Gcse geography Climate change

• What significant effects has climate change had on global ecosystems and people's lives?

  Climate change has caused shrinking glaciers and ice caps, affecting wildlife and threatening low-lying islands.
• How is Arctic sea ice affected by climate change?

  Arctic sea ice is less extensive than in the past, impacting wildlife such as polar bears.
• What opportunity might arise from the shrinking Arctic sea ice?

  Ships may be able to use the North West Passage in the future.
• Which low-lying Pacific Islands are under threat from sea-level rise?

  Tuvalu and the Maldives are under threat from sea-level rise.
• By how much may sea levels rise by 2100?


  Sea levels may rise by 1 meter by 2100.
• What regions could be flooded due to rising sea levels?

  Agricultural land in Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and China could be flooded.
• What instrument is used to measure temperature directly?

  A thermometer is used to measure temperature directly.
• How far back do reliable temperature measurements using thermometers go?

  Reliable measurements using thermometers go back about a hundred years.
• What indirect data do scientists use to understand past temperatures?

  Scientists use fossil records found in deep ocean sediments and frozen ice cores.
• How do scientists study the oxygen in ocean sediments to calculate temperature?

  They analyze the oxygen in ocean sediments to reconstruct temperature patterns.
• How long ago have ice cores been used to reconstruct temperature patterns?

  Ice cores have been used to reconstruct temperature patterns from as long as 400,000 years ago.
• What evidence indicates that climate change is taking place?

  Evidence includes shrinking glaciers, melting ice, and rising sea levels.
• By how much has Arctic sea ice thinned since 1975?

  Arctic sea ice has thinned by 65 percent since 1975.
• What is the average global sea level rise reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in the past 100 years?


  The average global sea level has risen between 10 and 20 cm in the past 100 years.
• What are the two reasons for the rise in sea levels?

  Sea levels rise due to melting freshwater ice and thermal expansion of ocean water.
• What seasonal changes have studies suggested due to climate change?

  Studies suggest that the timing of natural seasonal activities, such as tree flowering and bird migration, is advancing.
• What are the natural causes of climate change?

  • Changes in the Earth's orbit
  • Variations in heat output from the Sun
  • Volcanic activity
• Who identified the three distinct cycles that affect the world's climate?

  Milankovitch identified the three distinct cycles that affect the world's climate.
• What are the Milankovitch cycles?

  The Milankovitch cycles are three distinct cycles that affect the Earth's climate.
• How does the 100,000-year eccentricity cycle relate to glacial and inter-glacial periods?

  The 100,000-year eccentricity cycle coincides closely with alternating cold glacial and warm inter-glacial periods in the Quaternary period.
• What does eccentricity describe in relation to the Earth's orbit?

  Eccentricity describes the path of the Earth as it orbits the Sun, changing from circular to elliptical.
• How long does a complete eccentricity cycle take?

  A complete eccentricity cycle takes about 100,000 years.
• What is axial tilt and how long does it take to complete a cycle?

  Axial tilt is the angle of the Earth's axis, currently at 23.5 degrees, and it takes about 41,000 years to complete a cycle.
• What is precession in relation to the Earth's movement?

  Precession describes a natural wobble of the Earth, similar to a spinning top, taking about 20,000 years to complete a cycle.
• What is the sunspot cycle and how long does it last?

  The sunspot cycle lasts about 11 years, during which the number of sunspots increases and decreases.
• How does sunspot activity affect the Earth's temperature?

  When sunspot activity is at a maximum, the Sun gives off more heat, while at a minimum, the solar output is reduced.
• What historical period coincided with very few sunspots observed between 1645 and 1715?


  This period coincided with the coldest period during the 'Little Ice Age'.
• What is the impact of volcanic eruptions on climate?

  Volcanic eruptions can blast ash and gases into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and reducing temperatures.
• What is a volcanic winter?

  A volcanic winter is the cooling of the lower atmosphere and reduction of surface temperatures due to volcanic activity.
• What was the effect of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora on global temperatures?


  The eruption caused average global temperatures to fall by 0.4°C to 0.7°C.
• What were the consequences of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora?


  The eruption led to failed harvests, food shortages, and riots in European cities, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths.
• What are the human causes of climate change?

  • Burning fossil fuels
  • Car exhausts
  • Deforestation
  • Agricultural practices
• What is the greenhouse effect?

  The greenhouse effect is the natural process that keeps the Earth warm by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
• How do greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect?

  Greenhouse gases absorb long-wave radiation from the Earth, trapping heat in the atmosphere.
• What are some examples of greenhouse gases?

  Examples of greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides.
• How have human activities increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere?

  Human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
• What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is attributed to carbon dioxide?

  Carbon dioxide accounts for an estimated 60% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
• By how much has the global concentration of carbon dioxide increased since 1850?

  The global concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 30% since 1850.
• What percentage of the enhanced greenhouse effect is attributed to methane?

  Methane accounts for 20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect.
• What is the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and average global temperatures?

  The trend of carbon dioxide levels is identical to that of average global temperatures, indicating human impact on climate.