Climate Change Flashcards
What is Climate change?
This is the significant change in weather over time, usually decades
What is Global Warming?
A type of climate change where the global temperature rapidly increases
Evidence for Climate Change
1) Temperature records - Records have been measured for decades. They are a short term but reliable figure
2) Dendrochronology - Tree rings are used to see how old a tree is. The thickness of the tree ring depends on the climate at that point. The warmer - the thicker the ring. The colder - The thinner the ring
3) Peat Bogs - Pollen is preserved in bogs as layers accumulate over time. Cores are taken to see what kind of species were surviving at that time depending on the temperature. These are contrasted to current temperatures and species.
Human activity can cause Climate Change
Human activity can cause an advance in Climate change and the Greenhouse Effect. This leads to global temperatures rising.
Greenhouse Gases
Co2 - The concentration of Co2 increases when fossil fuels, natural sinks are burnt and destroyed. More Co2 enters the atmosphere increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Methane - Due to cattle farming, rice farming and fossil fuel extraction methane is released into the atmosphere.
How does Global warming affect animals and plants?
- Increase In temperature increases enzyme activity: Heat causes molecules to move and more kinetic energy is produced however if temperatures go too high enzymes denature and break down. This affects organisms life cycles and development
- Organisms metabolism: This is controlled by enzymes. If metabolic reactions occur faster, organisms will develop faster and progress through their life cycle quicker
- Distribution: Species survive in ideal conditions if these conditions change then species may need to move or possibly will die out in an area.
Investigate Temperature on Organisms
- Seedling Growth :
1) Plant seedlings in soil trays and measure the mass or height of each
2) Incubate the trays at different temperatures
3)Control variables such as water and age and variety of seed
4) After set time, measure the difference in hight or mass of seedlings
Average change / incubation time = growth rate - Brine Shrimp
1) Put equal number of eggs in water baths at different temperatures
2) Control vol. of water, salinity and O2 concentration
3) Every 5hrs record how many have hatched at each temp
Number of shrimp/ Number of hours
The Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is when greenhouse gases reduce heat loss from the Earth’s surface.
Stages of the Greenhouse effect
1) Short infrared wavelengths reach the earth’s surface
2) Earth absorbs these and radiates long wavelengths back
3) Some of these are absorbed by clouds or greenhouse gases.
4) The gases then re-radiate them back to earth, heating the earth’s surface
Issues with the Greenhouse Effect
The G.H.E can lead to problems such as flooding, changes in hatching and mating of birds and insects, farming as land dries and becomes too hot to grow crops
Controversial comments on Climate change
Some scientists believe that Co2 is not the main cause of global warming.
Some have bias opinions based on other people’s opinions not facts
The Carbon Cycle
This helps to reduce atmospheric Co2. Carbon compounds are recycled between organisms and the atmosphere.
- Co2 is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis, this is converted into organic carbon compounds which pass down the food chain
- Co2 is returned by respiration, combustion and decomposition
- Carbon can be turned into fossil fuels in the ocean
Reducing Climate Change
Biofuels: These are made of organic biomass from crops. The crops can be replanted or grown and so they are sustainable.
When biofuels are burnt the Co2 emitted is less than the amount the plant took in as some was lost.
Reforestation: Planting new trees means more Co2 will be taken in during photosynthesis and converted into plant biomass.
