Paper 1- Natural Hazards Flashcards
(59 cards)
Climate Change Definition
A long-term change in the Earth’s average temperature and weather patterns
Adaptation Definition
Actions taken to adjust to natural events, such as climate change, to reduce potential damage,
limit the impacts, take advantage of opportunities or cope with the consequences.
Mitigation Definition
Action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from
natural hazards such as building earthquake-proof buildings or making international
agreements about carbon reduction targets.
Orbital Changes Definition
Changes in the pathway of the Earth around the Sun.
Quaternary period Definition
The period of geological time from about 2.6 million years ago to the present. It is
characterised by the appearance and development of humans and includes the Pleistocene
and Holocene Epochs
Natural Hazards Definition
A natural event (for example an earthquake, volcanic eruption, tropical storm, flood) that
threatens people or has the potential to cause damage, destruction and death.
Hazard Risk Definition
The probability or chance that a natural hazard may take place
Extreme Weather Definition
When a weather event is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern and
is especially severe or unseasonal. This may take place over one day or a period of time. A
severe snow blizzard or heatwave are two examples of extreme weather in the UK.
Primary Effect
The initial impact of a natural event on people and property caused directly by it.
Secondary Effect
The after-effects that occur as indirect impacts of a natural event, sometimes on a longer
timescale.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The Greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps the Earth warm enough for life to exist. It is estimated that the Earth would be 33° colder without the greenhouse effect.
Like a greenhouse, the atmosphere allows most of the heat from the Sun to pass through it to warm the Earth’s surface. Gasses then trap some reflected energy as glass does in a greenhouse.
The Sun’s short-wave solar radiation enters the atmosphere. The heat is reflected from the surface of the Earth as long-wave radiation. The natural layer of greenhouse gases allows some heat to be reflected out of the Earth’s atmosphere, but some heat is trapped by CO2 and methane, keeping temperatures warm enough for life on Earth.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat and keep the Earth warm enough to support life. However, human activities are adding extra greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect.
The natural greenhouse effect keeps the Earth’s temperature stable.
The enhanced greenhouse effect is caused by higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, trapping more heat and causing the planet to warm up.
Consequences of Enhanced greenhouse effect
Additional heat leads to global warming, which has severe consequences, such as:
Melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels.
More extreme weather events, like heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
Changes in ecosystems, leading to threats to biodiversity.
How does industry contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Burning fossil fuels for manufacturing releases CO₂.
Industrial processes, such as cement and chemical production, emit large quantities of greenhouse gases.
How does farming contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Cattle farming produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Rice paddies release methane due to waterlogged conditions allowing methane producing bacteria to thrive.
Deforestation for farming reduces CO₂ absorption and releases stored carbon.
How does the transport sector contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Burning petrol and diesel for vehicles produces CO₂.
Air travel and shipping emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.
How has energy production contributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Burning coal, oil, and gas for electricity generation emits CO₂.
The extraction of natural gas can release methane, which is even more effective at trapping heat than CO₂.
Milankovitch Cycles:
Eccentricity
Axial Tilt
Precession
Eccentricity:
Earth’s orbit is an eclipse- sun not directly in middle of eclipse- changes to become more circular every 100,000 years, so Earth’s distance from sun changes. Closer to sun= warmer and visa versa.
Axial Tilt:
Earth’s axis tilted on angle, which changes due to gravitational pull of moon. Increased angle of tilt= warmer summers + colder winters (exaggerated climate). Angle moves backwards and forwards every 41,000 years.
Precession:
Earth not perfect circle. As the earth spins it wobbles on its axis- 1 complete wobble = 26,000 years.
This is why certain regions of the world experience very long days and nights at certain times of the year.
Sunspots- Climate Change
Output of sun measured by observing sunspots on the surface of the sun.
Maximum Sunspot Activity= More heat. Minimum Sunspot Activity= Reduced Heat
How can volcanic eruptions cause climate change?
Include details about Mt. Tambora 1815
Ash clouds can be thrown directly into stratosphere and be carried around the world.
When SO₂ mixes with water vapour it becomes volcanic aerosol (H2SO4), which reflects the sunlight away reducing the sun’s heat energy entering the atmosphere and the cooling caused this way can last up to three years. The volcanic Ash can also block the sun’s heat from reaching the Earth leading to ‘volcanic winters’ however the cooling created by this is often short term.
Mt. Tambora Eruption 1815- Ash and sulphuric acid caused the temperatures to decline by 0.4-0.7°C and it became known as the ‘year without a summer’. This caused many harvests to fail worldwide. Major food shortages in North America and Europe leading to riots, looting and rising food prices. Worst famine in Europe resulting in 200,000 deaths.
Agriculture cause of climate change
Agriculture- approximately 20% of greenhouse gas emissions due to methane production:
Cattle- digestion
Microbes that decay under flooded rice paddy fields
Methane more effective at trapping greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide
Demand for food increases with a growing population, and increases in standard of living also leads to increasing demands for meat often. Current projection rates of population increasing = more food = higher contribution to global warming
Use of fossil fuels as a cause of climate change
Fossil fuels account for >50% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing population means higher demand of fossil fuels being burnt for:
Transportation
Building
Heating
Manufacturing
Electricity generation
Deforestation role in Climate Change
Estimated 18 million acres lost each year according to the UN.
If continues at the same rate, within 100 years, the world’s forests can disappear entirely.
Carbon dioxide taken in during photosynthesis lost, and less trees are out there to act as carbon sinks.
Economic Impacts of Climate Change
NEGATIVE :
* Cost of flooding damage to UK can rise to £12 billion by 2080
*Sea Levels Rising means that UK’s coastal defences are under strain.
*Skiing resorts in the Alps will have shorter seasons due to less snow meaning less tourism.
*Fishing will be disrupted as water might be warmer and migration patterns might change.
*70% of Asia at risk of flooding due to sea level rise.
POSITIVE:
* Less ice in the Arctic will allow for increased shipping + increased opportunities to extract oil and gas.
