Evidence for climate change
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- Created by: Iona112
- Created on: 11-04-22 11:27
What is the evidence for climate change
- recorded global temps indicate a clear warming trend
- shrinking glaciers and melting ice
- rising sea level
- seasonal changes
- shrinking glaciers and melting ice
- rising sea level
- seasonal changes
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evidence from thinking glaciers and melting ice
- some glaciers may disappear by 2035
- the extent of the Artic sea ice reached an all time low in 2014
- the extent of the Artic sea ice reached an all time low in 2014
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rising sea levels evidence
- glacier and ice cap melting adds to fresh water
- warm ocean waters expand in volume, thermal expansion
- low lying islands such as the Maldives are in danger of flooding
- warm ocean waters expand in volume, thermal expansion
- low lying islands such as the Maldives are in danger of flooding
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seasonal changes evidence
tree flowering and bird migration is advancing
bird nesting is earlier than in the 1970's
bird nesting is earlier than in the 1970's
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what are the 3 natural causes of climate change
- orbital changes ( the Milnakovitch cycles)
- solar activity
- volcanic activity
- solar activity
- volcanic activity
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orbital changes
three distinct cycles increase or decrease earths distance from the sun
- eccentricity
- axial tilt
- precession
- eccentricity
- axial tilt
- precession
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eccentricity
the earths orbit is not fixed, every 100 000 years or so the orbit changers from almost circular to mildly elliptical and back again
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axial tilt
earth spins on an axis
the earths axis is currently tilted at 23.5 degrees
over a period of 41 000 years the tilt of the earths axis moves between 21.5 and 24.5
the earths axis is currently tilted at 23.5 degrees
over a period of 41 000 years the tilt of the earths axis moves between 21.5 and 24.5
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precession
over a period of around 26000 years the axis wobbles form one extreme to the other
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solar activity
the surface of the sun has dark patches called sunspots, the number of sunspots increases from minimum to maximum then back to minimum over 11 years, called a sunspot cycle
- maximum sun gives off more heat
- minimum, solar output is reduced which can l
- maximum sun gives off more heat
- minimum, solar output is reduced which can l
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volcanic activity
- volcanic ash can block out the sun reducing temperatures on the earth
- this is a short term impact
- sulphur dioxide is also released which converts to droplets of sulphuric acid and acts like mirrors, reflecting solar radiation back into space, reduci
- this is a short term impact
- sulphur dioxide is also released which converts to droplets of sulphuric acid and acts like mirrors, reflecting solar radiation back into space, reduci
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natural greenhouse effect
greenhouse effect keeps the earth warm enough to support life
greenhouse gases (water vapour, co2, ch4 and nitrous oxides) trap heat that would otherwise escape into space
allows short-wave radiation (light) from the sun through to earth
traps some longer
greenhouse gases (water vapour, co2, ch4 and nitrous oxides) trap heat that would otherwise escape into space
allows short-wave radiation (light) from the sun through to earth
traps some longer
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Carbon dioxide
- accounts for 60% of the enhanced green house effect
- global concentration of co2 has increased by 30% since 1850
- most co2 is from burning fossil fuels in industry and power stations, farming and transport also contribute
- global concentration of co2 has increased by 30% since 1850
- most co2 is from burning fossil fuels in industry and power stations, farming and transport also contribute
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methane (CH4)
- very effective at absorbing heat
- accounts for 20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect
- emissions from farm livestock, rice framing, sewage treatment, emissions for landfill sites, coal mines and natural gas pipelines are growing even faster then co2
- accounts for 20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect
- emissions from farm livestock, rice framing, sewage treatment, emissions for landfill sites, coal mines and natural gas pipelines are growing even faster then co2
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nitrous oxides
very small concentration in the atmosphere but are 300 times more effective absorbing heat then co2
from sewage treatment, car exhausts, power stations producing electricity and agricultural fertilisers
from sewage treatment, car exhausts, power stations producing electricity and agricultural fertilisers
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human impact and the enhanced greenhouse effect
in recent years the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased, scientists believe that this enhanced greenhouse effect is due to human activities
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Mitigation
reducing climate change
involves reducing the flow of heat trapping gases
or enhancing the sinks that accumulate or store these gases
involves reducing the flow of heat trapping gases
or enhancing the sinks that accumulate or store these gases
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adaption
adapting to life with climate change
– adjusting to actual or expected future climate.
