Unit 4: Changing Climate Flashcards
(24 cards)
How old is the earth?
4.5 billion years old
How has the temperature on earth changed?
Fluctuated
What period of geological time are we in presently?
Quaternary
What are the features of a glacial period?
100,000 years
30% ice
Colder
What are the features of an interglacial period?
10,000 years
10% ice
Warmer
Now
How can ice cores provide quantitative data about climate change?
More O-16 = colder
More O-18 = warmer
Also carbon dioxide bubbles
How much has Arctic sea ice decreased since 1979?
13% each decade
What examples of qualitative data give us information about climate change?
Paintings, poems
What are the natural causes of climate change?
Sun spots: magnetic storms on the sun’s surface, 11 year cycle
Milankovich cycles: tilt (further towards sun), wobble (axis changes), distance (closer in orbit)
Volcanic Eruptions: ash blocks sun = cooler / releases greenhouse gasses = warmer
What are the greenhouse gasses?
Water vapour, carbon dioxide (64%), methane (19%), nitrous oxide (6%)
What are the three main ways to combat climate change?
Sustainable fashion, green energy, vegan diet
What are the two reasons for sea level rise?
Thermal expansion
Melting of glaciers & ice caps
How much do the IPCC expect sea levels to rise by 2100?
70-100cm
By 2050, how many people will live in an area that floods significantly?
300 million
What impacts does climate change have on tropical storms?
Severity will increase
Proportional of category 5 tropical storms has tripled over the last 30 years
How does climate change have an impact on food?
UK will be able to produce more food
Mediterranean & Africa will be able to produce less food
What are the global, environmental impacts of climate change?
Temperatures expected to rise 1.5º by 2050
Warmer = glaciers & ice sheets melt = sea level rise = flooding
Sea level rise 70-100cm by 2100
Loss of habitats - polar bears / mangrove forests (Indonesia)
Coral reef bleaching
Changing precipitation levels
What are the global economic impacts of climate change?
More extreme weather + flooding = more money spent on flood defences (Jakarta $30bn sea wall)
Permafrost melting = causes buildings to collapse, free up natural resources
Droughts = limit farming
Water shortage = limit HEP
What are the global social impacts of climate change?
Reduced rainfall = wildfires
Coastal areas flood = people displaced
Farming issues = lack of food supply, famine
Lack of water = drinking & sanitation
What are the UK environmental impacts of climate change?
Temperatures increase = warmer summers
Winter rainfall increase = 16% in West
Summer rainfall decrease = 23% in southern England
More drought (especially in south east)
More flooding in coastal areas
What are the UK economic impacts of climate change?
Warmer weather = tourism boost
Decline in skiing in Scotland
Longer growing seasons for crops
Changing fish populations affecting fishing industries
Flooding = more flood defences = money
What are the UK social impacts of climate change?
Deaths from cold-related illnesses decrease
More heat-related deaths (especially in elderly)
Flooding displaces people
Drier summers = limited water availability
How much does the UK’s flood protection cost per year?
1 billion pounds
What is the Paris Agreement of 2015?
Legally binding agreement to keep temperatures “well below” 2ºC above pre industrial times by countries setting emissions targets
