Physical Geography

• How long does a glacial period last

  100,000 years
• How long does an inter glacial period last

  10,000 years
• When is there a permanent ice sheet over Antarctica

  In glacial periods
• What is an epoch


  a period of time
• When did the Holocene epoch begin

  11,700 years ago
• What is recent past

  Time after the 20th century
• What is the distant past

  Time before the 20th century
• How long ago can ice cores give evidence of the temperature

  400,000 years
• What does objective mean

  evidence that is numerical
• What does subjective mean

  Evidence that is based on opinion
• How long does the sunspot cycle last for

  11 years
• What are sunspots caused by

  Magnetic activity inside the sun
• What do more sunspots mean

  More heat is given off by the sun
• What do volcanic eruptions give off

  -ash

  -gases (sulphur dioxide)

  -liquids
• How are volcanic aerosols made

  Sulphur dioxide mixing with water vapour
• How can volcanic eruptions reduce temperatures

  The volcanic aerosols reflect the sunlight, meaning less can reach the Earth's surface to heat it, lessening temperatures and the effect it will have on the Earth's atmosphere
• How can temperature reduction happen away from the volcano

  The wind carries the material away from the volcano
• What are the Milankovitch cycles

  The time periods that relate to the changes in the Earth's orbit
• What is axil tilt

  The changes in the angle of the tilt due to the gravitational pull of the moon
• A greater average temperature is associated with...

  a greater angle of tilt and when the orbit around the Earth is more elliptical
• How long is the axil tilt

  41,000 years
• What is procession


  The wobble the Earth does on its axis
• How long does Procession last

  26,000 years
• What is Eccentricity


  The change of the Earth's orbit around the sun from almost circular to almost elliptical
• How long is eccentricity

  100,000 years
• what is the natural greenhouse effect

  the naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps the Earth warm enough for life due to the heat radiation from the sun
• What is the enhanced greenhouse effect

  the result of humans releasing greenhouse gases at an unnatural rate into the atmosphere, causing heat radiation to be trapped in the Earth's atmosphere, heating the Earth's temperature
• What are the main 4 gases and where do they come from

  Carbon dioxide - burning fossil fuels

  Methane - livestock farming, rice cultivation, and decomposition in landfills

  Nitrous oxide - car exhaust and waste water management

  Halocarbons - fridges and air conditioning
• Definition of a social impact


  Impacts on our lives and lifestyles
• Definition of an economic impact

  Impacts to do with money
• Definition of an environmental impact

  Impacts to do with the natural environment
• Example of a UK social impact

  The UK population of elderly people are at more risk of dying from heatstroke as temperatures rise
• Example of a worldwide social impact

  2 million people evacuated from 14 countries at risk of extreme flooding including Bangladesh
• Example a UK economic impact

  Facilities at the Cairngorm ski resort in Scotland could close leading to job losses and more unemployed people, leading to less money flow into the Scottish economy
• Example of a worldwide economic impact

  Big cities at risk of flooding such as London, Venice, and New York, leading to job losses and loss of tourism, which means less money flow into these economies, lowering the standard of life
• Example of a UK environmental impact

  Harbors can become blocked with sediment due to increasing costa, erosion due to rising sea levels, making it harder for trade
• Example of a worldwide environmental impact

  Damage to coral reefs such as the Great Barrier Reef is endangering many species of sea life that live in coral reefs, lowering the biodiversity of the area