- The goal is to reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change
- It also encompasses making the most of any potential beneficial opportunities
– adjusting to actual or expected future climate.
- The goal is to reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change
- It also encompasses making the most of any potential beneficial opportunities
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alternative energy sources
burning fossil fuels accounts for 87% of all CO2 emissions
alternative sources of energy such as hydroelectric power, nuclear power, solar, wind and tides represent sustainable, low carbon alternatives
the UK aims to produce 15% of its energy from renewab
alternative sources of energy such as hydroelectric power, nuclear power, solar, wind and tides represent sustainable, low carbon alternatives
the UK aims to produce 15% of its energy from renewab
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carbon capture
not yet economically viable
uses technology to capture CO2 that is produced by burning fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes
once captured the CO2 is compressed piped and injected underground for long term storage
uses technology to capture CO2 that is produced by burning fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes
once captured the CO2 is compressed piped and injected underground for long term storage
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planting trees
trees act as carbon sinks removing CO2 from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
they also release moisture producing more cloud and so reducing incoming solar radiation
they also release moisture producing more cloud and so reducing incoming solar radiation
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international agreements
climate change is a global issue requiring global solutions
governments are negotiating towards a more sustainable future
at the pari agreement there was the first legally binding global climate deal, aims to limit temp increases to 1.5
cop 26
governments are negotiating towards a more sustainable future
at the pari agreement there was the first legally binding global climate deal, aims to limit temp increases to 1.5
cop 26
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global impacts of climate change
- reduced crop yields and water supplies
- more heat related illness
- flooding in low lying coastal areas
- changing ecosystems and animals habitats
- more extreme weather
- desertification
- stronger tropical storms
- more heat related illness
- flooding in low lying coastal areas
- changing ecosystems and animals habitats
- more extreme weather
- desertification
- stronger tropical storms
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agricultural adaption requirements
will need to:
cope with extreme weather manage water supply by storing water, use efficient irrigations systems, grow drought-resistant crops, adapt to seasonal changes plant trees to shade seedlings
change crops and livestock to suit new conditions
cope with extreme weather manage water supply by storing water, use efficient irrigations systems, grow drought-resistant crops, adapt to seasonal changes plant trees to shade seedlings
change crops and livestock to suit new conditions
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agricultural adaptions
- introducing drought-resistant strains of crops
- educate farmers in water harvesting techniques
- shade trees can be planted to protect seedlings from strong sunshine
- new cropping patterns can be introduced
- new irrigation systems
- educate farmers in water harvesting techniques
- shade trees can be planted to protect seedlings from strong sunshine
- new cropping patterns can be introduced
- new irrigation systems
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climate change effects on crops
- more extreme weather
- droughts
- change in temp and rainfall patterns
- the distribution or pest and diseases will change
- droughts
- change in temp and rainfall patterns
- the distribution or pest and diseases will change
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risk from rising sea levels
already risen 20 cm since 1900, average sea level rises of up to 1m by 2100 are possible
- will threaten important agricultural land in countries such as India
- increase rates of coastal erosion
- contaminate freshwater supplies with saltwater
- will threaten important agricultural land in countries such as India
- increase rates of coastal erosion
- contaminate freshwater supplies with saltwater
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what management strategies are the Maldives adopting
- construction of sea walls
- restoration of coastal mangrove forests, tangled roots trap sediment and protection from storm waves
- entire population may be relocated
- building houses with stilts
- construction of artificial islands 3m high for people t
- restoration of coastal mangrove forests, tangled roots trap sediment and protection from storm waves
- entire population may be relocated
- building houses with stilts
- construction of artificial islands 3m high for people t
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
- some glaciers may disappear by 2035
- the extent of the Artic sea ice reached an all time low in 2014
- the extent of the Artic sea ice reached an all time low in 2014
Back
evidence from thinking glaciers and melting ice
Card 3
Front
- glacier and ice cap melting adds to fresh water
- warm ocean waters expand in volume, thermal expansion
- low lying islands such as the Maldives are in danger of flooding
- warm ocean waters expand in volume, thermal expansion
- low lying islands such as the Maldives are in danger of flooding
Back
Card 4
Front
tree flowering and bird migration is advancing
bird nesting is earlier than in the 1970's
bird nesting is earlier than in the 1970's
Back
Card 5
Front
- orbital changes ( the Milnakovitch cycles)
- solar activity
- volcanic activity
- solar activity
- volcanic activity
Back
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