geography - changing climate

changing climate flashcards

Paleoclimate definition

past climate

What are the 3 types of historical periods?

quaternary period - the last 2.6 million years

interglacial period - a long period of warming global average temperatures

glacial period - a long period of cooling temperatures causing expansion of ice sheets or glaciers

Give 3 evidence of current climate change

sea level rise - used to indicate the warming of the climate

shrinkage of ice sheets and glaciers - used to indicate the warming of the climate therefore resulting in sea level rise

global temperature data - used to compare with past climates to asses the increase or decrease in the earths climate

What is carbon 0

Carbon 0 is what the UK is aiming for in 2050 to help reduce carbon emissions. they are enacting this by increased afforestation, congestions, and promoting renewable energy sources.

Describe the Paris agreement

An international treaty aimed at combating climate change, requiring countries to reduce and limit greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

Enhanced greenhouse effect definition

The enhanced warming of the Earth's surface because of increased levels of GHG in the atmosphere, mainly a result of human activity.

Impacts on climate change on the uk

Higher temperatures - heatwaves (can cause elderly people to fall sick) , more agriculture growth (reducing the amount of imports subsequently increasing the prices of foods) , warmer weather (less pay of water bills) and hotter summers (promotes tourism)

flooding - in

sea levels rise - sea defences (more development cost more money) , increased erosion of beaches (less tourism attraction so less economic growth)

Donald Trump’s and Greta Thunberg’s view on climate change

Donald’s claim: climate change is fully a natural process and is not a big issue for future generations and will not be a major concern overall not investing in it.

Greta’s claim: climate change is a result of corrupt leader dismisses the big impact it has on future generations further dooming the planet causing it a ‘life threatening issue’

Human causes of climate change

increased GHG emissions through burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and many industrial processes thickens the ozone layer.

Natural causes of climate change

Milankovitch cycles such as axil tilts orbital cycles and eccentricity

sunspot activity the more spots the higher the temperatures due to more solar activity

violent volcanic eruptions as more ash and gas are released into the atmosphere casing a volcanic winter.

Past evidence of climate change

paleoclimate evidence

ice cores - used by scientist to measure levels of CO2 (very reliable)

fossil fuels - used to indicate the warmth of the climate (partially reliable)

paintings and diaries - give a representation of humans perceptions on the climate (not reliable)

what is climate change

the significant change in global temperatures and weather patterns over time due above below or around the average.

What is the greenhouse effect

as the sun rays hit earth it goes through the ozone layer (layer full of gasses) as the emissions hit earth it reflects back and only little are stuck in the ozone layers as gasses. so more sun radiation is re emitted back into space

what are the greenhouse gasses

carbon dioxide - CO2

methane - CH4

nitrous oxide - N2O

water vapour - H2O

Global impacts of climate change

agriculture productivity will be rich in colder regions and sparse in warmer regions causing an increased in global evacuees.

extreme weather events will be more frequent damaging the economic growth of countries leading to adaptions

rising sea levels will cause smaller countries to evacuate as other countries learn and invest in mitigating these effects