climate change - natural hazards

• The atmosphere allows some of the short wave radiation from the sun to pass through to warm up the Earth's surface. When the Earth gives off heat in the form of long wave radiation, some gases such as carbon dioxide and methane are able to absorb it. These gases occur naturally to help keep the Earth warm. This is important because without global warming it would be far too cold for life to exist on Earth. The greenhouse effect is a natural aspect, but enhanced greenhouse effect due to anthropogenic (human) actions are harmful.
• Methane is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
• Anthropogenic sources of fossil fuel derived CO2 from cars, factories and homes.
• The enhanced greenhouse effect is when additional greenhouse gases from anthropogenic sources prevents heat escaping into space causing the earth to heat up.
• Examples of greenhouse gases

  • carbon dioxide
  • methane
  • water vapour
• Climate change can affect to having more extreme weather in the UK.
• Climate change can change UK's weather:

  1. milder, wetter winters
  2. heavy winter rainfall events (lead to flooding)
  3. hotter, drier summers
  4. increase frequency of hot days (lead to heatwaves/drought)