Climate Change

Question 1

Evidence FOR global warming?

Answer 1

1. Rising Seas Levels - 10 -20 cm
2. Shrinking Glaciers and Ice melting - due to heat
3. Seasonal Changes - birds nesting 6 days earlier
4. Ice Cores - showing the Carbon in snow from 400k years

Question 2

Name some Natural changes that can cause climate change?

Answer 2

1. Changes in Earth’s orbit
2. Volcanic Activity
3. Variations in heat output from the Sun

Question 3

What evidence supports the Orbit changes?

Answer 3

The Milanovitch cycles

• Eccentricity - Earth path around sun which changes
• Axial Tilt - Earth spinning on the Axis
• Processions - causing longer days and nights

Question 4

What is a sunspot cycle?

Answer 4

A cycle where a amount of sunspots (changes solar outputs) go from maximum to min in 11 year cycle.

max = more heat
min = less heat

Question 5

How can Volcanic Activity cause changes to climate?

Answer 5

• Volcanic ash can block out the sun reducing temp

- Sulphuric acid can increase the heat of earth

Question 6

Name some Human causes of climate change?

Answer 6

1. Greenhouse effect - suns heat does not escape earth due to long form and short form radiation trapped.
2. CO2 levels - Cars, Fossil fuels etc
3. Methane - more problematic than CO2, Livestock
4. Nitrous Oxide - 300x more effective to hold heat than CO2, e.g car exhaust + sewage systems.

Question 7

How can we adapt to climate change?

Answer 7

1) Sea Walls - 3m higher to protect inhabitants (Maldives)

2) Himalayas Glacier are being artificially reconstructed

Question 8

How can we manage climate change?

Answer 8

1) Renewable Energy - Solar, Wind + Water
2) Carbon Capture - captures carbon from factories puts it under ground (expensive)
3) Planting Trees - counteract rising CO2 levels
4) International Agreements - countries agree to protect environment.