Geography - Unit 1 - Changing Climates And The Artic

Key Vocabulary For This Unit: Weather, Latitude, Relief, Regional, Volcanic Eruption, Anthropogenic, Carbon Footprint, Significant, Drought, Ecosystem, Positive Feedback, Cycle, Dramatically And Extraction.

How can we distinguish between weather and climate?

Understand weather as current atmospheric conditions, climate as average weather conditions over time, and that climate data is displayed through a climate graph.

What influences climate?

UK climate is warmer in the south due to tropical winds. Altitude reduces temperature, and equator countries have warmer climates due to concentrated solar radiation. Ocean keeps land cool in summer and warm in winter.

Is Earth’s climate only changing now?

No, it has happened over the past 500 million years. Eruptions, solar radiation, and atmospheric circulation are all causes of ‘natural climate change’

What is anthropogenic climate change?

Anthropogenic climate change, the theory that humans are causing it, and the misconception that greenhouse gases are harmful. They understand the enhanced greenhouse effect caused by increasing greenhouse gases and drivers.

How am I contributing to climate change?

We can cause climate change in a number of ways, including our carbon footprint and their influence on travel, food, and domestic habits. They also learn that reducing beef consumption is crucial for reducing carbon footprint.

How will climate change impact Africa?

Rising temperatures in Africa, droughts impacting Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, and locust swarms in Chad, Mali, and Niger potentially reducing crop yields.

How is climate change impacting the Arctic?

Sea level rise is caused by arctic land ice melting, leading to ecosystem loss, reduced plankton levels, and potential fishing grounds, while understanding that ocean conditions also impact ecosystems.

How is climate change creating positive feedback cycles in the Arctic?

Positive climate feedback systems are created as the Arctic ice's role as an air conditioner, the Albedo effect, and permafrost's melting, which releases methane gas. Arctic ice acts as an 'air conditioner', reflecting solar radiation back into space.

What opportunities has melting sea ice created?

Melting sea ice has created several opportunities, including:

1. New Shipping Routes: Increased access to the Arctic for shipping, reducing travel time between continents.

2. Resource Exploration: Easier access to untapped natural resources like oil and gas.

3. Fisheries Expansion: New fishing grounds as species migrate northward due to changing temperatures.

4. Tourism Growth: Increased interest in Arctic tourism, including cruises and adventure travel.

However, these opportunities come with significant environmental risks.