Changing Climate
This covers some topics that will be needed for climate change, i will do part two on a different mind map and upload it soon. Hope it is helpful.
- Created by: Ezgi_18
- Created on: 04-05-14 10:32
View mindmap
- Changing Climate - part 1
- climate has changed a great deal in the past, but how do we know this?
- fossils of animals and plants in regions, they are not found in today
- evidence from glaciation in regions that are now free of ice
- evidence from rocks showing us the climate conditions when these rocks were formed
- ice cores- show CO2 levels - more bubbles mean warmer, less bubbles mean cooler
- natural causes of climate change
- volcanic eruptions
- large eruptions emit dust and gas e.g. sulfur dioxide This blocks out incoming solar radiation. As a result the Earth cools.
- e.g. Mt Pinataubo 1991
- large eruptions emit dust and gas e.g. sulfur dioxide This blocks out incoming solar radiation. As a result the Earth cools.
- Sunspot activity
- Sunspots are darker areas on the Sun's surface - they are a sign of greater solar activity.
- more sunspots mean more heat is emitted from the sun... The little ice age was most likely the result of few sunspots.
- Orbital theory (Also known as Milankovich mechanism)
- The shape of the Earth's orbit changes over a period of 100,000 years (orbital eccentricity)
- The Earths axis tilts sometimes it is upright and sometimes on its side. The Earths axis also 'wobbles'. Both these factors alter the amount of sunlight the earth receives and leads to different climates.
- volcanic eruptions
- The Little Ice Age
- The little ice age was probably caused by reduced sunspot activity. It lasted from 1300-1870.
- Average temperatures were at least 1 degrees celcius below those of today.
- Impacts of the Little Ice age
- The Baltic sea froze over in winter, as did the Thames river and many others.
- Sea ice (which today is far to the north) reached as far south as Iceland.
- Winters were colder and longer - growing seasons were reduced by a several weeks.
- This lead to crop failure and famine
- Remote areas e.g. Greenland were abondoned by settlers as survival become impossible
- The price of grain increased.
- Glaciers advanced in the Alps and Notthern Europe
- The UK climate today
- The UK has a temperate maritime climate
- Climate data for Sheffield
- All months have significant precipitation; winter average temperatures, although low, are never below freezing and summers are warm rather than hot.
- Climate data for Sheffield
- The UK has a wet and mild climate. But what is this caused by?
- prevailing south-westerly winds bringing moist air from the Atlantic, producing precipitation
- The seas that surround the UK reduce summer temperatures but also make winters milder
- The Gulf stream ocean current that brings warm water across the Atlantic, warming the air surrounding the UK.
- Future climate change impacts
- The seasonal pattern of air masses the UK experiences could be altered.The seas around the UK could get warmer meaning warmer temperatures. Furthermore, unusual weather extremes such as floods could become more common.
- The UK has a temperate maritime climate
- climate has changed a great deal in the past, but how do we know this?
- volcanic eruptions
- large eruptions emit dust and gas e.g. sulfur dioxide This blocks out incoming solar radiation. As a result the Earth cools.
- e.g. Mt Pinataubo 1991
- large eruptions emit dust and gas e.g. sulfur dioxide This blocks out incoming solar radiation. As a result the Earth cools.
Comments
No comments have yet been made