Topic 1: Hazardous Earth Flashcards
(51 cards)
Where on earth surface is most solar radiation received?
It is mostly received at the equator
This is because the radiation takes less distance and is more direct radiation and is weaker at the north and south Pole. The Earth is also an angle
What is low pressure and what happens?
When air is heated, it rises and is less dense as it rises it. Transfers heat to the atmospheres, cools and condenses and clouds form
This is because there is less air at the surface. It is now low pressure.
What is high-pressure and what happens?
When air falls, it becomes more dense, the heat doesn’t transfer to the ground and as it falls, as it warms it leaves clear skies
What are the three circulation cells starting from the outside?
Polar
Farrell
Hadley
What are ocean currents?
Cold salty, dense, water sinks as it sinks warmer water is pulled in, It comes around in a loop and are driven by different water density
What are surface currents?
Caused by wind and help transfer heat away from the equator
What is natural climate change?
How the average climate conditions of the planet varies overtime
Name the four natural causes of climate change
Orbital change
Astroid collision
Volcanic activity
Solar output variation
How do astroid collisions cause natural climate change?
It can eject large volumes of dust into the atmosphere, which then block solar radiation and helps glacial periods
How can orbital change causes natural climate change?
For example, if it tilts the north and south Pole do not exactly meet at the bottom and top of the planet, it is tilted and the polls are actually rotated 23° from vertical position meaning the solar output is not equally distributed
How does volcanic eruptions cause natural climate change?
Only big eruptions affect the climate and the eruptions produce ash and sulphur dioxide gas and if these rise high enough, it will spread into the stratosphere, by high-level wins. The blanket of ash and gas will stop some sunlight reaching the earth causing cooling, and the light is reflected back into space
How does solar output variation cause natural climate change?
The suns output of energy isn’t constant and it changes in short cycles are about 11 years and possibly also in longer cycles of several hundred years, this could cause earths climate to be cooler
How are tree rings evidence for natural climate change?
They tell us how much they have grown and the wider, the ring the better the season it tells us the condition of the tree.
If the rings are bigger, this is due to warmer and wet weather and opposite for thinner rings
How are ice evidence for natural climate change?
The ice contains bubble of air from each year scientist analyse the bubble in each layer to see how much CO2 they contain
They can also learn about the temperature for each year by measuring relative amounts of different types of oxygen atoms in the water
What do historical sources show us?
Old photos, drawings, written record diaries are often not very accurate because they are not intended to record climate but can still give us some evidence of recent climate trends
What is the greenhouse effect?
Earth atmosphere is vital to life
The greenhouse effect is completely natural and the gases help retain heat in the atmosphere, make the planet warmer by 16°
We would be frozen wasteland without it
What is the most common greenhouse gas?
CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas
extra greenhouse gases which pollute atmosphere are from humans
How does agriculture affect climate change?
Farming of livestock, produces a lot of methane due to cows farts
Rice paddies contribute common warming because they flooded fields and there’s less trees to absorb CO2
How does demand for energy increase climate change?
The demand for electricity it’s going up due to increasing population. This means more fossil fuels are being burnt which produced more greenhouse gases and has risen by 30% since 1850
How has transport increased global climate change?
Most transport use fossil fuels for fuel and this releases greenhouse gases when burn and due to high population. There is a higher demand for transport. Some more fossil fuels being burnt and this is worse in traffic for example
How is industry increasing global climate change?
Industry uses a lot of energy and something industries processes also release greenhouse gases such as making of cement and produces CO2
Where do tropical cyclones happen?
In the tropics, and by the equator
What is the central part of cyclone called and how long is it?
It is known as the eye and it’s 30 to 50 km across and is calm and has no rain
What cloud surround the eye in a tropical cyclone?
Cumalonimbus clouds and formbed by moist air condensing as it rises
