climate change

• evidence of climate change

  Ice and sediment cores = one layer of ice forms each year, scientist drill into the ice sheets to get cores of ice

  by analysing the carbon dioxide trapped in layers of ice they can tell what the temp was each year (More co2 = hotter)

  Oceans = take up 50% off all man-made CO2

  as they warm up less CO2 can be stored.
• natural causes of climate change (orbital changes)

  the way the Earth moves around the Sun. Earth's axis leads to cooling or warming affects as it changes the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives. May have caused the glacial and interglacial cycle of the quaternary period
• natural causes of climate change (volcanic activity)

  Releases ash which stops solar energy reaching Earth

  Instead, it bounces off sulfur and reflects into space, which cools the planet and lowers the temperature
• natural causes of climate change (solar output)

  When there are more sunspots - It gives of more heat so large explosions

  Less sunspots means less explosions so temperature will decrease
• human causes of climate change (fossil fuels)

  CO2 is released into the atmosphere when oil, coal and gas are burnt

  More fossil fuels = more greenhouse emissions so higher temperatures
• human causes of climate change (agriculture)

  Farming releases, methane gas

  CO2 is released due to deforestation

  Nitrous oxide released from fertilisers and rice paddies as flooding fields also emit methane
• human causes of climate change (deforestation)

  Plant removes CO2 as they stop taking it in and when trees are cut down, they release all that CO2
• Effects of climate change on people

  
  

  Death from heat stroke

  The area is becoming hot and dry

  Not enough water supply

  Farming-affected crops have suffered

  Lower crop yield leads to malnutrition
• Effects of climate change on the environment

  Glacier sinking and sea level rise lead to a loss of habitat

  Coral reefs, suffering from bleaching due to high temperatures

  Precipitation patterns changing

  Habitats, destroyed species that were specifically adapted are now extinct
• mitigation

  Action of reducing the severity seriousness or painfulness of something
• how to reduce the effect of climate change by mitigation - alternative energy production

  Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy

  Reduce greenhouse gas

  E.g. nuclear power, solar energy, wind energy
• mitigation - carbon capture

  Carbon capture and storage C.C.S. designed to capture CO2

  Transporter, deep, underground, and store it

  It is then purified and recycled
• mitigation - planting trees

  Absorb CO2

  Good carbon captures as they absorb CO2 and lock it up for centuries through photosynthesis
• mitigation - International agreements

  Countries will sign to agree to stop carbon emissions spreading across the world

  Each country sent to target, which must be met,

  e.g. cop, 28
• Adaptation

  Responding to changes and adjusting accordingly in order to survive
• how to reduce the effect of climate change by adaptation - changing agricultural systems

  Changing rainfall patterns and high temperatures affect how the crop grows

  Need to plant new crops that are suitable to new climate conditions

  Technology can be used to create new crop varieties that are resistant to extreme weather
• adaptation - managing water supply

  Dry areas are predicted to get dryer leading to more water shortages

  Water metres can be installed to discourage them from using lots of water

  Rain can be recycled to make more water available
• adaptation - rising sea levels

  Predicted to rise, 82 cm by 2010

  Physical defences can be put in place such as flood barriers

  E.g. Thames Barrier

  In LIC area (Bangladesh) people build homes on top of embankment and flood shelters are being built