Climate Change 1
List four things that are evidence of global climate change.
1. rising global temperatures
2. melting ice caps and sea level rise
3. More severe storms
4. Ocean acidification
Which region of the Earth is experiencing the most dramatic changes due to climate change.
The arctic.
What is climate change?
a change in global or regional climate patterns
What process naturally removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
photosynthesis
What is coral bleaching and how is it caused?
When coral expels symbiotic algae, due to water temperature being too warm.
Why is the increase of Greenhouse gasses a big issue?
It causes climate change and increase in the global temerature
Which two gases contribute the most to the enhanced greenhous effect?
Carbon dioxide and Methane.
Which country is presently emitting the most CO2?
China
What are 3 examples of fossil fuels?
Oil (petrol), gas and coal
Which species are threatened by melting of the ice in antarctica?
Emperor penguin / humpback whale (accept penguin or whale).
Which are three of the main greenhouse gases?
Methane, water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide
How do greenhouse gases cause the Earth's temperature to rise?
They allow short wave radiation through to warm the Earth, but absorb the longer wavelength (IR) radiation and trap heat.
Which currently has the greatest carbon emissions per capita?
Qatar
What would be Earth's temperature without greenhouse gases?
Earth's temperatures would be cold, oceans would freeze
How does melting of permafrost contribute to global warming?
Rlease of greenhouse gases stored in the frozen soil, mainly methane.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat (long wave radiation) and warm the Earth.
Burning of which fossil fuel contributes most to global warming?
Coal / oil
As global warming continues, the intensity of what type of storm that hits coastlines is predicted to increase?
Hurricanes / cyclones
How can global warming cause sea levels to rise?
Melting glaciers and ice caps (on land)
When did CO2 levels begin to rise?
In the 1800's, during the industrial revolution.
What activities are the largest contributors of greenhouse gases in Australia?
Energy production (power stations).
What do we call the act of cutting down trees and how does it contribute to climate change?
deforestation, which reduces photosynthesis (CO2 absorption).
List three factors that affect climate.
Three of the following:
ocean / land temperature
land masses
latitude
altitude
proximity to water
ocean currents and global winds
How can we as humans minimize the amount of greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere?
drive less
turn off lights
burn fewer fossil fuels / switch to renewables
Which has a higher albedo? Ice or dark colored soil
Ice