Topic 5 - Changing Climate Flashcards
What is climate change
climate change is a large -scale, long term shift in the planets weather patterns or average temperatures
what is the quanternary geological period
A period that has been lasting 2.6 million years and measures the global drop in temperature over the years
What is the natural greenhouse effect
A natural process that slowly warms the earths surface
what is the enhanced greenhouse effect
when greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere and making the earths atmosphere thicker and therfore trapping more solar radiation which leads to earth warming
what are the 4 main greenhouse gases
- carbon dioxide: 60% of enhanced greenhouse gases. Produced by burning fossil fuels
- methane: 15% of enhanced greenhouse gases. Produced from landfills, rice and animal farms
- halocarbons: human made, produced by air-conditioning, fridges and aerosols
- Nitrous oxide: 6% of enhanced greenhouse gases. Produced from fertilizers and car exhausts
what evidence for climate change through geological fossil evidence
plants and animal fossils/ remains which favour certain enviromental conditions have been found in contractionary conditions.
- this suggests periods of warmer and colder time
what evidence for climate change through ocean sediment
the fossils of larger organisms like corals or clams as it reveals seasonal temperatures and when they change
what evidence for climate change through ice cores
ice cores are built from different layers that each one represents a historical time, scientists explore the water molecues reuslting with a fuctuating temperature change
what evidence for climate change through historical records
ancient cave paintings, diaries and written observations have provided evidence for climate change through personal accounts from the people through them
Recent evidence for climate change
- global temperature data (increased by 0.6*)
- ice sheets and glaciers (melting, declines by 10% in 30years)
-sea level change (risen 10-20cm)
what are global impact for climate change
- extreme weather
- rising sea levels
- food supply
- plants and animals
- disease and health
- water supply
- climate refugees
impacts from climate change
- economic: increased levels of salinzation effecting agricultue, coastal erosion, main runway flooding
- social: water supply due to more droughts, wells are being polluted with sea water, high tides are runing houses and roads.
- enviromental: reducing fish stocks around the island, warmer temperatures destorying coral reefs
What are negative impacts of climate change for the UK
- Coastal flooding
- water shortages
- extreme rainfall
- extreme heat
what are the positive impacts of climate change for the UK
- tourism
- farming
- enviroment
- industry
What was the agreement in paris with climate change
- Paris climate conference involved 195 countries making a legally binding global climate deal
- to limit to global warming to below 2*
