Studied by 27 people
Whats the definition of climate change
A long term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature
What’s the quaternary period
The period of geological time front 2.6 million years ago, to the present
What is the long term evidence of climate change
Ice cores
Temperature records
How many years can an ice core reconstruct
400,000 years
What’s the recent evidence for climate change
Shrinking ice caps/ gladiers
Rising sea levels
Seasonal changes
What are the natural causes for climate change
Orbital theory
Volcanic eruptions
Solar variations
What is orbital change
Changes in the pathway of the earth around the sun
What is an elliptical orbit
When an object moves around another object in an oval shaped path
How often does the earth change from a an oval to elliptical orbit
Evrry 100,000 years
How long does it take for the earth to orbit the sun
365 days, 1 year
How often does procession happen
Every 26,000 years
What is the volcanic eruption theory
Ash and gas from the volcano absorbs the sun’s radiation, so it is cooler beneath the Ash and gas cloud
What’s a sunspot
A patch on the sun that appears dark, which is much hotter than surrounding areas
What are greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide
What are the sources of carbon dioxide
Industry
Transport
Burning fossil fuels
What are the sources of methane
Agriculture
Rice farming
Waste
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect
How humans add to the greenhouse effects
What are the main human causes of climate change
Burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture
What is deforestation
Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests to clear land for alternative uses
What are the main causes of deforestation
Cattle ranching, timber, building settlements
What is agriculture
The cultivation of land for growing crops and raising livestock
How does agriculture contribute to climate change
C02 releases , linked to deforestation
Methane released from cattle waste
Nitrous oxide released from fertiliser application
What are the environmental effects of climate change
Melting sea ice
Loss of habitats
Droughts
What are the human effects of climate change
Extreme weather
Crop yields
Flooding
What is mitigation
Action taken to reduce the long term risk of climate change
What are the mitigation strategies
Alternative energy
Afforestation
Carbon capture and storage
International agreements
What is renewable energy
A natural resource of energy that does not run out
Whatnis afforestation
The deliberate planting of trees
What is alternative energy production
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using renewable energy, like solar and wind
What are international agreements
Legal agreements by World leaders to reduce their carbon footprint
What is carbon capture and storage
Uses technology to capture the C02 that would normally go back into the atmosphere. Once captured the C02 is compressed, piped then injected deep underground
What was the Kyoto Protocol
An international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions
What was the Paris Agreement
2009 pledged to reduce emissions with financial support for developing countries to help them cope with climate change
What was the Copenhagen accord
A landmark environmental accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015, to address climate change and its negative impacts
What is adaptation
Actions taken to adjust to natural events such as climate change, to reduce potential damage, limit the impacts, take advantage of opportunities, or cope with consequences
What changes can be made to agricultural systems
Drip irrigation
Shade trees
Drought resistant crop
How can rising sea levels be managed
Flood barriers
Sea defences
Houses on stilts
How can water supplies be managed
Collecting rainwater
Water meters
Recycling grey water
How are rising sea levels being managed in the Maldives
A 3m sea wall has been constructed around the capital Male
Sandbags used in some areas
Building houses on stilts
Restoration of coastal mangroves
Note 
Flashcard (255)