Unit 2

Question 1

Carbon cycle

Answer 1

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

Question 2

Negative feedback

Answer 2

When a system acts by lessening the effect of the original change and ultimately reversing it.

Question 3

Positive feedback

Answer 3

Occurs within a system where a change causes a snowball effect, continuing or even accelerating the original change.

Question 4

how does climate change , affect animals

Question 5

insolation

Answer 5

incoming solar radiation

Question 6

implications of climate change

Answer 6

-sea levels rise , flooding low areas
-increased storm activity
-agricultural patterns will change , USA grain belt will shrink
-less rainfall over the US
-over 40% of wildlife will become extinct

Question 7

affects of temperature increase

Answer 7

-ice caps and glaciers will melt
-increase in coastal flooding
-change in biome distribution
-water shortages
-increased disease , risk of malaria

Question 8

how does temperature increase affect animal migration

Answer 8

-rising temps are challenging animals and plants that need to migrate in order to survive , they need to move to higher elevation
-in teh US the route animals use is called Appalachian mountains as it is very undeveloped so it provides shelter
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Question 9

how does temperature increase affect biome distribution

Question 10

impact of climate change on people

Answer 10

SOCIAL PROBLEMS
-hunger and conflict
-singapores 20% of GDP and 65% of the workforce is involved in agriculture are threatened by floods
-UNFINISHED

Question 11

positive feedback loop with ice melting

Answer 11

temp- increase-permadrost thawing-increase-c02 released-increase

temp-increase-ice melts-albedo decreases

albedo=reflective
less albedo means =more heat gets abssorbed by the surface

Question 12

global warming and sea routes

Answer 12

heating melting ice can free up space in the arctic , shorter routes

Question 13

affect of climate change on human health

Answer 13

-increase of 2 degrees can expose 60mil africans to malaria , mosquitoes breeding

-heat stress , cardiovascular failure
-asthma
-

Question 14

why are c02 emmisions increasing

Answer 14

-increased industrialisation
-globalization -trade
-

Question 15

how does technology help manage the c02 emissions?

Question 16

Suggest two reasons why countries have different policies to manage the
challenges of an ageing society.

Question 18

policies to manage ageing society

Answer 18

The culture of the country values old people – reduces the burden on governments.
* Type of government: free market versus state control – some countries have focus on
private pensions which takes burden off the state.
* Political pressures from different age groups – ageing population may have voting power.
* Different size of ageing population/stages of demographic transition - an ageing
population is not as much of a challenge in some countries as in others.
* Speed of ageing may differ/starting population age may be lower – where ageing is more
rapid policies may be more severe/face greater resource constraints.
* Tax structures may be different – broader tax base may spread the cost.
* Different retirement ages – where retirement age is higher there may be less pressure.
* Past policy decisions – past systems e.g. pension schemes may shape direction of
present/future policies.
* Migration – some countries can increase work force by allowing migration/some countries
attract ageing population e.g. Spain.