climate change

• climate change

  change in temp + weather patterns
• global warming

  a type of climate change

  ↑ in global temp

  bc ↑ in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
• we r living in the quaternary period - last 2.6 mil yrs on earth
• before humans there has been a natural changes in climate which happen between the interglacial + glacial periods
• glacial periods

  colder periods - lasted 100,000 yrs
• interglacial periods

  warmer periods - lasted 10,000 yrs
• evidence for climate change - Longterm

  • ice cores
  • tree rings
  • paintings
• ice cores - LT evidence for CC

  • analysis the gases trapped in the ice - tell us the temp at the time
  • +) dates back 400,000 yrs
  • -) ice can melt
• tree rings - LT evidence for CC

  • looking at the thickness of the ring to tell u about climate. thicker rings = warmer + wetter that yr
  • +) dates back 14,000 yrs
• paintings+ diaries - LT evidence for CC

  • +) dates back 10,000 yrs
  • -) v subjective
• short term evidence for Climate Change

  • rising sea levels + melting ice
  • temp records
• rising sea levels - ST evidence for CC

  • picture evidence
• temp records - ST evidence for CC

  • from NASA - 20,000 stations worldwide
• natural causes of climate change

  • earth's orbit - Milinkovich cycle
  • volcanic activity
  • solar output
• earth's orbit - natural causes of climate change

  • circular/elliptical orbit - ↑ elliptical = ↑ extreme climate
  • earth's tilt - tilted closer/further to sun
  • earth's wobble (during orbit) - can affect temp
• volcanic activity - natural causes of climate change

  • could make the earth colder -longterm - ash + dust can reflect the sun's rays
  • CMTE warmer - shortterm- gases produced could create a warmer temp
• solar output- natural causes of CC


  ↑ sunspots - ↑ energy released - hotter earth
• human causes of climate change

  • fossil fuels
  • agriculture
  • deforestation
• fossil fuels - human causes of CC

  FF accounts for 60% of greenhouse gases emissions

  • enhanced greenhouse effect
• agriculture - human causes of CC


  accounts for 25% of greenhouse gases emissions

  • releases methane
  • enhanced greenhouse effect
• deforestation - human causes of CC

  accounts for 10% of greenhouse gases emissions

  • releases CO2
  • enhanced greenhouse effect
• enhanced greenhouse effect

  • ↑ CO2 released
  • layer of greenhouse gases ↑ thicker
  • ↑ temp bc ↑ heat trapped in the atmosphere so ↓ can escape back into space
• effects of climate change on ppl

  • 600 mil live in low lying coastal regions
  • 20 mil r climate refugees
  • spread of malaria to new regions
• effects of climate change on the environment

  • arctic ice is 65% thinner, smallest 1,000 yrs
  • loss of species is a lot 1000x faster
  • ↑ in extreme weather (heatwaves, droughts, rainfall)
• what does mitigation strategies for climate change mean

  trying to stop CC
• what are the mitigation strategies for CC

  • alternative energy production
  • carbon capture
  • reforestation
  • international agreements
• alternative energy production - mitigation strategies for CC

  • using renewable energy, less use of fossil fuels
  • ↓ CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, ↑ heat can escape into space, ↓ earths temp
• carbon capture - mitigation strategies for CC

  • CO2 is safely stored in high pressure under impermeable rocks so that it can be used in factories
  • ↓ CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, ↑ heat can escape into space, ↓ earths temp
• reforestation - mitigation strategies for CC

  • CO2 absorbed by plants
  • ↓greenhouses gases in the atmosphere
• international agreements - mitigation strategies for CC

  • e.g COP 23
  • gov meet + make plans to ↓ global warming
• adaption is learning to live with climate change
• ways of adapting to CC

  • changing agricultural practices
  • managing water supply
  • reducing the risk of rising sea levels
• changing agricultural practices - ways of adapting to CC

  • growing diff crops based on the change in climate to the area
  • GM crops - modified so they can withstand certain climates
• managing water supply - ways of adapting to CC

  • moving water from areas of surplus to areas of defecit
• reducing risk of rising sea levels- ways of adapting to CC

  • sea/#coastal defenses
  • buildings valuable places further away from the coast - i.e buildings + farms