy is
reflected. This causes cooling.
An example of negative is cloud cover, as global warming occurs, more evaporation will
occur and this many increase global cloud cover.

Question 17

Global Dimming?

Answer 17

Atmospheric pollutants reflect solar energy back into space and so have a net cooling
effect. Greenhouse gases reflect outgoing back to earth and so have a net warming effect.
It is possible that humans are both warming and cooling the planet.

Question 18

Why is there uncertainty is predicting emissions and their impacts?

Answer 18

The level and nature of economic development, especially in countries like India
and China, this will determine greenhouse gas emissions s.
What international action will take place to reduce emissions.
The inertia of the system, even if greenhouse gas emissions stabilise , climate
change will continue.

Question 19

Tipping point

Answer 19

this is reached when climate change occurs irreversibly and at an
increasing rate. Increasingly scientists are talking about visible manifestations of the
tipping point, such as the loss of ice sheets or the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. All
these visible changes will lead to catastrophic changes.

Question 20

Mitigation

Answer 20

Reducing the output of greenhouse gases and increasing the size of
greenhouse gas sinks. For example:
Setting targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Switching to renewables.
Capturing carbon emissions from power stations and storing them.

Question 21

Adaption

Answer 21

Changing our lifestyles to cope with a new environment rather than trying
to stop climate change. For example:
Managed retreat of coastlines.
Develop drought resistant crops.
Enlarging existing conservation areas

Question 22

For human systems: adaption or mitigation?

Answer 22

For human systems like the economy, Mitigation would involve an upfront cost, to reduce
the atmospheric pollution to ‘safe’ levels.
Adaption might mean that costs were spread over a longer time scale.

Question 23

For natural systems: adaption or mitigation?

Answer 23

For natural systems like ecosystems, mitigation could limit damage.
Adaption might condemn natural systems which could not adapt to a changing climate.
Species may become extinct, and biodiversity be degraded as threats to ecosystems
increased

Question 24

How to increase capacity to cope?

Answer 24

Reduce poverty to meet costs of adaption. Increase access to resources such as energy. Improving education and skills to understand the challenges and how to develop. Improving health - diseases such as HIV and malaria reduce capacity to adapt. Improve infrastructure such as roads.

Question 25

CASE STUDY: Adapting to climate change on Tuvalu

Answer 25

9 tiny islands. All no more above 5m above sea level rise. The economy relies on sub-subsistence farming and fishing, and foreign aid. Sea levels rise by 1-2mm per year. The most low lying islands are being flooded by the highest tides. Poor coastal management has worsened the problem.

Question 26

How can Tuvalu adapt to the threat?

Answer 26

Relocate - New Zealand agreed to accept 75 Tuvaluans per year. Change behaviour - joined the UN in 2000 with the aim of bringing their climate change issues to the world's attention. Hoping that other countries would mitigate. Modify to the threat - beach mining is being regulated to reduce erosion risk. Prevent the loss - salt tolerant crops to replace traditional pulaka.

Question 27

CASE STUDY: Kyoto Protocol.

Answer 27

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was agreed in 1992. This aimed to 'achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gases concentrations in the atmosphere'. The treaty was signed by 190 countries

Question 28

What are the aims of the Kyoto Protocol?

Answer 28

It had complex aims such as: Emission reduction targets are region specific. For example Europe had a target of 8%, the USA - 6%, Iceland - 10% and Russia had no target. Complex systems introduced allowing the 'trading' of carbon credits. Carbon sinks such as planting forests were allowed so that countries can offset emissions. Critics say that this and carbon trading allow polluters to pollute.

Question 29

Key player on Climate change: Businesses

Answer 29

cleaning up pollution costs money, while polluting costs nothing. Many argue that not polluting would cost money and jobs. Companies of all sizes control many of their emissions and therefore need to be on board if mitigation strategies are to work.

Question 30

Key players on Climate Change: National strategies

Answer 30

Many countries use their taxes to raise cost of polluting. For example in the UK it costs more to drive a bigger car that pollutes more. In 2095 the EU began a carbon trading system called EU ETS - sets limits on the emission of pollutant but allows companies who are within limit to sell their credits. Alternatively EU countries can buy CERs (certified emission reduction credits) by investing in eco friendly projects in developing countries.

Question 31

Key players on Climate Change: Local actions

Answer 31

Local governments implement sustainable strategies to improve the environment, and reduce carbon emissions. Without local strategies it would be hard for individuals to 'do their bit'

Question 32

Climate Crusaders

Answer 32

Individuals and groups who kept climate change in the news. They tend to be: famous, passionate and often us climate change as a selling point for another purpose. Carbon crusaders make fringe activities such as carbon offsetting seem mainstream which encourages wider participation. They can also change political agenda .